In A Glass Cage (1987)
Studio: CAV/Cult Epics
Theatrical Release: March 24, 1989 (USA)
Blu Ray Release: November 8, 2011
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Agusti Villaronga's controversial thriller is now finally on blu ray, thanks to Cult Epics. While this is the first time I have seen it, word of mouth was that the old DVD was crummy, not even in widescreen. Well, for fans of this demented and shocking film, rest assured as the picture is beautiful and in its original 1:85 ratio. Now you get really disturbed in a new high definition transfer.
The story begins with Klaus, a doctor and former Nazi who has completely lost his marbles and commits graphic sexual crimes to young boys. After Klaus kills a chained up naked boy in a dark cavern, he attempts suicide by jumping from the top of a high building. While he doesn't die, Klaus is left to live in an iron lung, trapped until the day he dies. Klaus lives with his bitter wife Griselda and young daughter Rena. While it is obvious that Griselda holds some resentment to Klaus, she looks for a nurse who can clean Klaus and look after him. When the young man Angelo suddenly walks into their lives and demands the job to look after Klaus, one suspects that Angelo may have been a boy that Klaus once tortured in the past. However, Angelo may or may not have revenge on his mind as he starts to show signs of becoming what Klaus used to be.
While watching In a Glass Cage, I couldn't help but make comparisons with Stephen King's short story "Apt Pupil" in which a young boy discovers a former Nazi hiding in seclusion and bringing out the demons in his past. In a Glass Cage goes one step further in showing what Klaus did and what Angelo starts to do. This is not a family film by no means and with all the talk about current sex abuse stories to young boys, this may be a difficult film to get through.
Villaronga (who also wrote the script) fills his frame with some beautiful images and the dark blue look makes the film even more colder, depressing. He gets some amazing performances out of his cast and one can't help but wonder what these actors did to get into character for such a strong film. While the movie is at times slow moving, the film is never boring and it was one of the few films that I started late at night that didn't make me sleepy (I've gotten more like my old man as I have gotten older, falling asleep during any film starting after 10 pm). In fact, as soon as the film ended, I had to jump into the special features right away as I wanted to see the interview with Villaronga and what it was that made him write such a powerful and dark script.
If I had a complaint about the film, it is the conclusion which left me a bit confused. I really can't explain it without giving away the ending but the final scene didn't really work for me. But this is a small complaint. The rest of the film and this blu ray itself is worth searching for and owning. Just don't watch this with a bunch of friends, wanting a good time. This movie would bring that mood to a halt, fast.
Theatrical Release: March 24, 1989 (USA)
Blu Ray Release: November 8, 2011
Not Rated
Review by James Klein
Agusti Villaronga's controversial thriller is now finally on blu ray, thanks to Cult Epics. While this is the first time I have seen it, word of mouth was that the old DVD was crummy, not even in widescreen. Well, for fans of this demented and shocking film, rest assured as the picture is beautiful and in its original 1:85 ratio. Now you get really disturbed in a new high definition transfer.
The story begins with Klaus, a doctor and former Nazi who has completely lost his marbles and commits graphic sexual crimes to young boys. After Klaus kills a chained up naked boy in a dark cavern, he attempts suicide by jumping from the top of a high building. While he doesn't die, Klaus is left to live in an iron lung, trapped until the day he dies. Klaus lives with his bitter wife Griselda and young daughter Rena. While it is obvious that Griselda holds some resentment to Klaus, she looks for a nurse who can clean Klaus and look after him. When the young man Angelo suddenly walks into their lives and demands the job to look after Klaus, one suspects that Angelo may have been a boy that Klaus once tortured in the past. However, Angelo may or may not have revenge on his mind as he starts to show signs of becoming what Klaus used to be.
While watching In a Glass Cage, I couldn't help but make comparisons with Stephen King's short story "Apt Pupil" in which a young boy discovers a former Nazi hiding in seclusion and bringing out the demons in his past. In a Glass Cage goes one step further in showing what Klaus did and what Angelo starts to do. This is not a family film by no means and with all the talk about current sex abuse stories to young boys, this may be a difficult film to get through.
Villaronga (who also wrote the script) fills his frame with some beautiful images and the dark blue look makes the film even more colder, depressing. He gets some amazing performances out of his cast and one can't help but wonder what these actors did to get into character for such a strong film. While the movie is at times slow moving, the film is never boring and it was one of the few films that I started late at night that didn't make me sleepy (I've gotten more like my old man as I have gotten older, falling asleep during any film starting after 10 pm). In fact, as soon as the film ended, I had to jump into the special features right away as I wanted to see the interview with Villaronga and what it was that made him write such a powerful and dark script.
If I had a complaint about the film, it is the conclusion which left me a bit confused. I really can't explain it without giving away the ending but the final scene didn't really work for me. But this is a small complaint. The rest of the film and this blu ray itself is worth searching for and owning. Just don't watch this with a bunch of friends, wanting a good time. This movie would bring that mood to a halt, fast.
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