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Poster for The Butcher

The Butcher

Seen it?

1970 | 93 min | Thriller, Crime, Drama

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Point Blank or Fargo, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 33 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1970: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

An unlikely friendship between a dour, working class butcher and a repressed schoolteacher coincides with a grisly series of Ripper-type murders in a provincial French town.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.1 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerWeak

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 19K people sought it out in the past year, and interest is climbing

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Claude Chabrol

  • Stéphane AudranHélène Davile, aka 'Mlle Hélène'
  • Jean YannePaul Thomas, aka 'Popaul'
  • Roger RudelCommissioner Grumbach
  • Antonio PassaliaAngelo
  • Mario BeccaraLéon Hamel
  • William GuéraultCharles
  • Pascal FeroneFather Charpy