Strikes a good balance between humour and social commentary, I was drawn in from the start
Winner of the Audience Award at the Málaga French Film Festival 2024, How to make a Killing is just one of 42 amazing films to watch at the 2025 Alliance Française French Film Festival. Directed by Franck Dubosc, this dark comedy thriller, with screenplay by Franck Dubosc and Sarah Kaminsky, is full of surprises.
The opening scene plunges straight into it, as Michel (Franck Dubosc) swerves to avoid a bear that has burst onto the road, inadvertently causing the death of a couple who had parked on the roadside. The way Dubosc reacts to the deaths, as he struggles to process how it all happened (the audience sees the short lead up) is hilarious and sets the darkly comedic tone. He plays this part well, carrying a shocked-but-detached, befuddled look which carries through to the dinner table that night when he announces to his family, in a matter-of-fact way, that he killed two strangers today. His wife Cathy (Laure Calamy)’s mind, educated by crime novels, goes into overdrive so the next day together, they return to the scene.
As they clean the car of Michel’s’ prints, they discover two million euros and from there the absurdity escalates as they try their amateur best to cover their tracks, and it is hilarious how their actions are later interpreted. The body count continues, and the gendarmes are introduced to the film.
The police major Roland Bodin (Benoît Poelvoorde), and his daughter Blanche (Kim Higelin) add another layer of humour, yet similar to Michel and Cathy, there are scenes of vulnerability, hurt, and the desire for emotional connection. There is also the opposite, though, like when Bodin’s ex-wife shamelessly flaunts her new partner, laughing at him with malice and trying to make him look foolish.
Set during a white Christmas, the film’s snowy landscape was immersive, especially as I watched the film on a rather hot evening! The sweeping aerial shots capture the immense landscape and pull you into each scene, moving from the vast, rugged beauty of the landscape into the chaotic world of the characters, creating a contrast between the serene environment and the turmoil unfolding on screen.
There are a lot of twists in this film, but they are well enough paced, or somehow come out so naturally that you are taken on this great journey with the couple. When I first saw the trailer, I thought it may be a little too intense for me, but as it was also touted a dark comedy, I was still keen to see what it was all about. Who doesn’t like a decent amount of killing and action in films that is done in an amusing way?
Michel’s dazed, almost nonchalant reactions in contrast to Cathy’s escalating concerns and subsequent actions, drive the plot forward and their tandem responses are a constant source of amusement. Throughout the film, you are very much drawn into Michel’s mind as he passively accepts his wife’s (at times) elaborate thought processes and actions. I remember Calamy’s role in My Donkey, My Lover & I, whereby in her moment of desperation and sadness, she ends up hiking with a stubborn donkey. She brings the same energy to this role as things spiral out of control.
Despite the deaths being made light of, there is a significant amount of social commentary in this film as it progresses. The film blends dark comedy with deeper social themes as it touches on police corruption, gangland warfare, drug trafficking, and the exploitation of migrants as drug mules. It also explores personal relationships – love, marriage, singlehood, and – being a French film- includes a hint of kink.
The film is highly entertaining and strikes a good balance between humour and social commentary without becoming too intense. It’s a sharp, funny movie that does not lose its momentum.
How to Make a Killing shows at the Alliance Française French Film Festival at Palace Nova Eastend and Prospect from March 19th.
Click here for screening times and to book tickets.
Click here for further details.
More News
