Tore tanzt

Definitely I never want to see it again, which I never before thought about a actually well made film by the way, and it feels odd giving this a heart rating but I think this is very well done and provokes the right emotions. It's an unforgiving movie that does not hold back at all. There were many scenes where I really needed to look away, which usually never ever happens for me. It's a film about what happens when you just completely believe in the goodness of humanity. It is harsh, but for sure true. You're gonna get stepped on and you're gonna get messed up. You obviously can't blindly live with some strangers and think, this will all be good, people are such beautiful creatures. No. Surely not. Apparently this is even based on a real story, which in this case makes it even more sad, but I'll need to research this later. How the main character got to that point in his life, slight spoilers ahead, is never explained which I think was a smart choice. Tore tanzt made me sick to my stomach to be honest. It is deeply disturbing and despairing, but it is also a film you should watch anyway. The performances are very good, especially the lead is incredibly great in such a tough role to play. Just be prepared to be in a terrible mood afterwards. I need a palate cleanser flick right now. This film is horrible, but simply looking away from the evil that is happening all around us isn't gonna do any good either.

It's rare to find a film which manages to disturb and horrify without ever being exploitative or using cheap shock tactics like you'd see in the August Underground movies but Nothing Bad Can Happen manages to do exactly that. I came away from the film feeling drained and disturbed in a way that I haven't felt since Pascal Laugier's Martyrs which should certainly ring alarm bells if you can't handle upsetting subject matters in your films. Although Nothing Bad Can Happen is undoubtedly a superb piece of filmmaking, it's something I wouldn't recommend lightly due to explicit sequences involving abuse of all kinds and cruelty to animals.

The film follows the true events surrounding a young self-proclaimed 'Jesus freak' called Tore who happens to have some form of autism which makes him think and act very differently to others. Tore places all of his faith in Jesus Christ and is naively taken in by a truly evil family who take advantage of his absurdly good nature. It's a fascinating meditation on evil in society and the dangers of religion. Despite being a truly gruelling watch, Nothing Bad Can Happen never gratuitously relishes in the violence and is always focused on delivering a powerful message. The fact that these events are true makes the film all the more relevant and important.

First-time director Katrin Gebbe shows astonishing confidence behind the camera. Despite the ugly subject matter, the images always try to find beauty and light through the bleakness. There's a hypnotic sense of realism to the whole film which reminded me of Justin Kurzel's equally uncompromising Snowtown. The acting from the unknown cast is similarly impressive, particularly breakout star Julius Feldmeier in the lead who manages to make Tore an engaging and sympathetic main character. Sascha Alexander Gersak also feels toe-curlingly real as the malevolent patriarch determined to break Tore's Holy spirit.

You could easily mistake Nothing Bad Can Happen as being the lost film in Lars Von Trier's 'Golden Hearts Trilogy' which correspondingly follows mentally-challenged protagonists as they battle through life's brutal hardships. It's just as tough to watch as seeing Emily Watson getting stoned by feral kids or Bjork dancing through life despite desperately trying to raise enough money for her son's operation. It'll be too much for some people and it does get worse as the film progresses but the reason I watch films is to be moved and provoked by some sort of emotional response. Nothing Bad Can Happen does this in spade loads.

This is a haunting piece of work which will bury itself under your skin and stay there long after the credits roll. It's a torturous watch at times but it carries an important message which is extremely relevant to society today. The pacing is very slow at the beginning but it's also immersive and character-focused meaning that it's easy to engage with. There was not one moment where I was bored or distracted in its 110 minute running time. It's a heart-breaking watch which will shake you to your core. A stunning debut but proceed with caution.

Going into movies as blind as possible, I often stumble on more misery than I bargain for. Since I had just seen The Snowtown Murders, I probably should have waited a bit longer on this movie. Given how similar they both are in tone and content, if you hated one, you should avoid the other, but if you liked one, definitely check out the other, just give it some breathing room for your own mental health.

Other films I'd put in this camp would be Hounds of Love and to lesser extent The Girl Next Door, though the later has more of a Hollywood sheen to the parts that don't wallow in depravity. The rest opt for a grimy realism that sinks you deeper into the filth of their content.

I often struggle with the merits of this genre though. On one hand, it is an achievement artistically. Between the acting and the authentic way everything is captured, they nail it. I'm fully immersed, I believe what's happening on screen, and I feel really bad about it. There are some interesting themes exploring issues of faith that stay sympathetic while leaning towards a bleak nihilistic outlook. They also pulled off one of the most disturbing scenes I've seen without an ounce of blood, so kudos there.

However, these films are often just this downward spiral of despair with no redemptive ark. As a viewer, you get just as pummeled as the characters, and I'm often left wondering why I do this to myself. I mean, I'm actively making the choice to never watch Slaughtered Vomit Dolls, so I've got to admit there is a line somewhere, I'm just not exactly sure where it is.

I'm not even going to write a whole long review about this movie because I actually never want to think about it ever again. I've seen some messed up, vile and downright abhorrent films in my 40 years on this Earth, but this is the first time a movie has ever made me sick to my stomach. The entire last 30 minutes had my stomach in such a vicious knot, I actually considered turning the film off, and I really wish I would have.

Movies like Martyrs, Inside, and the like are difficult films to get through, but their over the top violence keeps them grounded. This film portrays the type of monsters that live among regular people, who wear their clothes and play their games. THIS is what true horror is; showing the vile nature of the degenerates that live in our neighborhoods.

I will never EVER watch this movie again, and anyone who is considering it, don't. It's a magnificently made film that no one should ever see. It will literally make you look at humanity differently.

People like this exist and live among us. God help us all.

I hate when movies say "based on true events" with no further reference. It sometimes comes off as a marketing ploy. Unless and until the movie provides the inspiration material, it's nothing more than pure fiction and nothing else. Now this completely voids the necessity to put that it's based on real events in the first place.