"Joy House" (aka "Les Félins") is a French suspense film that really sneaks up on you. That's because about 70% through the film, I was rather bored. However, late in the picture, everything came together so well--so perfectly--that you can't help but really admire the film.
This film begins with a group of paid killers capturing a schnook (Alain Delon) who has apparently ticked off the boss. However, despite beating the snot out of the guy, he's able to escape and desperately looks for a place to hide. He wanders into the lives of two ladies (Jane Fonda and Lola Albright) and they help him hide and give him a job as a chauffeur. This is a bit strange and it's all chalked up to the ladies being full of love of the poor and destitute. However, through the course of the film, Delon picks up on some clues that PERHAPS these women aren't such wonderful benefactors--and he is being kept their for nefarious reasons. However, if he leaves, the killers will find him and dispatch him. What's next?!
In many ways, this film is very reminiscent of a later Delon film, "Diaboliquement Vôtre". Both have wonderful endings and both involve Delon being held in a mansion due to ulterior motives. So, in a way, this later film is a bit derivative--but still good. Both, however, feature AMAZING endings--deliciously twisted and very satisfying.
By the way, one of the killers is played by Sorrel Booke--the guy who later played 'Boss Hogg' on "The Dukes of Hazard". Also, the DVD case really makes "Joy House" look like a terrifically sexy film. It has its moments, but really is a suspense film not a film with a lot of skin.
This film begins with a group of paid killers capturing a schnook (Alain Delon) who has apparently ticked off the boss. However, despite beating the snot out of the guy, he's able to escape and desperately looks for a place to hide. He wanders into the lives of two ladies (Jane Fonda and Lola Albright) and they help him hide and give him a job as a chauffeur. This is a bit strange and it's all chalked up to the ladies being full of love of the poor and destitute. However, through the course of the film, Delon picks up on some clues that PERHAPS these women aren't such wonderful benefactors--and he is being kept their for nefarious reasons. However, if he leaves, the killers will find him and dispatch him. What's next?!
In many ways, this film is very reminiscent of a later Delon film, "Diaboliquement Vôtre". Both have wonderful endings and both involve Delon being held in a mansion due to ulterior motives. So, in a way, this later film is a bit derivative--but still good. Both, however, feature AMAZING endings--deliciously twisted and very satisfying.
By the way, one of the killers is played by Sorrel Booke--the guy who later played 'Boss Hogg' on "The Dukes of Hazard". Also, the DVD case really makes "Joy House" look like a terrifically sexy film. It has its moments, but really is a suspense film not a film with a lot of skin.