This doesn’t continue through the whole film, but it might be something to consider if you have a health condition or anxiety that strobe lighting could provoke. Quotes from reviews, etc. Some of the strongest art digs into life and struggle, but I also think it’s beautiful when art can inspire art in turn that taps into that universal human experience and often needed introspection. From acting she bridged into modeling, working heavily with alternative, pin-up, and glamor modeling. Still from Der Samurai. Angst von der Angst: Concept Overrides Construction in Weak Psychological Metaphor It’s evident a majority of the artistry that went into the conceptualization of Der Nachtmahr (The Nightmare), the sophomore feature from Akiz (aka Achim Bornhak), revolves around its provocative piece de resistance, a hunchbacked alien creature hobbling around in the periphery of its terrorized … Starring: Carolyn Genzkow, Sina Tkotsch, Wilson Gonzalez. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Your email address will not be published. On a formal level, the only thing that really distinguishes Der Nachtmahr is the thermonuclear sound design, which blows up every time the characters enter an underground night club. THE HUNT: "Fair and Balanced" Political Satire for the Times, Behind the Masks: An Interview with Vicky Clerici. Rock musician Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) has a cameo as an English poetry teacher. All rights reserved. In time, her nightmare seems to manifest into an undeniable physical form she can’t be imagining – a small, grotesque toad-like creature that disgusts and horrifies her, yet one she is undeniably connected to. With Carolyn Genzkow, Sina Tkotsch, Wilson Gonzalez, Arnd Klawitter. Required fields are marked *. The Nightmare is a German surrealist horror film that constantly evolves, beginning in a rave drug trip, escalating into a nightmarish creature-feature, psycho-terror journey with an introspective, empowering message. More recently her tale of real life horrors of bullying and abuse in the psychological slasher, Words Like Knives, premiered at Blood at the Beach festival in Virginia Beach. The first step is to look it in the eye, acknowledge, and face it. Based in Los Angeles, she has worked on productions across the country, working heavily in the indie horror scene in Chicago as well as LA. Der Nachtmahr is a German drama with an undercurrent of fantasy & horror that sucked me in deeper than I was expecting to go, it's everything I had hoped Bad Milo would be minus the poop/shitty comedy, with a metaphoric monster slowly becoming more tangible, more prominent as the story of a 17-year-old girl with problems unravels.. Carolyn Genzkow (center) as Tina, in The Nightmare (Der Nachtmahr). All Space Jockey Reviews “Space Jockey” photos are licensed to Chris Rennirt for use on this website and elsewhere. Akiz has crafted a film which may fall down a little when it comes to special effects but which soars in its depiction of life on the brink. Tina (played by the waiflike Carolyn Genzkow) is a typical, troubled teenager, struggling through the usual high-school pitfalls of drugs, alcohol, loud music and the attention (or lack thereof) of boys. While our ambitions and inspiration came from within, the message The Nightmare holds definitely came into play and was something I wanted to honor and showcase with our eerie, nightmarish, mental-health photo set. Zukowski also starred in the feature haunted house film, Within These Walls–a gritty collaboration with filmmaker James Tucker, centering on a disturbing ghost story that brings out complete entrapment and relentless torment of one girl as she struggles to find her inner-strength. This was my second watch, and I stand by my view that it is an overlooked, compelling horror film that deserves a bigger audience. Also check out Kelsey Zukowski’s webpage here on Space Jockey Reviews for all of her latest reviews, articles, photo sets, and more–all always out of this world! The film is beautifully composed and particularly excels in its experimentation of visuals and sound. Most of the dread and terror come from fear of acknowledgement of the grotesque creature following Tina that others don’t see – a pretty clear symbolism for depression, fear, and the inner-human and emotional struggle we all experience in one way or another. As the tiny monster becomes more visible, though, it also becomes more sympathetic. This property may not be reproduced in any form, or by any means, without prior permission from Chris Rennirt. It’s a refreshing and remarkably heartfelt film about identity and self-acceptance. The Nightmare showcases contrast and opposites through the cinematography. On a formal level, the only thing that really distinguishes Der Nachtmahr is the thermonuclear sound design, which blows up every time the characters enter an underground night club. Stream The Nightmare (Der Nachtmahr) uncut, ad-free on all your favorite devices. "Der Nachtmahr" ist definitiv keine typische deutsche Produktion, er ist laut, er kann leise sein, es scheint ein Horrorfilm zu sein und ist dann doch Coming-of-Age... Der Regisseur konnte trotz eines sehr knappen Budgets von 80.000 EUR einen Film auf die Beine stellen, der zumindest hierzulande seines gleichen sucht. may be used, if attributed to the author. READ MORE: Promising New Filmmakers Recognized at Slamdance Film Festival Awards. Shop Vinyl and CDs and complete your Janus collection. The writer and director is Achim Bornhak (as Akiz) and he is mostly known so far for his fairly weak Uschi Oermaier biopic from almost 10 years ago. This is not an idle threat; it delivers on that assurance within seconds. This gallery contains 11 photos. Mac and Me directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, and it's exactly as good as that sounds. Dir: AKIZ. It's better to just accept the film for the bizarre curiosity that it is rather than examine its