The Film (4/5)

Tired of his life and hateful family, Count Herve de Keraudren (Pierre Brasseur) hides away in a secret passage and waits for his death. His heirs are more than happy to return to his castle/ mansion to collect their inheritance. The only catch, they must find the Count’s body or they’ll have to wait five years until the courts declare him legally dead. With tension rising, the heirs start to get picked off one by one. Is there a ghost loose in the castle or are one of the members a murderer looking to collect more than his fair share?

SPOTLIGHT ON A MURDERER (1961 aka PLEINS FEUX SUR L’ASSASSIN) is the third film proper directed by French cult favorite George Franju, who shocked the world with the medical horror film EYES WITHOUT A FACE (1960). That film not only inspired the Billy Idol pop song of the same name, but also served as a key figure in the birth of Spanish horror inspiring Jess Franco’s THE AWFUL DR. ORLOF (1962). SPOTLIGHT is not as ground breaking as EYES, and until the release of this Arrow Blu-ray was little seen in English language markets.

Sandwiched in between EYES and the pulpy JUDEX (1963), SPOTLIGHT makes a welcomed surprised in the cannon of French mystery and horror cinema. Visually it’s another dreamlike classic with the special Franju touch. The everyday world is looked among in an off-kilter light. It’s filmed in a matter a fact way, but something sinister and oddly poetic is creeping into every shot. Weither it’s from a soft focused shot of the creamy looking grey lighting, nothing is as it seems.

SPOTLIGHT was written by the French thriller mega duo of Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac (or simply just Boileau- Narcejac), who’s novel “Cell qui n’etait plus”, soon turned into the classic DIABOLIQUE (1955), a film that also changed the thriller genre. They also wrote EYES WITHOUT A FACE. The story plays out like a very French flavored Agatha Christie mystery with some hints of Edgar Allan Poe. The characters are not deep, but there strange enough to stand out. Speaking of strange, key scenes take surreal detours such as a dark staircase that holds owls.

The cast is top notch with Jean-Louis Trintignant (MY NIGHT AT MAUDS, GREAT SILENCE) in the lead as the comic and handsome Jean- Marie. Pierre Brasseur (EYES WITHOUT A FACE) is in the film for only a short time, but adds great pathos to his minor screen time. The cast is rounded off with more of French’s hottest talent with Marianne Koch, Pascale Audre, and Gerard Buhr.

While not as iconic as EYES, SPOTLIGHT is a mystery film that is worth another look.

Audio/Video (5/5)

Arrow Academy gives this French Gothic film a spell bounding transfer and sound mix. The French 1.0 Mono is clear with a smooth soundtrack. There’s no hiss or pops. The sound effects are bold and numerous. The viewer is taken to another world of dark magic with Franju’s film thanks to the mix of haunting background sound. English subtitles are included.

The 1080p HD transfer is a thing of beauty with its crisp cinematography and well defined black levels. Like most noirs and haunted house films, the use of shadows is key. Every image is clear and sharp. The level of detail is also impressive, with each cobweb and texture clearly visible. A near perfect transfer.

Extras (3/5)

Le Courrier du Cinema is a 1961 on set production featurette on the making of the film with interviews with Franju and crew. The original theatrical trailer is also included. The disc also comes with a booklet of liner notes and articles on the film, as well a reversible cover with a French poster cover art.

Overall (4/5)

Arrow Academy gives one of the lesser known gems of French cinema a well derved special edition. Highly recommended.