The Corruption of Chris Miller (1973)

A serial killer uses a scythe to slash his murder victims--or maybe it's *her* murder victims?

Director:

Juan Antonio Bardem

Writers:

Santiago Moncada (screenplay), Santiago Moncada (story)

Stars:

Jean Seberg, Marisol, Barry Stokes

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean Seberg	...	Ruth Miller
Marisol	...	Chris Miller
Barry Stokes	...	Barney Webster
Perla Cristal	...	Perla
Rudy Gaebel	...	Lewis
Gérard Tichy	...	Commissioner
Alicia Altabella	...	Adela
Mariano Vidal Molina	...	Ernesto (as Vidal Molina)
María Bardem	...	Maria
Juan Antonio Bardem	...	Pedro (as Juan Bardem)
Miguel Bardem	...	Tin
Gustavo Re	...	Shopkeeper
Carl Rapp	...	TV Reporter
Goyo Lebrero	...	Peasant
Antonio Parra	...	Postman

Storyline

A serial killer uses a scythe to slash his murder victims--or maybe it's *her* murder victims?

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Plot Keywords:

giallo | murder | serial killer | spanish giallo | slasher | 

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Taglines:

When it rains it pours ... BLOOD

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

September 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Behind the Shutters

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Xavier Armet P.C.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min 114 min (uncut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to star Jean Seberg's biography the actress was rather embarrassed to appear in this film because of its lurid subject matter. She only took the role due to financial matters.

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Connections

Referenced in Beauty (1981)

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Soundtracks

Au clair de la lune
Performed by Barry Stokes, Jean Seberg and Marisol

User Reviews

Fear in the countryside

"La corrupción de Chris Miller" is a difficult film to write about. It tells a story that has many layers. There's the straight story the film tells and there are many undercurrents that are left for the viewer to discern.

Ruth (Jean Seberg) lives with her stepdaughter Chris (Marisol) in an isolated mansion in the countryside. Both of them wait for the same man. He was Ruth's husband and the father of Chris. One day, without warning, he left everything. They don't know where he's at. But Ruth and Chris have different feelings about him. Ruth wants to get even with him for what he has done to her, and for doing this she can use Chris, his daughter. Maybe she can corrupt her. But corruption is a vague word, what does it really mean? And Chris waits for her father as if he were the last hope left for her. A traumatic experience she had, has left its mark on her. Maybe her father is the only good thing left in the world...

But it's difficult to classify the relationship between the two women. It's not a traditional love-hate relationship. The same man links them, but there's much more than that.

Meanwhile a serial killer roams about the countryside. Mysterious murders are happening in the area.

One day a drifter, come from nowhere, arrives in the house. As it happens, he (Barney) is engaged to work in the house for doing the odd jobs. His presence will change everything. Slowly a strange kind of threesome is developed - an atmosphere of suspicion, perplexity ... begins to grow. Who is he? What does he want from them? What do they want from him? Ruth and Chris and Barney? Outside, the murders go on happening.

I won't say more because I don't want to spoil the film for you. "La corrupción de Chris Miller" is a refined psychological thriller. Jean Seberg is very good as Ruth, and Marisol's interpretation of Chris is powerful and emotional.

If you like this one, check out also "El ojo del huracán" (In the eye of the hurricane) - it's seemingly a lighter type of thriller, but don't let yourself get fooled, because under the sun there is light and there are also shadows.