BLOODY OLIVE, THE(director/writer: Vincent Bal; screenwriter: from the novel Imbroglio by Lewis Trondheim; cinematographer: Philippe Van Volsem; editor: Ewin Ryckaert; music: Hans Helewaut; cast: Veerle van Overloop (Mylène), Werner (Frank Focketyn), Sam (Gene Bervoets), Guy Dermul (Cop); Runtime: 10; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Erwin Provoost; Der KurzFilmVerleih; 1996-Belgium-in Dutch with English and French subtitles)
“A ten-minute black-and-white crime thriller that held my interest for its entire ten minutes.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A ten-minute black-and-white crime thriller that held my interest for its entire ten minutes. A married couple, Mylène and Werner, are jolly together finishing up decorating their apartment Christmas tree, when they are surprised by the visit of their business colleague Sam. He brings a bottle of Veuve Cliqot champagne, and they drink a toast. Sam then accuses Werner of stealing money from their firm and he’s going to report it to the authorities. Werner then shoots Sam, which startles his wife. But Sam rises from the dead to critically knife Werner and when he goes after the panicky Mylène, she drops dead from a heart attack. Then Werner rises from the dead and congratulates Sam on a job well done. But no sooner than a nano second after the men are celebrating their successful collaboration does Mylène rise from the dead and it’s revealed she wants her hubby dead to take control of the firm, as Sam reveals he poisoned Werner’s drink. Well, the double-crosses and phony murder scenes are just in their early stages and continue until a cop, as arranged, arrives to arrest the guilty party and end the string of betrayals.

It was cute, but a little too cute for my taste. Vincent Bal is writer-director; it’s adapted from the novel Imbroglio by Lewis Trondheim.

REVIEWED ON 4/15/2005 GRADE: B-

Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”

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