“Wages of Fear” aka “Le salaire de la peur” (2024) / Z-View

Wages of Fear aka Le salaire de la peur (2024)

Director: Julien Leclercq

Screenplay: Henri-Georges Clouzot (based on the motion picture “Le salaire de la peur”); Jérôme Géronimi (based on the motion picture “Le salaire de la peur” co-written by) (as Jean Clouzot); Georges Arnaud (novel); Hamid Hlioua (scenario); Hamid Hlioua (adaptation) & Julien Leclercq

Stars: Franck Gastambide, Alban Lenoir, Sofiane Zermani, Ana Girardot.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

When a remote desert oil well catches fire, the only way to extinguish the blaze is to set off a small explosion that will put it out.  In less than 24 hours the oil well will explode.  If it blows the explosion will be gigantic and kill the local population.

A pair of brothers and a few other mercenaries are paid handsomely to drive two truckloads of highly explosive nitroglycerin to the site.  They’re sending two truckloads, because it is unlikely even one truck will make it.  With two there might be a chance.  Odds against making the journey safely include the speed needed to cover the distance, the rough terrain, bandits and more.

It’s a suicide mission to save a village.  Not all will survive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Wages of Fear (2024) is a remake of 1953’s Le Salaire de la Peur (The Wages of Fear).  In 1977, William Friedkin brought his version, Sorcerer, to the big screen.  Both the original and Friedkin’s versions are vastly superior to the latest.

Wages of Fear aka Le salaire de la peur (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.