Des Teufels Bad

@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.

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.

The movie probably would not have been made without some modern liberal angle, yet it stands on its own merits as a chronicle of those times. The account is also pieced together from documentary evidence.

Bleak and harsh-yes-but life was simply like that. Death and starvation were everywhere. If you felt sorry for Agnes in the end, you're lost in modern mores. The denouement shows a tribe at ease with itself and with God. The punishment was just, and I felt satisfied with the outcome as logically consistent with the story, each character's role, and the way life was lived at that time.

It might have been tempting to "Apple-ify" or "Netflix-ify" it, but Germanic cinema can still handle authenticity very well. I hope Heimat Films continues making movies like this, exploring tribal life and life before the nation-state.

The preview mentioned mental illness, but that presumes an individual mind in an era predating Liberalism. You traveled with the tribe, produced the next generation, and that was that. And woe betide you if you did something that harmed the whole.

As the saying goes, nothing is more chilling than terrifying events based on true stories. The Devil's Bath is one such film that exemplifies this adage. This psychologically intense period piece, while not a bonafide horror film, will leave you deeply disturbed. For the fans of "Good Night Mommy" and "The Lodge" may find their expectations subverted, so let me tell you to keep your expectation low since this film is but rather a period piece rooted in psychological horror.

The film opens with a shocking scene that sets the tone for what will be fully explored in the climax. A woman throws an infant over a waterfall and then confesses to her crime and surrendering herself to authorities. Flash forward a few years, and we meet Agnes, a young bride full of hope for the future. However, her life quickly takes a dark turn when her husband, Wolf, proves to be both emotionally distant, financially irresponsible and her mother-in-law's domineering control add to the burden. Agnes's desire for love, companionship, and a child is thwarted, leading to a descent into despair. Despite her nightly longing for her husband, her desires remain unfulfilled, and she is denied the joy of motherhood. The film explores the psychological toll this takes on her, as she descends into madness. She falls victim to superstition, tradition, and the oppressive weight of patriarchal dominance.

Anja Plaschg (Agnes) performance is a standout. She's got this haunting way of drawing you into her character's world. The confession scene is particularly chilling, a real gut-punch of a performance. She's also the brains behind the film's score, which is totally eerie. You might know her band Soap&Skin from the song 'Me and the Devil'. Martin Gschlacht, the visionary behind Goodnight Mommy, crafts a bleak and unforgiving landscape. The film's 35mm aesthetic lends a timeless quality to the story, immersing the viewer in a world of hopelessness. Gschlacht's cinematography is a work of art, deserving of the Silver Bear he received at Berlinale.

In closing, The film's influence is evident in its slow-burn narrative with psychological undertone. The film's tone and themes reminded me of Lars von Trier's Melancholia (2011), Ursula Reuter Christiansen's Skarpretteren (1973), and the works of Jan Troell, Terrence Malick, Helma Sanders-Brahms, Cecilia Magni, and Robert Eggers. Regardless, the film's emotional impact is profound. Agnes Schickin's plight is heartbreaking, and those who stay till the end will feel a deep sympathy for her, Ewa Lizlfellner, and the many others, including the children.

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.