MovieChat Forums > La residencia (1971) Discussion > Killer's Identity a Surprise? *spoilers*

Killer's Identity a Surprise? spoilers

posted 14 years ago by lenlarga
10 replies | jump to latest

I've seen a review where the ultimate identity of the Killer is 'barely hidden'. However, I was caught off guard, though in retrospect, I am not sure why. Luis always was the one who had the opportunity (though the motive was not clear). It is Luis' letter that draws Isabell out at night, and Luis is the one who knows Teresa is going to leave and he is the one from the very beginning who is stalking the girls of the residence.

However, I think it was his sweet tenderness with Teresa that led me to believe it couldn't be him and that it was Mdme. Forneau, trying to kill every girls he was attracted to. That is why I was surprised at the end.

Anyone one else who was surprised?

[–] matheusmarchetti 14 years ago

I was very much surprised, since, just like yourself, I thought Forneaux was the killer. Still, I don´t think the big twist in the movie is "who is the killer" but in fact, what has he done to the girls and why. The discovery of Luis´ intentions really disturbed me.

The theater is like a faithful wife. The film is the great adventure, the costly, exacting mistress

[–] lenlarga 14 years ago

"The discovery of Luis´ intentions really disturbed me."

Yes, it was shocking, though it makes a twisted sort of sense in the end. He was driven mad by an inappropriate relationship with his mother that was forced on him and the fact that she made him a virtual prisoner. This was his way of getting back at her...ironic how he makes her the prisoner in the end.

[–] LizardKingBey 14 years ago

Yes exactly. Although I didn't really expect him to be the killer, what shocked me most was what he had done with the bodies. And, as you said, the reason why he did it. Great film.

[–] lenlarga 14 years ago

I wouldn't want to psychoanalyze this great film too much, but the ending really takes on the topic of incest in a big way. Luis is a sexual prisoner of his own mother- this is never stated outright but it is implied in the two scenes he has with Lilli Palmer- and his "creation" of the girl "just like his mother" is his way of escaping her abuse.

[–] LizardKingBey 14 years ago

Yep and I heard there's this scene, in a another cut of the movie, where she kisses him on the mouth. I know some parents kiss their kids on the mouth, but I'm pretty sure in this movie it was there to imply something more than your average mother/son kiss.

[–] cjbark-34442 7 years ago

"where she kisses him on the mouth." That was in the Uncut Australian vhs and as far as I know It is on the new blu ray, which I'm waiting to be posted to me. I guess the censors cut it from some prints because it implied incest.

"That's it. It bit into his arm-pit. Like It wanted to eat him, man. Like It wanted to eat his heart."

[–] bluemagicmist 10 years ago

I wouldn't want to psychoanalyze this great film too much, but the ending really takes on the topic of incest in a big way. Luis is a sexual prisoner of his own mother- this is never stated outright but it is implied in the two scenes he has with Lilli Palmer- and his "creation" of the girl "just like his mother" is his way of escaping her abuse.

I agree and the mother is definitely the villain in this movie. I wonder if this manifested into multiple personality disorder (if one can agree this condition actually exists :-)) with Luis because he seemed in a normal state when Theresa visited him in his room, he even broke open his piggy bank to get to funds to help her escape.

[–] zap644 10 years ago

I went back and forth. Luis seemed the obvious killer at first, but then I thought that was too obvious. Maybe it was the handyman (I forget his name).

Then, like you I thought maybe it was Mdme. Forneaux for exactly the same reasons you suspected her.

There's another scene where the girl is talking to Forneau that suggests she might be a killer.

The dialogue is something like this:

I'm leaving.
you're staying mademoiselle
How will you stop me?
You'll find out.

And then later I started suspecting everyone thinking that the identity of the murderer would be some even more unexpected twist.

[–] FascistAnarchist999 9 years ago

I've noticed that there are also clues in the movies, like when Luis's mom tells him that he needs a woman that is like her. She says this twice in the movie.

[–] brefane 8 years ago

No, it seemed obvious to me.However his reason for killing surprised me.