Interesting thriller verging on fantasy ,which was released at the wrong time; it's definitely fifties stuff ,in black and white, the director's screenplay probably inspired by Stanislas André Steeman .
Good use of the settings ,the unsettling manor where strange crimes are committed, disturbing lightnings ,and a whodunit side: the suspects are numerous : is the commander (Noel Roquevert)in his wheelchair who enjoys chess really disabled ? Is the Asiatic servant a fiend? Does the scientist's daughter speak the truth?
Raymond Souplex was the superintendent of the era ; his young lieutenant is smartly introduced ; he 's played by François Deguelt ,essentially a singer who would have a big hit in 1965 ("le ciel ,le soleil et la mer" ) ,an offbeat choice ;and sing,Deguelt does ,but his self-penned song is bland and comes at the most awkward moment :a car chase! But ,as Daniel Emilfork ,one of the scariest faces of the French cinema is involved ,one can be merciful.
