Horror,Romance,Thriller
France
Criminal Lovers is a French film directed by François Ozon and originally titled "Les Amants Criminels." The movie tells a disturbing story of two young lovers, Alice (Natacha Régnier) and Luc (Jérémie Renier), who decide to run away together. However, their romantic getaway quickly turns into a nightmare when they impulsively commit murder in a fit of passion.
Desperate to cover up their crime, the couple flees into the forest, where they get lost and discover a rundown cabin. Inside, they encounter a large and imposing man named Sam (Miki Manojlovic), who takes them captive and subjects Luc to sexual abuse and torture. Alice is initially subjected to the same treatment by Sam but manages to convince him to spare her in exchange for allowing Luc to continue to suffer.
The film explores themes of sexual attraction, power dynamics, and violence, and is sometimes hard to stomach as it depicts Sam's brutal, abusive behavior towards the couple. Through it all, Alice and Luc cling to each other, despite their horrifying situation, and face the consequences of their actions.
Criminal Lovers received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising its unconventional narrative and bold approach to taboo subjects, while others found it gratuitous and difficult to watch. Still, the film has gained a cult following and remains a provocative and challenging work of cinematic art.
