The Butcher

In a provincial French town, a restrained schoolteacher and a somber butcher develop an unexpected friendship. As the two grow closer, a series of brutal murders targeting women begins to plague the region. The teacher becomes convinced that her companion, a former soldier, is the person responsible for the killings.

Directed and written by Claude Chabrol, this crime drama is the sixth of 17 films he directed, following The Unfaithful Wife and preceding Scoundrel in White. The film stars Stéphane Audran as Hélène Davile and Jean Yanne as Paul Thomas, with supporting roles played by Roger Rudel, Antonio Passalia, Mario Beccara, and William Guérault. A joint production between France and Italy, the movie was produced by André Génovès through Les Films La Boétie and Euro International Films.

The film has been well received by viewers, maintaining a 7.3 rating on IMDb based on 10,000 votes and a 7.1 rating on TMDB from 293 votes.