Truly the quintessence of Gothic belles-lettres of the end of XIX/beginning of XX century characterized by the abnormal addiction to dark mysticism mixed with cruel and extravagant crimes. The whole mood of "Vidocq" is very similar to the famous book "Chants of Maldoror" which celebrates meaningless cruelty and perversions in half-mystical poetic form. The film doesn't try to make you to believe in evil but actually teaches you to fear it just as all these half-forgotten Gothic writers did.
The visual manner of "Vidocq" is very extravagant and nearly surrealistic, the mood of the film is amazingly dark, even much darker than many clearly horror movies, still it's not horror despite of the plenty of bloody and thrilling scenes. The sun never shines from the screen, the heavy clouds are just everywhere. There are not too many films made in such avant-garde style and no wonder -- they are like certain flowers -- attractive but stink. "Vidocq" is a masterpiece but not for everyone, just like paintings of Salvador Dali.
The plot is not very original, reminiscent of a grotesque version of some Fantomas book with the only difference that the villain is finally being unveiled and punished. The scene in the villain's lair is very impressive, though the most sickening. And of course, as the genre demands, there is a some chance for a sequel left in the closing scene. I personally dislike all the esoteric "energy" stuff, though it's depicted rather impressive. This also film contains some adult visuals too, though rather modest but still somewhat limiting its auditory.
Artistically perfect but 7/10 because of the exceeding murkiness, it's amount is nearly immoral.
The visual manner of "Vidocq" is very extravagant and nearly surrealistic, the mood of the film is amazingly dark, even much darker than many clearly horror movies, still it's not horror despite of the plenty of bloody and thrilling scenes. The sun never shines from the screen, the heavy clouds are just everywhere. There are not too many films made in such avant-garde style and no wonder -- they are like certain flowers -- attractive but stink. "Vidocq" is a masterpiece but not for everyone, just like paintings of Salvador Dali.
The plot is not very original, reminiscent of a grotesque version of some Fantomas book with the only difference that the villain is finally being unveiled and punished. The scene in the villain's lair is very impressive, though the most sickening. And of course, as the genre demands, there is a some chance for a sequel left in the closing scene. I personally dislike all the esoteric "energy" stuff, though it's depicted rather impressive. This also film contains some adult visuals too, though rather modest but still somewhat limiting its auditory.
Artistically perfect but 7/10 because of the exceeding murkiness, it's amount is nearly immoral.