intentions. "Der Nachtmahr" or "The Nightmare" is a German 90-minute movie from last year (2015). The creature is Tina’s fears incarnate, ... Related Items Der Nachtmahr LFF 2015 review. Posted on January 31, 2021 by Chris Rennirt. After all, one has to acknowledge and face these things to grow and conquer the things threatening to break them. Despite the incredible creature effects its design is wretched and the lack of a … After attending a rave party, a teenage girl forms a bond with a strange monster as she suffers a slow chaotic mental breakdown. The Nightmare (Der Nachtmahr) 2015 – Film Review & “My Inner Demons” by Kelsey Zukowski. As the opening credits state, this is a film that has to be played loud, because a … Check out Kelsey’s entire bio on IMDb! Der Nachtmahr proves as much of a film about clubbing and music as it is a sci-fi/ horror. I love coming-of-age stories, especially when they incorporate elements of horror. Requiem For A Dream by Mark Wilshin. Tina (Genzkow) is a free-spirited, teenage partier with little worries until a traumatic experience at a rave triggers terrors that throw her into a walking nightmare. German artist AKIZ, also known as Achim Bornhak, spent several years developing … Reviewed on: 09 Sep 2015 So, at the beginning of the movie, we join three teens driving their way to a techno pool party, with our protagonist Tina in the backseat. Zukowski has a Bachelors of Arts in Digital Cinema with a concentration in Screenwriting from DePaul University. Editor-in-Chief Chris Rennirt can be contacted directly at chrisrennirt@spacejockeyreviews.com For information about submitting a film for review, click on the link below, and read carefully. While I do appreciate how the genre can show the ugly, uncomfortable, and immense darkness present in our world, I also think it is just as capable of touching on strong, enlightening, and even hopeful outlooks. Copyright © Fandango. Der Nachtmahr Conjures a Haunting New Trailer . She begins hearing and seeing things no one else seems to be able to, making others around her question her grip on reality. I absolutely loved the ending; it’s what really gives this film the spirit and power that makes it so significant. Read Time: 2 Minute, 36 Second ★★★☆☆ Der Nachtmahr (2015), the directorial debut of German multi-disciplinary artist Akiz, begins with a title card requesting that the following film is “played loud, okay?”. Toronto 2015: ‘Der Nachtmahr’ review. Sign up here. Most of these reviews, especially the super negative ones, seem to be for Nightmare (2005), where a couple go to bed and wake up finding a video of them committing murders. If you acknowledge and embrace the seemingly ugliness, the fear, the demon within, it doesn’t have to be your enemy. One of these sets involved a visualization of what it’s like to live with depression, anxiety, and fear. It can ultimately allow you to be honest with yourself, find inner substance and strength, and be a better version of yourself with a companion who understands you intimately in hand. The Nightmare is one film that showcases this beautifully. Der Nachtmahr is not a long form music video with a creepy creature. High school is a trying time under the best of circumstances, but for troubled teenager Tina (Carolyn Genzkow), normal problems like fitting in, getting good grades, and dealing with the opposite sex are the least of her worries. Discover releases, reviews, credits, songs, and more about Janus - Nachtmahr at Discogs. The Nightmare is currently available for free on Amazon Prime. We also wanted to come at it from an angle of those struggles or “demons” being born from you, thus a part of who you are. The overall storytelling, visuals, sound, and meaning more than make up for a few average characters and the occasional filler scene. Photos otherwise are property of the respective copyright holders, and are used here for review purposes only. Its sound and lighting design ranges from the intense and sudden to the eerily vacant and silent, masterfully using the presence and at times absence of these components to immerse the audience and make them feel they are experiencing our protagonist’s nightmarish journey more fully. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! I love how that enlightenment, even in facing great haunting and entrapment, can empower if you let it. The strongest material is when Tina is alone, either running or facing her nightmarish embodiment. He saw barely enough of life to fuel his dreams: a couple of hundred faces, the view from the Citadel, a handful of incidents, treasured and constantly reused in inner reflection. Complete your Nachtmahr collection. Published on 18 September 2015 11 December 2017 by CineVue. Moments like this made the immersion and storytelling all the more engaging. Der Nachtmahr begins with a strobe warning, quite rightly so, and a request to turn up the volume – hints perhaps at this early stage that it’s the superficial we should most aware of. Tina is never in control but perhaps that shouldn't matter. I could have watched 90 … Kelsey Zukowski is an experienced and passionate screenwriter, actress, and model, specializing in the horror genre through dark examination. