I cannot understand how the movie "Face Off" could get near 8 on IMDb valuation and this movie, bacause is an european movie, only got 5.4. To me this movie, which is a science fiction or fantasy movie is similar in the fiction, but better

I wouldn't call La machine a perfect movie, but it is well done and gives good thrills mostly by fitting music and cinematography, while hardly displaying gore. You can create enough tension by just showing a door-knob slowly opening.Having seen 36 Quai d'Orfevres and Boudu in the last few days, I must say Gérard Depardieu is impressive in yet another type of role (or should we say, three?) Only in the end I lost track who is now in whose body...To blame this film to be a "pre-make" of Face/Off made three years later is obviously silly. But I notice quite some similarities with the cutely named "The Man Who Changed His Mind" (1936/I), with Boris Karloff - and, of course, many dissimilarities as well.I liked this movie, and give it 7/10.

"La Machine" is a violent, very well-made thriller, which proves that when the French aren't too preoccupied with "art" or "social shock", they can make a genre movie just as good as any similar American product. The director shows remarkable attention to detail, and the performances are versatile enough to help you "buy" the various transformations of the characters. Not an exceptional movie, but a gripping one. (***)

Since the movie was made in 1994, it's difficult to say that the plot was inspired by the brilliant movie "Face Off", made in 1997. Nevertheless, while you're watching the movie, you can't help thinking about the 1997 John Woo movie where the main character trade place with a dangerous killer. In both movies, the "bad guy" ends up sleeping with the "hero"'s wife, he threatens the "hero"'s wife and kid. They also switch lives where the hero ends up in jail (or asylum) and the bad guy enjoy a comfortable life in a beautiful house, next to the hero's wife and kid. "The Machine" doesn't have the juice of "Face Off" because they don't go deeply into everyone's personality and life. It seems like a shallow replicate of the John Woo movie without the special effects and cinematography. Good luck !