De Vierde Man
1983 / 102m - The Netherlands
Mystery, Thriller
2.0*/5.0*
The 4th Man poster

Plot: Gerard is a popular writer who bumps into Christine, a young woman who lives life to the fullest. Gerard is smitten, but their relationship isn't exclusive. Christine has another boyfriend, even though he can't please her like she wants him to. As they get more serious, Gerard learns that Christine has a hidden past.

Watches

May 16, 2024

2.0*/5.0*

An old Verhoeven and veritable Dutch classic. It's not difficult to see where this film got its reputation from. The premise is interesting enough and Verhoeven doesn't shy away from the juicier details. The presentation feels a little cheesy though, with the performances in particular being pretty poor.

It's a pretty straightforward story, luckily, there's quite a bit of symbolism which adds to the intrigue. The homo-erotic overtones felt a bit out of place, though they don't detract I guess. Better acting and a slicker finale could've given the film a real boost, but at least I didn't feel bored watching it.