Wicked Games: Three Films by Robert Hossein Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Wicked Games: Three Films by Robert Hossein Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 16, 2025

As an actor, Robert Hossein is probably best remembered on this side of the pond for his supporting role in Jules Dassin's iconic Rififi, but as a so-called "multi-hyphenate" he had a rather interesting career as both a writer and director, including the three films Radiance has aggregated in this appealing new collection. The set includes The Wicked Go to Hell, Hossein's debut as director and (co-)writer, which came out in 1955, the same year as Rififi. After a 1956 effort called Pardonnez nos offences, Hossein took on sole writing credit in addition to directing with 1959's Nude in a White Car (as it's titled here, though there are multiple variant titles, including the original French Toi, le venin). Two other interstitial films, 1959's Double Agents and 1960's Les scélérats, appeared before the final film offered in this triptych, 1961's The Taste of Violence. Two of the three films in this set, as well as some of Hossein's other efforts, are based on novels by Frédéric Dard.

For reviews of the films in this set, please click on the following links:

The Wicked Go to Hell Blu-ray review

Nude in a White Car Blu-ray review

The Taste of Violence Blu-ray review

Wicked Games: Three Films by Robert Hossein Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Wicked Games: Three Films by Robert Hossein Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Wicked Games: Three Films by Robert Hossein Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supplements on each disc are detailed in the above linked reviews.

This is a handsomely packaged set from Radiance, with a slipbox enclosing two keepcases. One keepcase has two discs, one with The Wicked Go to Hell and the other with Nude in a White Car. The Taste of Violence has its own keepcase. Both keepcases have reversible sleeves (the one with two discs offers different films on each side). A nicely appointed insert booklet contains some new writing and several archival pieces. Radiance's usual Obi strip is included.

Wicked Games: Three Films by Robert Hossein Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is a really fascinating set from Radiance that should find an appreciative audience by those who may already know of Hossein from his on screen performances, but also by "generalists" interested in midcentury French dramas. All three films have compelling aspects, and all three feature generally solid technical merits and some appealing supplements. Recommended.