De vierde man (1983)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writers:

Gerard Reve (novel)
Gerard Soeteman (writer)

Release Date:

24 March 1983 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Christine is young, beautiful and rich. Her three husbands all died tragically. It's time for Christine to find her fourth man.

Plot:

In a man's bedroom, a large spider catches flies from her web affixed to a crucifix. The man is Reve...

Plot Keywords:

Vision | Spider | Writer | Catholic | Nightmare

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jeroen Krabbé	...	Gerard Reve
Renée Soutendijk	...	Christine Halsslag
Thom Hoffman	...	Herman
Dolf de Vries	...	Dr. de Vries
Geert de Jong	...	Ria
Hans Veerman	...	Begrafenisondernemer
Hero Muller	...	Josefs
Caroline de Beus	...	Adrienne
Reinout Bussemaker	...	Eerste echtgenoot
Erik J. Meijer	...	Tweede echtgenoot
Ursul de Geer	...	Derde echtgenoot
Filip Bolluyt	...	Surfer
Hedda Lornie	...	Verkoopster boekhandel
Paul Nygaard	...	Violist
Guus van der Made	...	Treinkelner

Also Known As:

The 4th Man (USA) (video box title)
The Fourth Man (USA)

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:R | South Korea:18 (1995) | Argentina:18 | Hong Kong:III | Netherlands:12 | UK:18 | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Central Station, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Rob Houwer Productions

Trivia:

Director Paul Verhoeven frequently claimed that he made this film, overdoing the symbolism and bible references intentionally, just to please the snobbish Dutch critics, who had dismissed his previous work as shallow sensationalism. In recent years however he has moderated his views on the film, declaring himself quite satisfied with it.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: At the beginning of the movie, as Gerard is getting out of bed, the boom mic is visible in a mirror behind him.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Schau mir in die Augen, Kleiner (2007)

The ultimate erotic thriller

When it comes to Paul Verhoeven and erotic thrillers, most people think of "Basic Instinct" and some maybe of "Showgirls". But Verhoeven has made his best erotic thriller years before these two movies: "De Vierde Man". This film is mesmerizing and mindblowing - and above all the story is absolutely plausible, which makes the whole experience even more intense. The performances by Jeroen Krabbe, Renee Soutendijk and Thom Hoffman are exceptional, and Verhoeven's direction does the rest. "De Vierde Man" makes even "Basic Instinct" look quite tame... It can't get much better than this, a true classic of erotic nightmare cinema. 10 out of 10, at least...