The Keep

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Some great old school creeps with Nazis, evil demonic spirits, strange haunted nightmares and a big mysterious and ancient fortress.

A very early Michael Mann film and one that doesn't appear to be readily available. It's true it is rather problematic but it looks gorgeous. It really makes a great case for film and not the grainy video-loooking digital cameras he shoots on now. The framing and lighting in this is sumptuous and beautifully composed.

Ian McKellen plays a jewish scholar who the Germans have to call in for his expertise. I think even in the old age make-up at the start it's the youngest I've ever seen him look. Gabriel Byrne is the evil German commander and Scott Glenn is creepy as, well I don't really know what exactly he is.

I really love the look of the evil entity that slowly manifests throughout the film. Although there are more than a handful of man in suit moments when it is required to move. The rest of the time these apparitions appear as smoke and dry ice and it's done pretty well. Especially when they suck the spirits out of the Nazi soldiers Raiders of the Lost Ark style. And then their heads implode. Neat.

For all the drama about the Germans and the nature of evil and religion the film surprised me and really focused more on the supernatural stuff. It's pretty slow and brooding, like a haunted house film. But they never shy away from showing the supernatural events, which might hurt the film a little.

The climax amounts to some men standing around throwing 80's fx at each other. I find a certain charm to that but must admit, as cool as I think that is, it's not that successful from an action standpoint.

The score is by Tangerine Dream. There are some places where it's ok but others where it really hurts the film and also shows it's age.

So although it's not entirely successful, for an 80's horror-ish supernatural thriller it sets the scene and builds a fantastic mood throughout the first half, looks far better than it has any right to and has enough cool fx to keep me happy.