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Claude Chabrol's 'Das Biest muss sterben' on ARTE

other · 2026-08-03

Claude Chabrol's 1969 thriller 'Das Biest muss sterben' is airing on ARTE on August 3 and will be available in the Mediathek until September 1. The film, starring Michel Duchaussoy, Caroline Cellier, and Jean Yanne, follows writer Charles Thénier, whose son is killed in a hit-and-run. Thénier embarks on a quest for revenge, discovering that actress Hélène Lanson was in the car and that her brother-in-law Paul Decourt was the driver. As Thénier gets closer to Paul, he learns of Paul's abusive behavior and faces a moral dilemma when Paul's life is endangered. The film exemplifies Chabrol's Hitchcockian influence, particularly in its suspense-building and morally complex characters.

Key facts

  • The film 'Das Biest muss sterben' was directed by Claude Chabrol in 1969.
  • It airs on ARTE on August 3 and is available in the Mediathek until September 1.
  • The cast includes Michel Duchaussoy, Caroline Cellier, and Jean Yanne.
  • The plot revolves around a writer seeking revenge for his son's hit-and-run death.
  • The film is noted for its Hitchcockian influence on Chabrol's style.
  • The source is from kulturnews.de.
  • The film's German title translates to 'The Beast Must Die'.
  • Chabrol was often compared to Alfred Hitchcock, though he found it excessive.

Entities

Artists

  • Claude Chabrol
  • Michel Duchaussoy
  • Caroline Cellier
  • Jean Yanne

Institutions

  • ARTE

Sources