Des Teufels Bad

This film is about depression and suicide in 18th century rural Austria.

It is wonderfully shot and we're told it is historically accurate and based on true events of actual women from that period.

This is not a horror film to be clear.

This is not a must-see film, either.

I think it may be an interesting film for psychology students or teachers, and perhaps for film students.

If one is familiar with depression and interested in it's historical interpretation, this film is relevant.

Other than those instances, I would not watch this film. Its simply bleak from start to finish and there's no redemption for anyone. You'll feel bad during and after your viewing.

Again, this is a well-shot, historical perspective on suicide by proxy. I felt that it was unnecessary to watch this film to understand that phenomenon.

3.75 STARS - This is worth watching for the main actress's performance alone. She did a great job here, capturing the essence of the character in such a way that you truly sympathize with her plight, though you are horrified with what she feels driven to do once she is in "The Devil's Bath." I had no idea about the true events/practice this movie was based on so there were some things that confused and annoyed me initially. Once I realized what was happening, my perception about the film changed, especially after reading further into the facts this story was based on. Part of me thinks that if I'd known about these events before watching the movie, I probably wouldn't have taken the time to check it out. Especially since it's not your typical "horror" flick (though the events here are truly horrific). But I'm not sorry to have seen it, and in the end my only real complaint is that at two hours long, there were moments where this dragged more than it needed to. However, that's not really enough to keep me from recommending The Devil's Bath. Video review on my Cyn's Corner YouTube channel.

What Filmmakers Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala succeeds with horror is that using slow, but creepy and uncanny atmospheres that creeps towards it's viewers which ultimately leads to an engaging, creepy, and dark horrific setting and narrative. Having highly enjoyed The Lodge and Goodnight Mommy (2014), The Devil's Bath is another banger from the duo.

Settled with gorgeous camerawork, production, and direction choices, it doesn't shy away on showcasing depressing and horrifying themes, bold decisions that are risky, providing interesting characters, and stellar performances from the entire cast members. The feeling of isolation, terror, and sadness throughout it's observation of it's character remains engaging and heartbreaking at times.

I went into this with low expectations. It started off seemingly innocent enough. I wasn't sure where the movie was going. Without giving anything away, I will say that the movie shocks you before long. There are some scenes that run on too long but overall the movie was pretty good. The depiction of life in 1750s Germany was grim but there were moments of happiness. The main character's descent into mental illness was sad to say the least. The treatment at the hands of the barbers of the time only made things worse. I couldn't believe that things like that actually happened and was horrified to find out how often these things took place.

My only complaint is thst there was no explanation for why people were punished in certain ways.

@KenTheCritic

The brilliant filmmakers who gave us "Goodnight Mommy" and "The Lodge" are back to add to their credits. Directors/Writers Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz bring us "The Devil's Bath (Des Teufels Bad)" set in 1700s Austria and continue to show us that they are a staple in this genre. It's an unsettling thriller that recounts an actual part of European history. Fiala and Franz were intrigued with the interrogations, trials, and murders of women who killed children back during that time and how the community would unify in the execution of them. These women were clearly victims, but history just shows that they referred to them as witches. They dove into hundreds of cases that Associate Professor Kathy Stuart of The University of California of Davis acquired. "The Devil's Bath" is now available to stream on Shudder.

In "The Devil's Bath", Agnes (Anja Plaschg) is newly married and just crazy for her husband, Wolf (David Scheig). She spends time with her husband, but her life becomes more and more depressing as she is trying to get acclimated with married life. As her mental health is lacking, her mother-in-law (portrayed by Maria Hofstatter) starts berating her until she just wants to give up. She starts believing that there's only one way out.

"The Devil's Bath" is a slow burn and isn't as suspenseful as "Goodnight Mommy" getting lost on developing the time it was set in than on what is happening to Agnes, but I appreciate what Fiala and Franz did with the film and the research that went into writing the screenplay. The cinematography helps paint this dreary landscape of gloom, isolation and sadness. Anja Plaschg actually creates the film's score as well. She is a musician that goes by the name Soap&Skin. Fiala and Franz are about to adapt "A Head Full of Ghosts" by Paul Tremblay and that film should be more apprehensive than even their first feature.