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The 4th Man (1979)
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SCISSORS, SEX AND FREUDIAN SYMBOLISM
Highly-provocative, homo-erotic imagery abounds in this visually dazzling, surrealistic, 'Art-House' Thriller from Holland.
Cleverly presented in the arresting format of a highly-stylized, feature-length hallucination - THE 4TH MAN, released in 1979, was masterfully directed by PAUL VERHOEVEN (ROBOCOP, BASIC INSTINCT), with brilliant cinematography work by JAN DE BONT (TWISTER).
As the story unfolds -
Gerard, an alcoholic, bisexual novelist, heads to Amsterdam to deliver a routine lecture at the Vlissigen Literary Society.
During a sociable discussion period following his lecture, Gerard meets Christine, a seductive, blonde hairdresser.
With one sexual encounter leading, inevitably, to another, Gerard's involvement with Christine soon begins to take on an ominous tone.
In a sequence of truly bizarre visions that are pseudo-religious in nature - The effigy of the Virgin Mary presents herself to Gerard, warning him that he, indeed, is going to be the next sorry victim of Christine's murderous rage.
Danger lurks everywhere for Gerard when he quickly discovers that Christine is already suspected of being a 3-time husband-killer.
Will the drunken Gerard have enough sobering-sense to pay heed to his disturbing, telepathic hallucinations? - Or - Will he, indeed, fall victim to being the 4th man?
Time for Gerard is surely running out.
Gerard sits alone on the bed and stares fixedly at a wooden crucifix nailed to the wall. In a web affixed to the crucifix sits a large, leggy spider waiting patiently, ready, at any second, to pounce upon its prey of trapped flies.
It would appear that the conniving, bewitching Christine has now got her 5th man in focus. And he has been specially selected for her sinister seduction.
Scissors, Sex and Freudian Symbolism, Everywhere.
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