Vortex is about the ultimate prison in a time where crime has taken over and the government is forced to use drastic measures. When Vincent shoots a thief in self defense, he is sent to the Vortex after an seemingly unfair trial. Once inside, he learns the principle of the Vortex: Each week, he has to repeart his crime - in his case murder - to stay alive. Otherwise he himself will become a target.
Michael Pohl's movie is quite promising. He may himself be a potential Vortex inhabitant as he steals from SciFi movie history in each scene, but manages to make it his own work.
The story focusses on Vincent's dilemma of having to repeat a murder in self defense, now minus the self defense part. The moralities of this situation are in fact a part of the surprise ending, which isn't really a surprise as there are many hints throughout the movie as to what the Vortex is really about.
The acting is okay, nothing special here. Hardy Krüger Jr. tries his best to add some depth to his character, but as in most of his other roles it is appearant that his abilities are limited. On the other hand, Vortex grants us a final look at the talents of the late Harald Leipnitz, who often didn't have the chance to shine as brightly as in this movie.
If you're a Blade Runner fan, or a fan of dark SciFi in general, you should give Vortex a try. It's far from perfect, but it's basic idea is strong enough to entertain. In fact, Vortex might act as a blueprint for an American remake, as the story could be quite intruiging if done properly and a surefire hit if a couple of big names are added to the project.
