First off, let me warn you that this is not your traditional horror film. It's not a slasher/ghost story or anything along those lines. It's much more in tone with the likes of Zodiac or Black Swan in that it's a psychological horror film. There is not a lot of gore, as this is a performance driven horror movie, however it is still a great film.
The premise is based on real life events that many of you may recall. In Germany, a few years back, a man took out an add on line seeking someone willing to be his victim. This man had long had the urge to eat someone and has decided that now is the time. Another man, Simon, who has a rather troubled past, has always had a desire to sacrifice himself to someone. They were the perfect match for one another. Enter Katie, an American student in Germany who is writing her thesis paper on said cannibal, Oliver Hartwin.
What I really enjoyed about this film was the untraditional approach. Rather than bastardizing Oliver and making him out to be a cannibalistic monster, this movie decides to make him the protagonist. We see what makes both Simon and Oliver the way they are and it's actually quite heartbreaking. In addition, as Katie investigates the details of the case we learn a lot about her as well as she begins to grow obsessed with her subjects.
Performance wise, their isn't a weak actor here. Keri Russell (whom I must admit, I'm not a fan of) was actually really something as Katie. You really see her transformation as she begins to become more and more consumed with this case, going so far as to track down the video that Oliver made of his "feast." Thomas Huber is terrific as Simon as well, giving a lot of depth to his character and nailing it spot on. While Huber received much praise for this film I feel that the real star was Thomas Kretschmann as Oliver.
Kretschmann is simply engrossing as Oliver, giving a human side to this "monster." Unlike many films, we actually see what drives Oliver to cannibalism and what ignited this fire that burns inside him. Honestly, it is truly heartbreaking. We actually develop feelings for the two male leads which makes it all the harder to watch Simon's imminent demise.
Now, this movie isn't perfect. There are some pacing issues and there are a few secondary characters who are introduced only to never be seen again without any explanation. These things aside, the performances are strong, the cinematography is the quite good for an obviously low budget. Theres also a nice use of "home footage" to show us the character's backgrounds. In addition, there's a pretty haunting score that fits the mood well and we actually get to see a smart horror movie that cares about it's characters. Overall, a good film that I highly recommend if you want a smart horror flick that'll leave you thinking about what beast may lie inside us all.
Highlight Scene: Without giving away any spoilers, there is a scene in which Simon and Oliver are waiting for the "sedatives" to kick in and the dialogue between the two of them is terrific. Also, the scene in which Katie views the actual tape really resonates with the audience as she witnesses this horrendous act.
Highlight Quote: Oliver- "I'd love to devour you"
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