Thriller,Comedy,Drama
United Kingdom
Cul-de-sac is a 1966 British psychological thriller directed by Roman Polanski. The movie stars Donald Pleasence and Françoise Dorléac as the owners of the castle, George and Teresa. They are a strange and dysfunctional couple living in isolation on a desolate beachfront. They are initially seen bickering and arguing with each other and living in a seemingly loveless marriage.
The movie begins with a robbery by two criminals, Richard and Albert, who escape to the castle after being wounded. Initially, George and Teresa refuse to let them in but relent after Richard convinces them that he needs medical attention. What follows is a series of bizarre and surreal events as the wounded criminals and the oddball couple co-exist in the castle, with tensions mounting as the group begins to unravel.
Richard starts to form an emotional bond with Teresa, possibly because she provides him with the love and attention he never received from his own mother. Meanwhile, Albert grows sicker and suffers from violent hallucinations, which provide the movie with some of its most surreal moments. The relationship between George and Teresa is also revealed to be more complex than initially thought, with elements of sadomasochism and manipulation.
As tensions reach boiling point and the police close in on the castle, the group engages in a violent confrontation that ends in tragedy. Cul-de-sac is a darkly comedic and unconventional thriller that explores themes of isolation, sexuality, and power dynamics. It is considered one of Polanski's most unsettling and provocative films.
