Tras el Cristal (1987)
Genre: Drama / Horror
Duration: 100 minuten
Alternative title: In a Glass Cage
Country:
Spain
Directed by: Agustí Villaronga
Stars: Günter Meisner, David Sust and Marisa Paredes
IMDb score:
6,7 (5.503)
Releasedate: 3 March 1987
Tras el Cristal plot
Klaus is an ex-Nazi who committed the most horrific sex crimes against boys during the war. After the war, he lives incognito in Spain with his wife and daughter. Shame and despair drives him to a failed suicide attempt, with the result that he is doomed to live the rest of his life on 'an iron lung'. His new caretaker Angelo confronts Klaus about his past.
Actors and actresses
Klaus
Angelo
Griselda
Rena
Jornalera
Niño Cantor
Niño barracon
Angelo Niño
Niño Gitano
Reviews & comments
james_cameron
-
- 7074 messages
- 9842 votes
Disturbing, unsavory nihilistic work. Technically the film is quite well put together and the acting is good, but the script is deadly boring. An effective nasty scene here and there, but you don't have to watch the film for the shocking images. It's more the underlying thoughts and the sick monologues that are disappointing.
This was the last film I had yet to see from a list called 'Disturbo 13: The Most Disturbing Horror Films Ever Made', which I once got from a book. A list from 1992, that is. For the enthusiast (in random order):
1) Salo, The 120 Days Of Sodom
2) Men Behind The Sun
3) I Spit On Your Grave
4) Bloodsucking Freaks
5) Last House On The Left
6) Maniac
7) Cannibal Holocaust
Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer
9) In A Glass Cage
10) Nekromantic
11) Ilsa, She-Wolf Of The SS
12) Combat Shock
13) Eraserhead
Okay, I've gotten through them all now. Time for a long shower to wash off all that trouble.
Translated from Dutch · View original
leatherhead
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- 3556 messages
- 1813 votes
Finally seen. Still a film that you come across on many ''disturbing movies'' lists and after seeing it it is not difficult to imagine why. Even though the film is not that explicit, some scenes are hard hitting. You can call that an achievement.
Furthermore, a quite unusual combination of psychological drama, some more conventional thriller/horror elements and some vaguer, arty influences. But it does work. The beginning is a bit long-winded, but once the film picks up steam it gradually becomes more intriguing, culminating in an impressive climax/reveal. I also thought Angelo's downward spiral was portrayed quite convincingly, something that certainly benefits the more intense scenes.
The soundtrack is strong (those constant pumping sounds) and the understated visual style is appropriate, but in my opinion the focus could have been a little stronger on that. Sometimes the film was just a bit too 'narrative' and dialogue heavy for me.
I'm still unsure between 3.5* and 4*, but for now I'll leave it at 3.5*. An assassin of a film that, in my opinion, lives up to its status.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Shadowed
-
- 11421 messages
- 6719 votes
Artistic and to a certain extent very disturbing, but director Agustí Villaronga fails to properly develop the psychological aspect. You can of course leave a lot to the viewer's interpretation, but I found the development of David Sust simply unbelievable. Villaronga also seems to mainly want to score with shocking images, a slightly too easy way out to make an impact of this caliber. Nevertheless, the relationship between the two main characters turns out quite interesting because the film is not afraid to push the boundaries, despite the mediocre acting. Most points are gained with the concept, the unfortunate thing is that the feeling of powerlessness or understanding is not conveyed anywhere. The unpredictable progression is a big plus and Villaronga comes a long way in terms of originality, but ultimately I found the deeper layer too unfinished to convince.
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