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And there it is again, and it bothers me as a German viewer especially, the well-known problem of German film: this extreme artificiality. People act and talk according to a script, but not the way they would in real life. Actors act in front of the camera as if they were on a theater stage. The camera is 10 cm in front of their face, but they act as if this were an evening for the 10th row in the 2nd tier. And when you add to that such a thin plot that makes me wonder who didn't notice the huge gaps, the result just can't be good. And it isn't. The movie suffers from many things at once and suffocates from its clichés.

(2024) The Calendar Killer/ Sebastian Fitzeks Der Heimweg (In German with English subtitles) PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

At the intro from the news media about the "Calendar Killer" for the reason he has been given that name is because he jots the exact day each victim is going to be killed. The difference is viewers do not know who "The Calendar killer" is nor know what he looks like, until the very end. The next scene has Jules (Sabin Tambrea) in charge of his own call in hotline for women called "Walk Me Home Hotline" and giving some helpful and useful advice to a lady who phoned in regarding a group of men. And as a result of some advice, she managed to wait around long enough to get on to her bus. Jules next caller is Klara (Luise Heyer) who she is on a midlife crisis claiming she was on the domain of the killer himself until she found a way to escape. And for the next hour or so, we know more about the lives of both Klara and Jules. From Klara and her so called important abusive husband, Martin (Friedrich Mücke) and how Jules motivated to have his own "walk me home" service operator, that has something to do with the loss of his wife while he was working as a 911 operator.

The revelation that lead up to the Calendar killer makes no sense as viewers are completely oblivious about his connection and his previous victims whomever that might be.

Klara has an abusive marriage to Martin, but Martin holds something over her. She had mental problems, and was sent to a less than ideal place, so he holds it over her. If she disobeys, he will send her back. And he justifies his abuse in that she accepts it. She has a daughter Amelie that she is very protective of. Jules is working a help line. He used to be in the fire service handling calls, but had a terrible experience, so now is on a help line. His help is to stay with the person who calls for help until the danger has passed, such as when they are walking home at night. One night he gets a call from Klara, who has gotten a message from the Calendar Killer. Either she or her husband will be killed by midnight. For a good part of the movie, one sees how Jules is trying to help her. She knows her husband is very abusive, but she cannot leave him. And many critics simply do not understand what that is all about. Where the movie fails is towards the end, with the twist it takes. And that is unfortunate, as until then, a fairly compelling story, with lots of tension, is presented.

This Sebastian Fitzek adaptation attempts to wrap a serious subject such as domestic violence in a thriller with horror elements, but fails miserably due to the lurid and implausible production. The plot is contrived and overloaded, the characters act irrationally, and any emotion is left by the wayside. Instead of creating concern or suspense, the film loses itself in clichéd twists and pseudo-dramatic moments. A sensitive subject is misused in a clumsy way that not only disappoints but also annoys. Unfortunately a low point, despite solid acting, especially by Luise Heyer - 2.5 out of 10 stars.

This is a German movie which I started watching in the dubbed English like many dubbed movies the accents and choice of words diminishes the whole character of the movie. The weird posh accents just seemed to robotic, so I watched in German with translation. It was much better

"The Calendar Killer" delivers a tense and chilling thriller that effectively explores the psychological impact of domestic abuse. The film masterfully builds suspense, leaving the audience constantly on edge as Klara's paranoia escalates. The performances are strong, particularly Luise Heyer as Klara, who portrays her character's fear and desperation with raw intensity.

However, the film's reliance on familiar thriller tropes and predictable twists can diminish its impact. The pacing occasionally falters, and some plot points feel contrived. While the exploration of domestic abuse adds a layer of depth, it sometimes overshadows the suspense elements.

Overall, "The Calendar Killer" is a gripping watch with a compelling premise, but it struggles to fully break free from genre conventions. It's a solid thriller that will keep viewers engaged, but may leave some wanting more originality and depth.

I watched The Calendar Killer because it seemed like a short thriller with the potential to entertain me. I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, and maybe that's why I found it competent in keeping the audience engaged.

The plot follows a killer who forces his female victims to choose between dying or killing their own husbands. The story mainly focuses on a woman facing this ultimatum, who finds support from a man working at a domestic abuse helpline. Together, they navigate the tense events of that night in an attempt to survive.

The concept is interesting, and I love "race against time" thrillers. The film managed to hold my attention, especially by addressing sensitive and important topics like domestic violence. However, I felt it lacked balance between suspense, mystery, and drama. There were moments when I was fully immersed in the tense game between the victim and the killer, but they were abruptly interrupted by dramatic scenes that broke the intensity. On the other hand, when I got invested in the protagonist's emotional struggles and complex relationship, I was suddenly thrown back into the fast-paced suspense. The editing didn't help much in this regard, making the narrative feel a bit disjointed.

