'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer'- A Film For The Senses

'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer' is a 2006 film and is based on a novel of the same name. It is actually a German film, but the spoken language is English.

It is Rated R for disturbing imagery, violence, sexuality, and nudity so it's not for the kiddies. I state this in case you didn't catch the obvious "MURDERER" part of the title.

'Perfume' follows the sad, yet disturbing life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw).

He is orphaned from birth and looks like any other pitiful soul living in the foul stench of eighteenth-century Paris.

What is inhuman about Grenouille is his ability to smell. He can smell anything and everything in the world, living or inanimate.


Eventually, he becomes interested in the art of perfumery and learns that he can preserve scents.

His passion for the art of scent becomes malicious as he sets out to make himself known for the world's perfect perfume.

I have never read the book, but I want to now. The way the movie is set up is like you are reading a book. There's a narrator to describe Grenouille's feelings or thoughts since that particular character does not speak much.

I know this is a movie not everyone will like though, but I thought the concept and originality of the story was intriguing and different.

This movie is highly sensual and if you have any young siblings, I give a warning so you don't pop in the DVD while you're babysitting a bunch of innocent-minded children.

I can't say it's SEXUAL though, except for like two parts. Majority of the nudity comes at the worst possible moments. It's like that dream people have when they're naked and out in public...only in the movie, they DIE instead of becoming embarassed.
Each adorable kitten represents a moment of nudity and violence in 'Perfume'

The actors did a good job. Dustin Hoffman ('Meet The Fockers,' 'The Graduate') and Alan Rickman (Snape in the 'Harry Potter' films) are the most notable ones in the film. Rachel Hurd-Wood, who played Wendy in 2003's 'Peter Pan' is also here.

Ben Whishaw plays a convincing freak; I mean that in a good way.

Too bad there is no "Smell-O-Vision" technology yet because this is one of those movies that could have featured that and put it to good, disgusting use.

I liked the movie personally, but the story may or may not be too weird for some people. I thought it was original and I want to read the book now since I have heard the novel is better.


4.5/5


Rent worthy? Yeah, if you like thrillers/horror films. This is hardly a horror film, but a movie about a murderer should be horrific, no?

DVD/Blu-ray worthy? Yeah, I own it already. It's no 'Silence of the Lambs,' but it's good enough.

Random Tidbit:

You know the song "Scentless Apprentice" by Nirvana? It was inspired bythe novel that 'Perfume' is based on. So even Kurt Cobain liked this story, I guess.

Keep on watchin'

The Little Critic