Der Springteufel

Most TV movies are instantly forgettable, very similar to many others. Every now and then though there is a picture people will remember, a picture that grabs the audience's attention, and rather surprisingly this is one of those pictures.

Surprisingly, because the lead is played by Dieter Hallervorden, a comic actor whose style one might compare to Jerry Lewis or Gianfranco D'Angelo; his films are mostly known for lowbrow slapstick. But this is not a comedy at all (perhaps of a very very dark kind), it is a rather unpleasant thriller, and 'Didi' plays a rather unpleasant character. Initially the viewer is tempted into thinking that this is one of his usual nerdish but lovable and harmless weirdos but this just hardens the blow to find that he may a nerdish weirdo, but lovable and harmless he certainly ain't. As far as hitch-hikers from hell go, he is clearly up there with Rutger Hauer [The Hitcher] and David Hess [Autostop rosso sangue].

Despite his qualities the film has not been repeated ad infinitum on German TV, presumably because it is rather uncomfortable to watch - stay away from your TV dinner! Still, one viewing ensures that you won't forget this movie. Before I found a VHS copy, I still vividly remembered it 25 years after the initial viewing.

(ENGLISH): 'Der springteufel' is a short film from 1974 by Heinz Schirk with Dieter Hallervorden.

Hallervorden doesn't play a funny role here, but rather he plays a psychopath. He's looking for someone or a hitchhiker to see if someone will take him to Frankfurt. A doctor takes him. Dieter asks him a lot of funny questions and deliberately twists a lot. Sometime later, Dieter threatens the doctor and plays his psychological games with him.

The short film is quite cheap, but it doesn't worsen the film in any way, only on some camera helicopter trips the cinematography looks very confused and the camera is very crooked and shaky. Otherwise there is nothing more to say about cinematography. Dieter Hallervorden plays the psychopath very well and people buy it from him. Most of all, the dialogues are very well thought out and you listen eagerly. Mur such liked the ending very much. A very simple TV movie that is quite intense (not brutal) and does everything right.

This movie is a real stunner if you know Dieter Hallervorden only in his roles playing the weirdo. This movie was made before it and it's a psycho-thriller. Despite from its running time of only 53min you will never forget it. As the author of the first recension wrote: This movie leaves you with a very uncomfortable feeling. When the movie was made in 1974 it was way out of being thinkable that a story like this could ever happen in real life. In our crazy days now its more actual than ever.

This movie now is published on DVD so now everybody can make up his own mind about Der Springteufel. Watch it!!