10 Outstanding French Films You've Probably Never Heard Of
5. Roberto Succo (2001) - Cédric Kahn
Speaking of horror, here's another film to chill viewers to the bone. Based on the real-life serial killer and rapist, Roberto Succo follows the title character's spree in France after his escape from a mental institution where he was forcibly interned after butchering his parents. The scariest scenes are not those that depict rape and murder most are off-screen but rather those that simply observe an irreparably insane man's attempt to engage in his idea of interaction with fellow human beings. One notable highlight is the long and electrifying chase in the hijacked car of a female schoolteacher who, sensing his fundamentally childlike nature, attempts to reach out to him. Stefano Cassetti's unpredictable performance as Roberto Succo is not only the most terrifyingly convincing portrayal of criminal insanity ever put to screen; it is simply one of the greatest performances I have ever seen an actor give in a film. Every inch of him, from his mad blue eyes to his tense body, is alive with the despair of a man in constant need, but whose disconnection from the real world prevents him from knowing even who he really is, let alone what he wants.
I have been a film student for over 4 years, and an insatiable cinephile for even longer. I try to keep my mind as open as possible, so my tastes can range from mainstream masters such as Alfred Hitchcock or Steven Spielberg to independent artists such as Abbas Kiarostami and John Cassavetes. I am also a big fan of video games with customizable characters and/or dialogue choices and the ability to influence the plot by the character's decisions. As such, my favourite video games are "Saints Row 2", "Dragon Age: Origins", "Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic", "Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic II: The Sith Lords" and the "Mass Effect" trilogy. Aside from that, I also enjoy "Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne" and have fond memories of "Rayman 2: The Great Escape" and the original "Tomb Raider" games.
