IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
In a Scandinavian insane asylum, murderer Salem sneaks out at night to exact his revenge on those who he deems responsible for his predicament.In a Scandinavian insane asylum, murderer Salem sneaks out at night to exact his revenge on those who he deems responsible for his predicament.In a Scandinavian insane asylum, murderer Salem sneaks out at night to exact his revenge on those who he deems responsible for his predicament.
Hanne Borchsenius
- Emmie
- (as Hanne Bork)
Bjørn Watt-Boolsen
- Mr. Torens
- (as Bjorn Watt-Boolsen)
Erik Kühnau
- Police Doctor
- (as Erik Kuhnau)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDespite having several British actors and crew members, this film never got a cinema release in Britain. It had a brief video release in the early 1980s (luridly re-named "Lunatic") but is mainly known in the UK following TV showings and a DVD release (under its proper title) in the 21st century.
- GoofsThe killer, Salem, is eventually, at the end of the film, proven to have been out of the asylum by the parrot in his clothing. However, this and each earlier time he was out could have been easily identified by his boots, which would have been soaked by the snow that he had to trek through.
- Quotes
The Parrot: Salem. Salem, come to supper!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Trailer Trauma Part 4: Television Trauma (2017)
Featured review
Low-key but tense
This film opens up with Max von Sydow running across snowy fields in his underpants. Good lord, we wonder, what's he doing out there? Isn't he freezing? Soon he cleverly figures out a way to get into a house via an upstairs window, and it becomes apparent that he knows the three people who are engaged in a disagreement in the kitchen below. We're not sure what he's up to, and as it's best you don't know a lot about the plot before watching this one, I won't say more.
The story is taut and well-told by director László Benedek, who wisely avoids extraneous detail, and there are moments of real tension. It's dark, but Benedek exercises restraint, which I liked, but which may turn off viewers seeking more explicit thrills. Trevor Howard, who you may recognize from Brief Encounter (1945) and The Third Man (1949), is strong as a detective, and the rest of the cast are all good as well. I liked the way we eventually see how von Sydow is able to do what he does, though you'll have to suspend disbelief a bit. Clever ending too.
The story is taut and well-told by director László Benedek, who wisely avoids extraneous detail, and there are moments of real tension. It's dark, but Benedek exercises restraint, which I liked, but which may turn off viewers seeking more explicit thrills. Trevor Howard, who you may recognize from Brief Encounter (1945) and The Third Man (1949), is strong as a detective, and the rest of the cast are all good as well. I liked the way we eventually see how von Sydow is able to do what he does, though you'll have to suspend disbelief a bit. Clever ending too.
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- Sep 3, 2018
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Sprache
- Also known as
- Lunatic
- Filming locations
- Varberg, Hallands län, Sweden(filmed entirely on location in Sweden)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 46 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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