Venice Film Festival 2012: Brian De Palma returns with "Passion"

(CBS/AP) VENICE, Italy - Brian De Palma has returned to the Venice Film Festival with "Passion," the director's first thriller in 20 years.

The movie is a murder mystery turning a power struggle between Christine, a business woman played by Rachel McAdams, and Isabel, her protege played by Noomi Rapace.

"Passion," which is based on the 2010 French film "Love Crime," makes its world premiere in competition at the Venice festival on Friday.

De Palma, best known for films including "Carrie," "Scarface," "The Untouchables" and "Mission: Impossible," said "Passion" is "a woman's film" and the actresses "played off each other quite well." 

Rapace said she appreciated depicting a relationship between women that is not "cute" or "just friends."

De Palma was last in Venice in 2007 with "Redacted" and in 2006 with the film noir "The Black Dahlia."

His last thriller was "Raising Cain" in 1992.

The Venice Film Festival began on Aug. 29 and finishes up on Saturday.