The Keep

No, don't get your hopes up. Paramount still han't put this out for DVD release in the United States, but "The Keep" is one of my cult favorite flicks and so I went to the ends of the Amazon to get an overseas copy viewable on Region 1 DVD.After some dealing with an Amazon marketplace seller, I got a copy that was viewable on the second of two DVD players I tried. It is an extremely no-frills DVD to say the least, it has a menu with scene selection and, a, uh "preview" reel that shows some truly odd previews ("I Married a Monster from Outer Space" and "Barbarella" for example....no, I'm not kidding, those are the previews). It doesn't pad any of the spots in the film which were obviously butchered by a ham-handed editor (like all of Scott Glenn's dialogue). No deleted scenes, no interviews, no nuthin'. So really the only benefit of having it is that the flick is on DVD and not VHS, and since the price was $40.00, you have to be a hardcore fan of the movie to go to the demented lengths I did to lay hands on it (I forgot to mention it is presented in widescreen, so that is also a bonus).It had been years since I had seen this early Michael Mann film and indeed I wrote a review of the VHS version some years ago, but it was instantly recognizable as his work. His trademarks leap right out at you: the grim tone, the wonderful score (by Tangerine Dream and like the DVD, impossible to find anywhere, which is IMMNENSELY frustrating because not only is the music gorgeous, the band has made at least 7,373 albums, but they couldn't put out a soundtrack to this? GRRRRR), the cut-to-the-bone dialogue, the lush, sumptuous visuals. This film, like all Mann's works, is a visual feast: the black uniforms of the SS, the washed-out, coldly lit grays of the keep's interior, the horribly evil-looking demon, all beautiful). Unfortunately, it has the same flaws it had when it was released twenty years ago, and I can't get past them no matter how much I watch it (I keep looking for a "Director's Cut" that will flesh out the pruned-down characters of Eva and especially Glaeken...alas, none exists).The big mistake of the film was the decision to make it primarily visual and reduce the characters of Glaeken and Molasar to simple icons, one representing good, one representing evil. Neither has more than a few words of dialogue; none of the rich subtexture of Glaeken's character, which a great actor like Scott Glenn could have handled easily, is shown. Nor is the necromancing Molasar shown as anything but an evil presence who wants out of his prison; his long violent history with Glenn, the deceptive games he plays with Dr. Cuza and the psych job he does on Woermann in the book, all of these are all whittled away, leaving only a big dude in a demon costume (nevertheless with some great lines, most especially his comeback to Gabriel Byrne: "Where am I from? I am...from you.")The movie does succeed with the characters of Cpt. Woermann, brilliantly played by Jurgen Prochnow, and Maj. Kaempfer, played with tremendously banal evil by Gabriel Byrne; their chemistry is excellent, and the scene where they tear into each other's beliefs at the end is a classic. Given fairly little, Alberta Watson and Ian McKellen both do a lot; it is mainly Scott Glenn who is left in the cold.There is so much acting firepower in this movie (including veteran Robert Prosky and even wonderful Wolf Kahler in a minor role) and so much talent in the director Mann, it has such a great score and is shot so beautifully, and is predicated on such a great horror novel by F. Paul Wilson, I am continuously grieved by the fact it isn't a better movie. Just 15 minutes of dialogue would have saved the film from being a cult favorite instead of a horror classic; this is why I long for a director's cut. If enough of us beat the drums, it will happen; not even an outfit as stubborn as Paramount (look how they've done the fans of the Jason films)will turn down the chance to make more dough. So let's start beating.

Yes I’m sure the book is better. The film has every element but something in the alchemical process failed to turn this dark folk tale entirely to gold. We begin with the armored column, the symbol of modern society, encroaching on an old village which stands as tradition guarding against an ancient evil imprisoned in the old keep overlooking the town. The theme here of ancient tradition keeping true horror at bay resonates with the actual terror of the Nazi regime, but also echoes the dystopian vision of our modern and mechanical world. My favorite moment is the exchange between the good German and the bad German, where the Bad says that brutality is needed to establish a 1,000 year new perfect society. The Good replies that this apocalyptic vision is just a fairy tale. Ironic in that the movie is a type of fairy tale. Also ironic in that fairy tales are sometimes so bloody. The meaning of this particular fairy tale appears to be biblical and the question is do we use a greater (and obviously supernatural) power to destroy our enemies? Or do we resist the temptation and accept God’s will? There is even a reenactment of the story of Isaac except it is the human being who interrupts the ritual to ask why he must sacrifice a helpless life in the name of justice. Turns out this demon is not about justice or truth but only power. The vengeance of this creature would clearly consume the whole of humanity. This is a common theme of utopian visions, the idea of destroying the world in order to save it, but this oicotype feels like a dusty relic from the 80s. I will say that the nostalgia factor alone makes this enjoyable to watch even if the overall product is not so great. This is one of those movies that I always meant to rent in the video store but never quite got around to. I remember walking down the aisles of video cassette boxes and thinking ‘next time’. Plucked from its 80s context in this way it does feel like an artifact with its synth soundtrack and old style animated special effects. I do like the way the creature looks, and even though I had seen a still photo in some form before, the live action of the muscle bound demon and its deep red eye sockets I found visually captivating. Scattered in fragments of dialogue you can at times barely discern what’s going on here, but you can see the vague outlines of the mythical target, even if the execution of this dark folk tale in final analysis misses the mark.

Plays in my US Xbox and PS5. A bit grainy, however it is a DVD. Could use a remaster.

Loved this movie when it was originally released. This is one that, if remade or rebooted, care should be taken not to lose its impact concerning the metaphysical and physical tropes used to tell the story. Also, most of the original cast is still living...they could even reverse age Ian McKellen again like was done in X-Men lol, or at least play cameos. Sadly, Alberta Watson succumbed to cancer in 2015. I would love to see Michael Mann's director's cut since he aired his opinion of Paramount's theatrical release version; he was not happy and felt the studio basically undermined it on the cutting room floor.

Great concept for a story.

I've waited for ages to get this on DVD and at last...Okay, the film is a bit dated now, in terms of effects and plot, but that doesn't detract too much. The costumed/props are excellent, and the vehicles look good.There are a few inconsistencies where the film had 'bent' history to fit story, but ultimately, who cares?The acting is generally good (Prochnow, Byrne, MacKellern) or acceptable in the case of the others.The story is wrapped up pretty wuickly at the end, so not much of a 'denoument'.I'm lead to believe there's a longer version of this film, available through some other trader, and maybe that clears up the story a bit, but I suspect it just 'fleshes is out'.This version was a rather poor transfer from the original master, and with SFX that would look more at home in 'The Sword and the Sorcorer', it's a bit messy at times. All in all though, this film has just the right degree of menace and nicely portrays the complex motivation of MacKellern's character.

Regrettably this is obviously a copy of a VHS tape - very blurry and with variable sound quality as well.As it's a movie I am fond of, this was very disappointing. I have heard that there is a longer version out there somewhere - whether Michael Mann hates the original cut so much that he has disowned it, I have no idea. But at least for this price the owners could have cleaned it up bit.

German troops occupy a deserted Romanian castle,shortly after the Germans are bumped off by a supernatural entity, ,......I have tried to get this film for ages, the picture is not great a bit grainyAnd substandard, I give it 5 stars because it's a film I wanted for agesBare in mind its hard to get of and this may be the best quality

I love this movie. I searched a long time for it on dvd. Well worth the price and wzit

Watched this film on VHS tape, strange but good, that would be in the 80s. Haven’t seen it since, so to buy it on dvd was a must have. Grainy & still strange but good. Glad I saw it on Amazon.