The plot twists were another weak point for me. While some were interesting, they felt forced and even unrealistic at times. Moreover, a small detail early in the film made me suspicious of the final reveal, which took away some of its impact. But I admit this might be my fault, as I'm quite familiar with the tricks thrillers use to mislead the audience.

Overall, The Calendar Killer isn't a bad film, but it's far from fantastic. It does its job of entertaining and, in the process, touches on an important and heavy topic. However, its approach remains somewhat superficial, never fully exploring the depth of the issue. It's an easy watch, but not a memorable one.

It's not every day that you get to see a real psychological shocker from the German-speaking world. Only a global streaming service like AMAZON PRIME VIDEO can finance that. And Sebastian FITZEK is also a sure guarantee of success. The Berliner, born in 1971, has been writing successful novels in the thriller genre for years. THE WAY HOME was published in 2020 and has now been made into a film by the Caracas-born director Adolfo KOLMERER (who shot several episodes of the very exciting ARD series ODERBRUCH) as THE CALENDAR KILLER.

There is a serial killer on the loose in Berlin who threatens to murder couples on set days. Klara (Luise HEYER) has also received such a warning: she or her husband Martin (Friedrich MÜCKE) are to die. In her distress, Klara has often turned to the escort hotline, which promises to accompany women on their way home by telephone in dangerous situations. The sensitive Jules (Sabin TAMBREA) works there and accompanies the frightened Klara through an eventful night, at least on the phone.

Not a bad idea for a modern thriller! However, flashbacks and improbabilities mean that the tension is less than it could be. The actors are very convincing, and Rainer BOCK plays a very dubious supporting role. The film's production is excellent, but it is not a masterpiece of the genre. However, the film shows what would be possible in the German-speaking entertainment industry if more people in charge dared to try out unusual narrative styles. At least a start has been made. It's worth a look!

It's a pretty boring drama thriller in which an ostensible good samaritan is drawn into a domestic tragedy, but all is not what it seems. And all is not what it seems because of an accretion of confluences, contrivances and just plain dumb coincidences that strand the lackluster plot somewhere between incompetent and incoherent. I'm sure the people behind this dross thought they had something important to say about domestic violence. They didn't. Their feeble attempt to squeeze some profundity out of this trainwreck only makes it more insulting. And even putting the hammy sanctimony aside, this dumb diversion still fails as a thriller, mystery or drama.

"The Calendar Killer" wants to be something different. From the title alone, it projects a sense of self-righteousness, an air of significance. I wanted to buy in - I really did. The dark, moody atmosphere, the German dialogue that demands full attention. It had promise. But as the mystery unfolds, so do its flaws, unraveling in ways that feel less like a carefully plotted puzzle and more like a slow descent into absurdity.

The protagonist is sympathetic enough, the kind of character you're supposed to root for. And at first, I did. But then she makes choices - bewildering, frustrating choices - that seem completely divorced from reality. The kind that pull you out of the story rather than deeper into it. The film wades into sensitive territory, clearly aiming for depth, but it never quite lands the punch. Instead, it fumbles its message, leaving the protagonist delivering a speech that should resonate, should mean something. Instead, it frustrates.

That's when it lost me. I can suspend disbelief when a story earns it, when the logic of its world holds together. But here? Here, the cracks are too big, the missteps too frequent. And for a film that wants you to think, to reflect, to feel something meaningful - it instead achieves something else entirely. An eye roll.

You know I always wonder when it is a dubbed movie if I will be able to handle it. I personally hate the subtitles.

What a movie ! The suspense was electrifying, holy..It has been a very long time since I enjoyed a movie so much.

Battles the horrible issues of domestic abuse, but to the extreme. All domestic abused women do not have THIS exact experience for sure.

Then there's the gentleman who volunteered to stay on phone while women get home safely. And he feels so safe as the story continues.

The twists and turns ! Absolutely excellent and I literally had no idea , none how this would end ! Bravo.

I love a psychological movie.

This is a good one.

However this is more about a victim of domestic abuse.

I'm trying not to give away spoilers, I hope I don't.

I wouldn't say it's a serial killer movie, it just states that there is one a few times but It doesn't mention other victim's.

It's mainly focused on one potential victim's story, she is running from a serial killer and her abusive husband.

The helpline worker gets her to speak her struggles and connects to her.

This is a great story, good acting, well shot.

It wasn't until most of the way through that i suspected what was happening.

Definitely a thumbs up.

No pun intended - an interesting concept and some neat ideas for a thriller. Not to mention a story that really has something to tell ... social politically speaking that is. Of course that also means that there is a bit of a burden and some portrayals feel a bit over the top and cliche ... even if they might ring true or be true to reality ... it just feels heightened and a bit much at times.

That said, the performances are solid throughout. And it's always a good thing to see genre movies coming from Germany and making a dent. Especially with giving us ... well letting us in on something that still is going on ... and should be more fought against. Domestic violence even rose during the pandemic, with everyone (or most) being more at home ... and isolated. Even better to get a reminder what is important, with a bit of (thriller) twist and "entertainment" mixed into it.

