Des Teufels Bad

It surely does take a significant amount of effort to recreate bygone era themes and this movie does that execution exceedingly well. From rituals to clothing to food, audiences would be thrilled and enamored to just comprehend what life was like back then.

Then it's the core theme of the movie, which revolves around what depression was like back then and how people dealt with it. Very much compelling and thought provoking.

But in between, this movie also has hideously slow pacing which can make audience yawn or even fall asleep, dreaming between 21st and 16th century.

There's a lot that could've been done here, but it seems the filmmakers decided to focus more on minute details of how people lived back then, than on developing a storyline that showcased how depression evolved.

Not a bad watch, but not something I would highly recommend as well. Gore was mediocre and felt more pushy and relevant.

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.

What Filmmakers Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala succeeds with horror is that using slow, but creepy and uncanny atmospheres that creeps towards it's viewers which ultimately leads to an engaging, creepy, and dark horrific setting and narrative. Having highly enjoyed The Lodge and Goodnight Mommy (2014), The Devil's Bath is another banger from the duo.

Settled with gorgeous camerawork, production, and direction choices, it doesn't shy away on showcasing depressing and horrifying themes, bold decisions that are risky, providing interesting characters, and stellar performances from the entire cast members. The feeling of isolation, terror, and sadness throughout it's observation of it's character remains engaging and heartbreaking at times.

This film is about depression and suicide in 18th century rural Austria.

It is wonderfully shot and we're told it is historically accurate and based on true events of actual women from that period.

This is not a horror film to be clear.

This is not a must-see film, either.

I think it may be an interesting film for psychology students or teachers, and perhaps for film students.

If one is familiar with depression and interested in it's historical interpretation, this film is relevant.

Other than those instances, I would not watch this film. Its simply bleak from start to finish and there's no redemption for anyone. You'll feel bad during and after your viewing.

Again, this is a well-shot, historical perspective on suicide by proxy. I felt that it was unnecessary to watch this film to understand that phenomenon.