Jean Reno, Vincent Cassel, Nadia Farès

Legendary police commissioner Niémans (Jean Reno) travels to a remote university village in the Alps to solve a grisly murder while hotheaded Lieutenant Kerkerian (Hate's Vincent Cassel) is inv...( read more  read more... )estigating the desecration of the tomb of a young girl killed in an auto accident 20 years ago. When the detectives discover that the incidents are related, they reluctantly join forces. The Crimson Rivers looks French but feels American. If it doesn't hit the heights of The Silence of the Lambs or Seven, it bests many of the thrillers that have followed in their wake. Mathieu Kassovitz directs as if this were high art, which is actually to the film's benefit: the cast is terrific (including Jean-Pierre Cassel, Vincent's father), the cinematography is stunning, and the classy score evokes The Exorcist. Although the mountaintop showdown at the end doesn't quite work, The Crimson Rivers is still a superior entrant into an increasingly overcrowded genre. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Flixster Users

71% liked it

11,264 ratings

Critics

68% liked it

53 critics

R, 106 min

Directed by: Mathieu Kassovitz

Release Date: June 29, 2001

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DVD Release Date: October 16, 2001

Stats: 531 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (531)


  • October 4, 2009
    Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel deliver solid performances in this intellegent, witty French murder-mystery. Well scripted and nicely scored.
  • July 16, 2009
    It's the Silence of the Lambs meets Seven. A first-rate edge of your seat thriller. Spine-tingling, heart-racing and nerve-frying. Chilling and unforgettable. A breathtaking thrill-ride. Tension and suspense in unbearable doses that will blow you away. You wont know what hit you ...( read more)right untill the very end. Intense, stylish and outstanding. Vincent Cassel and Jean Reno are sensational. A teriffic and brilliantly original thriller. An unstoppable adreniline-rush that has thw suspense and action to back it up.
  • August 20, 2008
    Odd.
  • May 15, 2008
    This French speaking, English sub-titled film, was a refreshing enjoyable watch with superb performances by Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel.

    The only bad for me is that I don't think it will reach the desired audience purely because of the sub-titles which is a shame.
  • October 13, 2007
    Found this film a bit hard to follow. The wrap-up didn't really feel satisfying.
  • September 16, 2009
    Explosive French crime/thriller film. Reno and Cassel are great, especially together.

    57/100
  • September 11, 2009
    Awesome, awesome, awesome, That?s what I call this film. Its in French with English Subtitles, also has a English dub which if used takes away from the film. The combination of Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel is Explosive on Screen . As far as the other actors, what other actors, t...( read more)hese two are the movie. This Movie was part of the 2000 San Sebastián International Film Festival and was nominated won the Golden Seashell award. Don't let the date scare you its an excellent movie 4 1/2 Stars. What keeps it from 5 stars, I don't know I guess my mood at the time of viewing. A Dark and gritty thriller. The Crimson Rivers (Les Rivières Pourpres) is based on the book 'Red Blood Rivers' by Jean-Christophe Grangè. Jean Reno Plays a Commissioner sent from Paris to look into a grizzly murder. A man has been found hanging 180 meters up a cliff face, it is later learned that he was tortured and left hanging for 5 hrs. Another cop Vincent Cassel is investigating a crime of a desecrated tomb about 60 miles away, as the story unfolds these two crimes intertwine and before you know it they are working together. Lots of action and great scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat. 4 1/2 Stars
  • September 8, 2009
    It seems older than it really is. Could be a good novel but as a movie we sure do expect so much more. Still worth watching maybe on TV.
  • September 4, 2009
    Intenso desarrollo pero paupérrimo final, creo yo.
  • August 28, 2009
    a oddly facinating movie

Critic Reviews


August 10, 2001
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Some actors are just automatically the moral locus of every scene they're in. They're the major movie stars, and Reno is one of those. full review

August 10, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A breathtaking exercise in the macabre. full review

June 22, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Wisely focuses his attention on the film's two magnetic stars. full review

View more The Crimson Rivers (Les Rivières pourpres) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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