My take: A deal with the devil is never a good idea, but it does make for a good movie.
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars
La Main du diable is a French film, which was released as Carnival of Sinners in the U.S. It’s the 27th movie listed in Studies in Terror, and it was an excellent, Faust-style story.
The chef and Monsieur Brissot as he learns of the talisman that will change his life and cost his soul.
It’s about a poor painter named Roland Brissot. He’s in love with a shop girl who is only interested in fame and money. When she dumps him in a restaurant and he is left a heart-broken wreck, the chef comes to Brissot’s table with a curious offer. He has a talisman that can bring him fame, talent and fortune. The cost? His immortal soul.
Of course he buys it. Brissot claims to believe in neither god nor the devil, so what is the harm? As soon as he seals the deal with a handshake, however, he sees the power of what he has done. The chef’s hand vanishes before his eyes and he is left wondering what kind of bargain he just struck.
Brissot does indeed find fame with his new talisman, which is a living left hand curiously poised in a wooden box. His painting improves and his girlfriend returns to him with open arms. But he soon finds himself stalked and pestered by the devil himself who wants to claim Brissot’s soul.
While parts of the film were a bit hokey, the overall story was compelling. I did not know how the story would progress or how Brissot would get out from under the terrible bargain he made. As a result, I was interested from start to finish.
I would recommend this movie to fans of movies involving the devil, supernatural mysteries and French films.
I was only able to find the movie on Hulu plus, which has it as part of the Criterion collection. There is no trailer for the film online. So, I am stuck leaving you with a poster for the film in lieu of a video:
The poster for La Main du diable.
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