France, 1893. Joseph Bouvier attempts to shoot his love who refused to marry him and to commit suicide. Upon release from the filthy asylum where he was placed, with bullets still remaining in his head, he wanders the country roads and rapes and murders many teenagers over years. The judge Rousseau captures him, but to serve his ambition seeks to avoid that Bouvier is simply declared insane.
Philippe Noiret
as Juge Rousseau
Michel Galabru
as Joseph Bouvier
Isabelle Huppert
as Rose
Jean-Claude Brialy
as Avocat Villedieu
Renée Faure
as Mme Rousseau
Cécile Vassort
as Louise Leseuer
Jean-Roger Caussimon
as Chanteur de rue
Jean Bretonnière
as Le député
François Dyrek
as Le cheminot libéré
Monique Chaumette
as La mère de Louise
Yves Robert
as Professeur Degueldre
Jean Amos
as Le gardien-chef
