La Cité de la peur, directed by Alain Berbérian and written by the famous Nuls(Alain Chabat, Dominique Farrugia), is an emblematic comedy of the 1990s. Starring the comedy trio Chantal Lauby, Alain Chabat and Dominique Farrugia, this parodic film takes place during the Cannes Film Festival and plays with the codes of crime and horror films. With its absurd murders, cult dialogues and outrageous situations, La Cité de la peur has marked generations with its offbeat humor and unforgettable lines.
City of Fear will be broadcast on Max from December 20, 2024, and is already available on Disney+ and Prime Video.
Synopsis: Cannes, during the Festival. It's not easy for Odile Deray, a small-time film press agent, to get people talking about her film "Red is Dead". Admittedly, it's a Z-movie, a low-budget horror film with unlikely actors. One day, however, luck smiles on Odile: a killer commits murders in exactly the same way as in "Red is Dead", and the opportunity is just too good: real murders, just like in her film, right in the middle of the Cannes Film Festival! The publicity couldn't be better... So Odile immediately brings in Simon Jeremi, the lead actor in "Red is Dead", a rather simple thirty-year-old. To protect him - and, above all, to show off - she also hires a bodyguard, Serge Karamazov, more interested in girls than in his mission. In the heat of Cannes, with a killer on the loose, a crooked politician and a media-obsessed chief commissioner, Odile, Simon and Kara will have to elbow their way to the steps of the Grand Palais intact. But even there, they won't have seen the last of their adventures...
La Cité de la peur will appeal to fans of absurdist humor, those nostalgic for the 1990s and fans of Les Nuls, whose sketches marked an era. With its parodic tone and numerous nods to cinema, this film will also delight cinephiles who appreciate the references to the detective genre and horror films.
The absurd and sometimes zany humor may not suit those looking for more classic comedy or linear storytelling. However, the cult lines based on "serial killer", "would you like a whisky?" and "have some Emile chewing gum" remain timeless and continue to appeal to new generations. The film is reminiscent of other parodic comedies such as Hot Shots! or Y a-t-il un pilote dans l'avion, but with a typically French signature.
La Cité de la peur is much more than just a comedy, it's a monument to French humor. With its brilliant writing and iconic cast, the film continues to entertain almost thirty years after its initial release. Its arrival on Max is a great opportunity to (re)discover it, laugh out loud and immerse yourself in the world of Les Nuls.
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