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Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer Image
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Metascore
56 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 68 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Ben Whishaw
  • Summary: Based on Patrick Suskind's best-selling novel, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is set in Paris and revolves around an eccentric 18th century murderer with an extraordinary sense of smell.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 30
  3. Negative: 3 out of 30
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    This is a dark, dark, dark film, focused on an obsession so complete and lonely it shuts out all other human experience. You may not savor it, but you will not stop watching it, in horror and fascination.
  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ed Halter
    60
    It's a noble experiment in pushing the limits of cinema, but Tykwer never achieves true profundity.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    30
    Try as it might to be refined and provocative, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer never rises above the pedestrian creepiness of its conceit.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 42
  3. Negative: 11 out of 42
  1. JochenD.
    10
    One of the best films ever made. Great direction and cinemathography, magnificent decors, great performances, great music, ... Tom Tykwer did what Stanley Kubrick found impossible: he adapted Suskind's wonderful novel to a fantastic movie. An outstanding masterpiece.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. jimmytancredi
    5
    The movie, of course, is a romanticized version, and even a little imaginative from the book, which is gross, greedy, nasty and wonderful. The most demanding, observing every detail of the adjustments, you might not like this. I loved it. Even after the book that blew me away, I could watch this movie and find extremely beautiful. With a gripping story, takes you on a visual journey to there and gives us a rich history of this man, Grenouille. Ben Whishaw **** perfect on paper. The scene of the "execution" it is one of the craziest I've ever seen. Hard to take your eyes off the television.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. AmyR.
    3
    One of the more disturbing, creepy movies I've ever seen, and I don't mean that in a good way. The plot point on which everything turns is so repulsive, offensive to women and humanity in general, as to be without redemption. The San Francisco newspaper sums it up nicely--this film is nothing it aspires to be, and utterly revolting in its attempts.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 42 User Reviews

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