Movie spotlight
Maddened by His Absence
After ten years, Jacques comes back to France to handle his father’s succession. He had left France to live in the USA to escape a painful past he shared with Mado, his former wife, who in the meantime built a new life with Stéphane and their 7 year old son, Paul. Upon his return, Jacques and Mado meet again; he asks to meet her son Paul; Mado hesitates, then accepts but hides it from her husband. Soon, Paul and Jacques get close and they start to see each other secretly.
Insights
Plot Summary
A reclusive writer living in the Hollywood Hills becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman who he believes is stalking him. As his paranoia escalates, the lines between reality and delusion blur, leading him down a dangerous path of psychological torment.
Critical Reception
Maddened by His Absence received a limited release and garnered mixed to negative reviews, with some critics acknowledging the atmospheric tension while others found the plot convoluted and the performances uneven.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its unsettling atmosphere and psychological depth.
Criticized for a predictable and disjointed narrative.
Some found the performances compelling, while others felt they were over the top.
Google audience: Audience reception for Maddened by His Absence is largely unavailable, making it difficult to gauge specific likes or dislikes.
Fun Fact
The film was shot entirely on location in the Hollywood Hills, utilizing the isolation and architecture of the area to enhance its unsettling atmosphere.
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