Mathieu Kassovitz's The Crimson Rivers is an engrossing, if somewhat old fashioned, detective thriller that's four parts whodunit and six parts whydunit.

It's intricately crafted in that it grabs the viewer's attention with the most grisly of crimes and then holds it with a number of escalating twists, turns, coincidences and surprises.

Inspector Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno) is one of France's most respected homicide detectives.

He is assigned the most bizarre and horrific crimes and a gruesome murder in the tiny Alpine town of Guernon is tailor made for his talents.

Meanwhile, in another mountain village 300 km away, detective Max Kerkerian (Vincent Cassel) has been assigned to investigate the desecration of a child who died 20 years earlier in a terrible highway accident.

Each detective may be unaware of the other's assignment or that the crimes were committed the same day but the viewer is clued in and suspects that there is a very important connection.

What makes The Crimson Rivers so compelling is not the chilling nature of the crimes, but those investigating them.

These are two of France's top stars working at the peak of their talents. They are as fascinating as the crimes they are investigating.

The Crimson Rivers is a top-notch suspense thriller that deputizes the viewer with the challenge of trying to reach the truth before Niemans and Kerkerian.

(This film is rated AA)

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