Cédric Anger, once a critic for Cahiers du Cinéma, wrote and directed this chilling chronicle of notorious serial killer Alain Lamare (here renamed Franck Neuhart and played by Guillaume Canet). In a truly mordant twist, while Lamare was terrorizing France in the winter of 1978-79, he was also an outstanding gendarme tasked with apprehending the killer. His victims were all helpless young women, whom he stalked and shot while trying to start a love affair with his pretty cleaning lady (Ana Girardot). Anger follows in the footsteps of Friedkin and Fincher in divesting all glamour from crime, instead showing the dead ends that vex the crime fighters and the dark souls that plague the criminals. The evocative period soundtrack includes Johnny Thunders and The Velvet Underground. Nominated for two César Awards.
"A chilly, fascinating film from the pages of true crime… the opening of Anger’s film is rendered with the elegance of De Palma. Disquietingly creepy." —Stephanie Zacharek, Village Voice
"Cedric Anger's stylish thriller Next Time I'll Aim for the Heart (La prochaine fois je viserai le coeur) offers up a strong central turn from Guillaume Canet while dishing out a number of crafty and suspenseful set-pieces." —Jordan Mintzer, Hollywood Reporter
"Very dark but fascinating film." —James van Maanen, TrustMovies
"Recommended! Draws from official documents for [a] cool-eyed portrait of a real-life serial killer." —K. Fennessy, Video Librarian
"The film has a lot going for it, including Canet’s creepy performance and a handful of tense encounters capable of sending shivers down your spine." —Amy Longsdorf, Camden Courier Post