Both story and technique-wise. I mean, really: it's just a bunch of set-pieces sewn up to tell a story; there's a fair amount of disjointedness between the different parts of the film... but I suppose that's how "madness" was portrayed effectively.

Now, do I like it? Yes, it's think it's very, very damn good... at times brilliant. But it's that ending that throws me. It ends like a hopeful action flick to me, and it feels like it has nothing to do with the dread and psychosis of what we were originally watching. Wrapped up so neatly and all.

But overall, a great example of the "director's films" of the 70's.

--Maurice