A female publicist has the unenviable task of promoting a cheap horror movie, which is bad beyond description. However, a series of grisly murders committed by a madman brandishing a hammer and a sickle turns the movie into a surprise hit. The Cannes movie festival has never been able to resist a good scandal...
Part farce and part satire, "La cité de la peur" is somewhat similar in tone and subject to the third movie in the "Naked gun" series, which skewers the Oscars ceremony. It's a very uneven work, which could have used a great deal of artistic self-criticism and insight. Basically, the makers of the movie throw everything at the wall in hopes that it will stick : some of the material sticks, a lot of it doesn't. For instance, there's a rather vulgar running joke about a man who vomits whenever he's feeling happy ; it lowers the tone and adds absolutely zero in terms of fun.
However, there are also wonderfully silly or absurd jokes and lines of dialogue to savour. Much of the satire is doused in finest dragon acid, especially when it comes to attacking the Cannes festival. The viewer will note that much of the defects being mocked are still hugely relevant anno 2019 : the critical capriciousness, the fashionable hype, the unending red carpet parade of parasites and wannabes, the lack of respect for human sorrow. (In the movie, the police, relatives and celebrities meet and mingle amidst streams of alcohol, during a glamorous "Murder Party".)
Movie buffs will recognize many a wink at various genres and works, such as the "Terminator" franchise. ("Is this Sarah Connor ?" "No, that's next door.") Also easily recognizable : "So I'm eating sauerkraut with sausages. What are you going to do about it, arrest me ?".
Part farce and part satire, "La cité de la peur" is somewhat similar in tone and subject to the third movie in the "Naked gun" series, which skewers the Oscars ceremony. It's a very uneven work, which could have used a great deal of artistic self-criticism and insight. Basically, the makers of the movie throw everything at the wall in hopes that it will stick : some of the material sticks, a lot of it doesn't. For instance, there's a rather vulgar running joke about a man who vomits whenever he's feeling happy ; it lowers the tone and adds absolutely zero in terms of fun.
However, there are also wonderfully silly or absurd jokes and lines of dialogue to savour. Much of the satire is doused in finest dragon acid, especially when it comes to attacking the Cannes festival. The viewer will note that much of the defects being mocked are still hugely relevant anno 2019 : the critical capriciousness, the fashionable hype, the unending red carpet parade of parasites and wannabes, the lack of respect for human sorrow. (In the movie, the police, relatives and celebrities meet and mingle amidst streams of alcohol, during a glamorous "Murder Party".)
Movie buffs will recognize many a wink at various genres and works, such as the "Terminator" franchise. ("Is this Sarah Connor ?" "No, that's next door.") Also easily recognizable : "So I'm eating sauerkraut with sausages. What are you going to do about it, arrest me ?".