Frequent Death (original title: Fréquence meurtre) is a 1988 French crime film directed by Élisabeth Rappeneau. It is based on Stuart M. Kaminsky's 1983 novel When the Dark Man Calls.[3][4]

Frequent Death
Theatrical release poster
Directed byÉlisabeth Rappeneau
Written byJacques Audiard
Élisabeth Rappeneau[1]
Based onWhen the Dark Man Calls
by Stuart M. Kaminsky
Produced byDanièle Delorme
Yves Robert
StarringCatherine Deneuve
André Dussollier
Martin Lamotte
CinematographyWilliam Lubtchansky
Edited byMartine Barraqué
Music byPhilippe Gall
Production
companies
Les Productions de la Guéville
Acteurs Auteurs Associés
Distributed byActeurs Auteurs Associés
Release date
  • 30 March 1988 (1988-03-30)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Box office$3.6 million[2]

Plot

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Jeanne Quester is a single mother. As a certified psychologist, she works two jobs. During daytime she does social work, but at night she is a radio personality who provides live advice for needy callers. Due to the success of her radio show, she receives the offer to work for TV.

Suddenly she is menaced by alienating, enigmatic calls whenever she is on air. Moreover, a stranger manages to secretly access her flat and when Jeanne returns there, she finds her daughter's parrot killed. Later, she discovers somebody has attacked her car. Jeanne turns to her brother Frank, who is a policeman. Frank finds out that the convicted murderer of their parents was released just recently. Jeanne is afraid the murderer is out for vengeance.

Eventually she finds the alleged murderer himself brutally killed in her flat. Even so, the more and more openly threatening calls continue and finally her daughter gets kidnapped by the mysterious caller. Jeanne meets the kidnapper who turns out being the real murderer of her parents. He discloses his identity and tells her what really happened back then. When Jeanne can't comply with his demands, he decides to kill her.

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ "Stuart M. Kaminsky Source Material (from novel) ( When the Dark Man Calls )". Yahoo. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  2. ^ "Fréquence meurtre (1988) - JPBox-Office".
  3. ^ Carlson, Michael (2009-10-28). "Stuart Kaminsky obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012-12-22. When the Dark Man Calls (1983) became the French film Fréquence Meurtre (1988), starring Catherine Deneuve....
  4. ^ Pierce, J. Kingston. "Murder Is His Business". January Magazine. Retrieved 2012-12-22. There were two versions of When the Dark Man Calls. One starred Catherine Deneuve and was made in France.
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