Angst

Well there certainly aren't a lot of movies like this one! I've been looking forward to a viewing of Angst for some time now, and now that it's finally come, I have to say that the film didn't disappoint! Unlike many films of this nature, this one truly is horrendously disturbing and the original way that it goes about portraying the mind of a serial killer has ensured the film its cult status. The obvious film to compare this one to would be the 1986 film 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer', but although they share some themes - the two can never really be compared, Angst feels a whole lot more real! The plot itself is very simple and there isn't really any story to it. The film simply follows a man upon his release from prison. We are immediately made aware that he is a psychopath through his musings and the way that his first plan upon release is to go back to his old murderous ways. First, he decides to murder a taxi driver; but that plan goes wrong when he bottles it at the last moment. Later, he happens upon a secluded house and decides to have some fun with the occupants...

The best thing about this film is the way that it mixes the killer's sadistic monologues with the action on screen. We get to see him torturing his victims, and at the same time he's giving us a run down of past events in his life and his desires, and this really makes us feel like we're getting inside the psychopath's head. The film is lead by Erwin Leder, who gives an absolutely great performance in the central role! He both looks the part and sounds the part of the psychopath he's portraying, and much of the success of the film is courtesy of him. The film is completely disturbing, but it doesn't deliver this with shocks in the way that many movies do - Angst is not a gory film, but it's more shocking than any amount of gore because of the way that it presents itself. The realism of the piece, together with disorientating camera work, the piercing soundtrack and the aforementioned voice over ensure that this is not an 'easy' film to sit through. However, if you're looking for a sadistic shocker that really does do what it says on the tin - then good luck tracking down a copy of Angst!

An unnerving insight into the demented mind of a pure psychopath, Angst is one of the most disturbing films of its kind. A brutal, disquieting & uncompromising portrait of a serial killer that's also notable for its unconventional camerawork, this Austrian chiller is thrilling, captivating & thoroughly unsettling from the first frame to the last.

Crafted in the same vein as Henry except but way more intense & unrestrained in its execution, supplying a heavy dose of gruesome violence, and powerful enough to affect even the most hardcore fans of the genre, this obscure, perverse & sadistic masterpiece is deserving of a broader viewership and is one of the best psycho-killer films you will ever see. A hidden gem of world cinema, Angst comes strongly recommended.

Angst is without a doubt one of the best serial killer flicks in the history of cinema. And some would say The Best. And I can tell you, it's damn close.

Angst follows a serial killer who is released from prison after a 10 year incarceration. What takes place is shocking and original film-making. What this man does is just start up where he left off. It's basically just following around the killer and just getting to know him. Oh and his victims, but in a more or less personal way. Eesh.

Angst excels in all facets. The acting by the main character, the serial killer, is flat out great, in an insane sort of way. He looks the part, and definitely acts the part. The scene when he's in the car is unforgettable. Throw in great cinematography, direction and writing, and the fact that this is a truly disturbing, realistic look into a serial killer's obsessive habits, it easily makes this one of the best serial killer movies of all time.

A very well photographed B-movie who puts the audience inside the mind of a compulsive killer. A strange film halfway between Michael Haneke for the story (I didn't know anything about the film and I thought It was haneke's one) and Stanley Kubrick for the cinematography (many references to "clockwork orange"). Actors performances are incredible considering they are dead half the film and their corpses are pulled and strechted across long single shots. An hypnotic movie with only narrative voice and great moments of cinema (especially the last action scene in the tunnel). One detail of importance : 22 years after the shooting, this film looks like it was shot last month. I wonder what became this director ? Any news ?

A very disturbing, chilling, thrill ride of movie made by what should have and or could have been a very interesting filmmaker. It really is a shame that Angst was the filmmakers only film. What direction would his career have gone? At any rate I really appreciate this movie and it's contribution to the genre.