The Devil's Bath

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.