Le Champignon (1970)
Directed by Marc Simenon

Film Review

Le Champignon (a.k.a. L'Assassin frappe à l'aube) was the first film to be directed by Belgian filmmaker Marc Simenon, son of the illustrious writer Georges Simenon.  Prior to this, Simenon had worked as an assistant on films as diverse as Jean Renoir's Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe (1959) and Jean Girault's popular Gendarme films (1964-5).  Being married to the actress Mylène Demongeot, it was natural that he should cast her in a lead role, and it's a good thong he did as she is just about the only thing the film has going for it.

From the opening shot, Simenon leaves us in no doubt that he is modelling himself on Claude Chabrol, but within five minutes it is patently apparent that he has none of Chabrol's flair or artistry.  Le Champignon is a plodding mess of a film which, even once it has finally dragged itself into murder mystery territory after a completely muddled start, fails to engage.  Demongeot gets by with her customary charm and other assets, but the rest of the cast just look patently ridiculous (even Alida Valli), and some of the acting is unbelievably bad.  Undeterred by this misfire, Simenon went on to direct another five films, all equally forgettable.

Film Synopsis

Éric Calder is a 30-year-old doctor who has just opened a new surgery on the banks of Lake Geneva.  His marriage soon comes under strain as his young wife, Anne, is often away from home pursuing a busy career as a producer of advertising films.  Among Calder's more interesting patients is Linda Benson, an artist who has become addicted to the hallucinogenic substances she extracts from mushrooms in her garden.  Invited by his patient to share her drug of choice Éric can hardly refuse, but when he comes to he finds himself lying beside the body of a dead woman.  Is it possible that he murdered Linda without realising it...?