O Banho do Diabo

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.

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.

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.

From the Austrian filmmaking duo behind Goodnight Mommy & The Lodge comes a folk horror steeped in chilling ambience & haunting imagery that turns to historical pages to find its bleak story and offers a fascinating exploration of depression, religion, superstition, mental illness & repressed sexuality through a young married woman's unraveling as she grows despondent in her marriage.

Written & directed by Veronica Franz & Severin Fiala, the film sets its grim tone right away with the disturbing scene that opens the picture and then sprinkles the story with harrowing images that surface every now n then. The period setting has an authentic vibe to it, thanks to the deft research, lush greenery location, small pockets of civilisation, stone-built houses & other props of 18th century Austria.

However, the slow pace & overlong runtime do hinder the investment before the final act wakes the viewers up with a gut-punching shock. Much of the film rests on the shoulders of its leading lady and Anja Plaschg more than delivers on that front with an impressive showcase. Anchoring the plot with finesse, she expertly portrays her character's growing despondency & desperation and holds the film together.

Overall, The Devil's Bath is a intelligently crafted, patiently narrated & strongly acted historical horror that benefits from its period-specific details, horrifying elements & Plascha's committed performance but the slow-burn pace at which it all unfolds won't appease every palate. But its powerful ending does stick with the viewers for a while and out of all films from these directors, their latest is easily their best work so far.

The filmmaking duo Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala have already proven their mettle to global audiences with their chilling films "Goodnight Mommy" (2014) and "The Lodge" (2019). As a horror aficionado, their latest project, "Des Teufels Bad," has been a source of immense anticipation for me.

This Austrian/German co-production transports us to 18th century Europe, where the characters we encounter are the ancestors of those depicted in Robert Eggers' "The Witch" (2015).

While monotheistic Middle Eastern religions have tried to impose their dogma on humanity for 5,000 years, it hasn't been easy to eradicate our pagan roots. Even today, from rural America to the Mesopotamian shores of Turkey, Muslims, Jews, and Christians lead lives intertwined with pagan culture, despite the prohibitions of their respective faiths.

The film's premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival and its disqualification from Eurimages funding demonstrate Shudder's unwavering commitment to quality horror cinema.

Martin Gschlacht's exceptional cinematography, coupled with Anja Plaschg's (of the band Soap&Skin) haunting score, elevates this disturbing story into the pantheon of unforgettable folk/horror films. The meticulous attention to ambiance and authentic historical detail, combined with a screenplay based on extensive research into the era when chronic depression drove hundreds in Europe - mostly women - to escape the hell of their daily lives through murder, make "Des Teufels Bad" truly deserving of all the praise and awards it has received.

"Des Teufels Bad" is a German idiom that describes a dangerous, risky situation with potentially dire consequences. It's often used when someone, intentionally or not, puts themselves in harm's way. I hadn't heard this expression since my school days at the German High School in Istanbul, where it appeared in a few assigned texts. The film stirred up those old memories, adding another layer of unease to the experience.

I've read in a few places that the film's story is inspired by real events, but I neither believe it nor would be surprised if it were true. Hollywood has a history of manipulating moviegoers' emotions with such claims in their PR campaigns, but the history of Abrahamic religions is indeed rife with such tragic events.

In short, I hope SHUDDER releases this film on Blu-Ray so I can add it to my collection.