Thriller: A Cruel Picture

Thriller: A Cruel Picture

5/6/1974 1h 48m 6.4/10

Overview

Madeleine, rendered mute after being sexually assaulted as a youth, accepts a lift from a wealthy and sadistic pimp who soon enslaves her into his prostitution racket. Despite her limited means, Madeleine embarks on a bloody road to revenge against her captors.

Director

Bo Arne Vibenius

Top Billed Cast

Solveig Andersson

Solveig Andersson

Sally

Christina Lindberg

Christina Lindberg

Frigga / Madeleine / One Eye

Despina Tomazani

Despina Tomazani

The Lesbian Girl

Gunnel Wadner

Gunnel Wadner

Madeleine's mother

Heinz Hopf

Heinz Hopf

Tony

Per-Axel Arosenius

Per-Axel Arosenius

Madeline's Father (as Per Axel Arosenius)

Reviews

John Chard

3/13/2016

7/10

Madeline Marauds! Exploitation cinema in all its glory, or not, depending on your own personal peccadilloes! Directed, written and produced by Bo Arne Vibenius, Thriller - en grym film (AKA: They Call Her One Eye) is an infamous picture for a number of reasons, reasons that would take a whole page to write about. So use your mouse and google it because this review isn't interested in dabbling in such fare. Plot sees a young Madeline raped by a paedophile and rendered mute by the experience. Into early adulthood and Madeline (played superbly by soft core porn starlet Christinia Lindberg) unwisely takes up the offer of a lift from the odious Tony (Heinz Hopf). Pretty soon she's addicted to heroin and working as a prostitute. However, Madeline is biding her time, for she has plans, plans that spell doom for all her abusers. Does this film have artistic merit? Absolutely! In fact if you take out the inserted pornographic close-ups, which are pointless since we already know what Madeline is going through (a supposed marketing tool of the era apparently...) then this is a kick-ass film. It's a two parter, where the first half shows all of Madeline's misery, with sexual disturbance and body horror, then we switch to Madeline's fight back, where we get one of the coolest anti-heroines of 70s exploitation. She's sporting an eye patch, a glorious black trench coat, and weapons, oh yes! There are weapons, hands, guns and cars, oh my! It's here where Vibenius asks the question about justifiable revenge, whilst the super slow-mo approach to the violence will either be viewed as indulgent or classy (I'm with the latter camp). It is what it is, grungy and grimy, operating in a specialist niche of cinema, but worthy in that it didn't conform, and it has proved influential. It's just not a date movie or something to watch with you mom! Right, I'm off for a bath. 7/10

JPV852

7/3/2022

7/10

Okay rape-revenge thriller has a fine performance from Christina Lindberg even though she has zero lines and there are scenes tough to watch. The revenge portion is the best part however the slow-motion fight between Madeliene and the cops went on far too long. The final scene was satisfying though. **3.5/5**

Similar Movies

The Godfather Part II

8.6

The Godfather Part II

1974

The Godfather Part III

7.4

The Godfather Part III

1990

Basic Instinct

6.9

Basic Instinct

1992

Boys Don't Cry

7.4

Boys Don't Cry

1999

The Kung Fu Cult Master

6.8

The Kung Fu Cult Master

1993

The Interpreter

6.3

The Interpreter

2005

Rosario Tijeras

6.7

Rosario Tijeras

2005

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

7.4

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

1982

WWE Payback 2014

7.5

WWE Payback 2014

2014

Echoes of Violence

5.1

Echoes of Violence

2021

Shaolin Invincibles

5.2

Shaolin Invincibles

1978

Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead

6.4

Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead

1995

Terkel in Trouble

6.6

Terkel in Trouble

2004