The practical significance is greater than the story itself. Ending data shows that one in four women in Germany has suffered domestic violence to some extent...in other regions...the question that both those involved and bystanders need to think about is what is the perfect way to get out without putting the victimized woman in an extreme situation, but also allowing her to completely wake up without any scruples. I have seen too many cases, and it is not uncommon for women to suffer bloody revenge after divorce. Remember Ram? Before you blame the heroine for being stupid, please think about how smart you would be if it were you!

A good German film directed by Adolfo J. Kolmerer that tells the story of a woman (Klara) victim of domestic and sexual violence who receives a message from the famous calendar killer who warns her that on December 6 she or her husband will die. In all this, Klara remains in touch with a hotline for women who return home alone. The film deals with very sensitive issues ranging from domestic violence to suicide and often talk about it is not easy but in this case the message of the film (although there are things that I think are absurd) is understood loud and clear. This important message is often suppressed by this story of the killer that until 5 minutes from the end does not serve much, I think the film would have made sense even without the story of the calendar killer also because, Again, until 5 minutes from the end it goes into the background but at the same time in the end this killer is the "key" of this film but not as a character but as a psychological concept, is as if it represents the subconscious or at least the less reasonable part of the reason of the victims of violence who may seek revenge. The message but in general the concept of the film is really very deep not only for the characters and scenes but more than anything else for the concepts that are behind it and that fully represent the world we live in where we need a telephone line to go home our. Unfortunately the world is not a safe one and if you want to see naked and raw violence watch this film because it will make you think long.

This not a terrible movie. I will say you will not be expecting the results that you get. I wouldn't exactly consider this thriller but it does keep you engaged. Just when you think you understand what's going on, you find out you have no clue. Then you switch gears to the new possibilities only to be diverted again. Trust me, it's not scary or thrilling but I think it's done quite well, suspenseful would be a better descriptive word to use. I think the acting is average, nothing just jumps off the screen as over the top but they portray their characters quite well. To be quite honest I wasn't expecting the ending but I was extremely happy that they did close all of the storyline. So give it a watch, you might be pleasantly surprised.

I accept that I shouldn't have been laughing throughout this film as I watched it. But if whoever wrote and made this dreadful movie is determined to insult my and anyone else's intelligence, then they deserve every guffaw they got.

Clearly, the subject material is not suitable for an eight-year-old. But I'm certain that most would be able to predict the storyline, outcomes and probably come up with a better, more convincing script. They may also be able to do a better job than the casting agent did for this film

Please don't waste any any of your life watching this. You really do have much better and more interesting things to do.

I can't point out any negative things in this movie, just watch it in German, if you don't understand German, use subtitles. I am pretty sure that the negative reviews are from people that watched it in English because when I started watching it the acting seemed terrible. My girlfriend didn't mind reading subtitles and we decided to do it that way and we really enjoyed it start to finish.

Great acting, brilliant cinematography.

There was a couple things that didn't make sense in terms of the way a car works, but I can forgive that...

If you like thrillers with a plot twist this is for you.

I've just read the book and I was thrilled to see that there is a move adaption, however I noticed that the book ist really very different from the movie. Sadly the book is waay better and has twists that aren't shown properly. Read the book, but don't compare it to the movie. I am a huge Fitzek lover and therefore happy that his work gets put on screen, but please if you do so, stick to the written pages, and don't come up with a totally different story that has nearly nothing to do with the book. That is my review and I hope some other people who have read the book can agree with me on this topic.

It's dull, monotonous, dreary, irritating, senseless and boring!

I have no idea what this film was about apart from a wet weekend of a female speaking on the phone to an equally wet weekend of a male who offers a safe home service for people In distress?!

I fail to comprehend the message this film is trying to convey; I even fast forwarded it to the last 5 minutes and I was non the wiser.

It's a dark, shadowy, characterless waste of time! A total yawn fest from start to finish if you ever make it that far.

I love a good serial killer, thriller, drama with tense moments and edge of your seat moments. This was forgettabl and only stirred up irritation. Don't bother.

"The Calendar Killer" was a letdown. From the start, the movie felt like it was rushing through its setup, skipping a proper first act and diving straight into a predictable storyline. There was no real depth to the plot, making it easy to see where things were heading without any surprises. The third act lacked any real impact, leaving the film feeling incomplete. While there were some decent cinematography moments, they weren't enough to save the experience. The acting felt forced and unconvincing, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.

Overall, it's a forgettable thriller that doesn't do much to stand out. It had potential but missed the mark by relying on a generic structure and failing to build tension. If it had taken more time to develop its characters and create a proper buildup, it might have been more engaging. Instead, it feels like a rushed project with decent visuals but nothing memorable beyond that.