HISTOIRES EXTRAORDINAIRES is the title of the first volume of Charles Baudelaire’s renowned French translations of the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. This volume, first published in 1856, is credited with inspiring Poe’s exalted reputation in Europe, so it makes sense that HISTOIRES EXTRAORDINAIRES was the name given to not one but two French-made compilations of Poe-adapted films.
Over the past week the world-renowned glories of France were tragically blighted by terror and death. No matter: the richness of French culture will persist
The 1973 French miniseries LA DUCHESSE D’AVILA/THE DUCHESS OF AVILA is one of the great unknown works of the fantastique
BELPHEGOR is a multi-film crime saga whose origins can be traced back to 1909
A pompously psychedelic, nudity-filled account of witchcraft in the French countryside, A WOMAN POSSESSED was banned for many years in its native land, which is pretty hard to believe these days
A fumbled French made attempt at adapting Matthew Lewis’s gothic classic THE MONK to the screen
A much dumber than average brain-switch chiller from France. It contains one shocking sequence but is otherwise fatally clichéd and inert.
The Age of Chivalry gets a thorough trashing in this bleak period piece from France’s Bertrand Tavernier, who was evidently obsessed with making BEATRICE as grim as possible
An evil dog whose misanthropic thoughts are voiced on the soundtrack? A deranged kid obsessed with Adolph Hitler? This is by no means a perfect film, but it’s one you won’t soon forget!
A pretty incredible 1990 French horrorfest boasting a highly respectable gore quotient, stylish direction and a strong lead performance by newcomer Emmanuelle Escourrou