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THE CRIMSON RIVERS

“Macabre Mystery”

Family Content: -2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.

Entertainment Quality:

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Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

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What You Need To Know:

THE CRIMSON RIVERS is a French thriller in the same vein as SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, or at least it tries to be. Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel star as two resourceful detectives following different paths as they investigate a bizarre series of murders near a mysterious university. One detective discovers hidden secrets about the university, while the other investigates the strange occurrences surrounding a child’s death 15 years earlier. Eventually, their trails intersect, and they reluctantly team up to track down the killer. Watching these two detectives work the grisly case is both intriguing and involving. The movie encourages viewers to follow the detectives intently. A moving musical score and fantastic cinematography soften the gruesome nature of this story. In the end, however, the hunt is much more satisfying than the slightly implausible conclusion.

Not for the squeamish, THE CRIMSON RIVERS remains an intelligent mystery with several notable heart-pounding action scenes. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of the majestic Alps, this macabre whodunit is marred by violent scenes, vivid images of mutilated corpses and some anti-biblical, anti-Jewish and humanist elements. Good eventually triumphs over evil, however, and the detectives save lives.

Content:

(B, C, AB, H, LL, VVV, N, A, D, M) Moral worldview with ultimately a moral premise about two detectives tracking down a vicious serial killer in a small French village includes Roman Catholic & Christian elements such as nun in convent, traumatized by an early event, is shown to have taken a “Vow of the Shadows,” shunning light & becoming blind, & also expressing fear of “demons” who took her child, marred by anti-biblical & anti-Jewish elements & humanist elements regarding genetic engineering of humans & playing God with science, which are rebuked; 2 blasphemies, 1 profanity, 17 obscenities (with 7 uses of the “f-word”), & vengeful elements; Eugenics and genetic engineering rebuked; extended scenes of mutilated & bound nude male corpses, one found frozen in glacier, scenes of corpses’ wounds, slashes & severed hands, including bugs crawling on faces, signs of torture & one crucifixion, head & eyes of victims found in jar, mausoleum desecrated, car crashes, shootings, fighting, stabbing, & intense scene of avalanche terror; drinking; smoking & marijuana use by policemen; and, vengeful elements, eugenics & genetic engineering rebuked.

More Detail:

THE CRIMSON RIVERS is a French thriller in the same vein as SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, or at least it tries to be. Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel star as two resourceful detectives following different paths as they investigate a bizarre series of murders in a small French village. One detective discovers hidden secrets about a mysterious university, while the other investigates the strange occurrences surrounding a child’s death 15 years earlier. Watching these two detectives work the grisly case is both intriguing and involving.
Eventually, their trails intersect and they reluctantly team up to track down the killer. This odd “buddy film” works well because of the caliber of the cast involved. One by one, potential suspects end up as victims and the audience feels it is racing to find the real killer or killers right along with the two protagonists. A moving musical score and fantastic cinematography soften the gruesome nature of this story.
THE CRIMSON RIVERS is both compelling and creepy. In the end, however, the hunt is much more satisfying than the slightly implausible conclusion.
Not for the squeamish, THE CRIMSON RIVERS remains an intelligent mystery with several notable heart-pounding action scenes. Aptly titled, this macabre whodunit is marred by violent scenes, vivid images of mutilated corpses & some anti-biblical, anti-Jewish and humanist elements. Good eventually triumphs over evil, however, and the detectives save lives.