4. The Fourth Man (1983)
Verhoeven's last Dutch hurrah before he buggered off to Hollywood (sob!), The Fourth Man is a suspense film starring Jeroen Krabbe and Renee Soutendijk. Renee plays a black widow who has dispatched of three men - Jeroen is the Fourth man to be done away with. He is a bisexual, alcoholic novelist. The Virgin Mary appears to him in visions to warn him of his fate and so he heeds her advice and his life is spared. He passes the message on to Renee's other lover who thinks Jeroen is jealous and wants Renee for himself. This poor fool is killed and Jeroen is left in an uncertain state. There is graphic violence and gore in this movie and a lot of allusions to the colour red. More popular in America than in Holland, The Fourth Man has been given rave reviews by the critics. Verhoeven sees the film as a spiritual prequel to Basic Instinct, whatever that might mean. Personally, I am not keen on this film and I would have had it lower in the chart but for I know for a fact it is wildly popular. I find it overladen with images and symbolism which me, being a silly cow, find hard to interpret. Verhoeven is trying to say something about Christianity but whatever the heck it is has me flummoxed. It's just too overwhelming for me and I didn't connect with it - but if you did - fair play to you!