DVD Review - Chrysalis

CHRYSALIS (France 2007) **
Directed by Julien Leclercq

DVD out today!

French director Julien Leclercq’s debut sci-fi futuristic policier is set in the Paris of 2025.  The protagonist is a tough cop, David Hoffman (Albert Dupontel from IRREVERSIBLE) haunted by the murder of his partner and wife he failed to save.  So, Hoffman freaks out when given another lady partner.

Tie this in with a sadistic killer haunting the streets and what we have might be a super thriller, stylistic and different.  That it is – unfortunately, Leclercq allows his story of unfold in a confused fashion.

Most of the scenes are dark, literally, which results in a lot of the background blurred on DVD.  It does not help that the plot is rather confusing with characters and incidents occurring at any time.  To the director’s credit, CHRYSALIS has a fresh loo aided by strong performances by Dupontel and Marthe Keller (who played opposite Dustin Hoffman in the thriller, MARATHON MAN.) And he has a few tricks up his sleeve to surprise his audience.

The special effects on eye scanning investigation are impressive.  Overall, CHRYSALIS is a mixed bag of tricks with the action segments professionally executed.  The fight choreographer is Alain Figlarz from the BOURNE IDENITY.

The special features include both English (dubbed) and French language tracks, the trailer and the Making of the movie.