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Tim Burton Makes His TV Directing Debut With. Directed by Akiz. Shortly after graduating, Zukowski became involved with the independent film scene. Copyright © 2011-2021, Space Jockey Reviews, Inc. All rights reserved. A raucous mashup of It Follows and Basket Case with a touch of Spring Breakers, slick German nerve-jangler Der Nachtmahr is so teen-centric that … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Zukowski is most well-known for penning and co-starring in the surreal dark drama, What They Say, winning awards at film festivals across the country. Here’s an example of the inspiration The Nightmare left me with. Forgot your password? These photos may not be copied, posted, or reproduced in any way. Read and write album reviews for Blasses Kind: Der Nachtmahr - Kramm on AllMusic Tina’s parents and school mates weren’t particularly engaging or interesting; they are flat and quick to melodramatics and judgment, which doesn’t offer prime material. On a formal level, the only thing that really distinguishes Der Nachtmahr is the thermonuclear sound design, which blows up every time the characters enter an underground night club. It showcases how your fear and nightmares are a part of you; things you cannot ignore or hide from. The trailer for Akiz Icon’s German horror film “Der Nachtmahr (The Nightmare)” is … It is not your typical depiction of horror, which I would argue makes it that much more noteworthy, finding its own identity and artistry to explore within the horror genre. Not long after watching the film for the first time about a year ago, I was collaborating with fellow artist and writer, Lily Sasha Idle, on a mental health photography piece. At the very least, the film had better be scary — preferably enough so that audiences have disturbing dreams for days to come. Festival Review: Der Nachtmahr (2015) A German horror film of Berlin clubs and imaginary creatures, Akiz’s Der Nachtmahr is a pulsating delirium of colourful and haunting images. But “Der Nachtmahr” isn’t scary; “Der Nachtmahr” is loud. Genzkow plays her part hesitantly, holding back any urge to dominate. Germany, 2015, 88 mins. I had not seen a single piece of marketing for Der Nachtmahr, aside from the Blu-ray case, before seeing the film, so I had no idea what to expect.Following on from another German partial sci-fi curiosity Der Bunker, I did get my hopes up. I am endlessly fascinated with dreams, what they say about our subconscious and ourselves in the waking world. The Dawadar spent most of his days dozing on opium. This is Der Nachtmahr (The Nightmare) (2017), where a teen girl goes to a party and then starts seeing this little monster guy everywhere. We wanted to showcase how you can be haunted and in torment without anyone else being able to see or understand what you are fighting; making you feel that much more isolated. While it’s more through metaphor and subtext, the film seemed to be purposely throwing the audience into an atmosphere that causes alertness, enthrallment, and triggers – as it does for our main character. As in her writing, Zukowski is most drawn to thematic, stylistic modeling that has an artistic expression, human emotion, and creates a singular world within an image. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. There are also moments where sound is deluded or muffled intentionally when our protagonist is suffering, or in between one reality and another, neither being fully clear to her. I have to say The Nightmare’s perspective and artistry on this topic and the unique sentiments it offered are among my favorite in material of dreams, metaphorical demons, and tackling a mental health journey through the horror genre. The first 10 minutes or so of the film has very strong strobe lighting effects, throwing you into the rave, trippy atmosphere; on edge, ready for horror to emerge at any moment. Don't have an account? The Arabian Nightmare is magic realism and postmodernism rolled into one exotically splendid daydream. The title and themes are inspired by the otherwise unrelated painting The Nightmare by Swiss painter Henry Fuseli. The film showcases darkness in a strong visual metaphor, such as one shot when Tina is completely swallowed into the darkness, showcasing her inner struggles and mentality. Your email address will not be published. There isn’t much blood and carnage here; the horror is mostly in this presence and creature becoming more overbearing until it’s embraced and accepted. [TIFF Review] Der Nachtmahr Amanda Waltz September 17, 2015 Before the German export Der Nachtmahr even begins, the viewer is presented with not one, but two warnings – the first concerns strobing, while the other points out the use of “isochronic and binaural frequencies” – as well as a suggestion that “this film should be played loudly.” TIFF 2015: Der Nachtmahr Review. Der Nachtmahr starts off with a warning for anyone who’s epileptic or disturbed by atonal, dissonant music, informing viewers that this movie will feature a lot of bright, flashing lights and loud, dirty-basement-club beats. by Will Perkins | September 7, 2015, 2:36 pm. The Nightmare (Der Nachtmahr) 2015 – Film Review & “My Inner Demons” by Kelsey Zukowski Gallery. It really resonated and stayed with me. Discover releases, reviews, credits, songs, and more about Nachtmahr - Katharsis at Discogs. The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel. Because what’s more … Consuming darkness is met with striking light and neon flashes; the light always fighting the darkness and vice versa. Der Nachtmahr, literally a “nightmare” in German folklore, is a demon that causes bad dreams. All movie reviews, interviews, articles, and commentary on this website are the property of Chris Rennirt. If you like surreal, experimental creature horror with inner strength and empowerment, this one should be on your watchlist. Some moments of the film shine more fiercely than others. I’m an avid believer in the endless possibilities that the horror genre is capable of, that it’s a far larger, more diverse genre than many give it credit for. Slarek reviews DER NACHTMAHR / THE NIGHTMARE, the intriguing the debut feature from visual artist AKIZ, which had its first London Film Festival screening today. 'Der Nachtmahr': Review. Posted on January 31, 2021 by Chris Rennirt. Der Nachtmahr is provocative in a way guaranteed to get critics' backs up, but like that strobe, it's saying something. Amazon.co.uk: nachtmahr Select Your Cookie Preferences We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so we can make improvements, and display ads. Vanguard. No problem can be fixed if you run away from it shrieking in fear. By Wendy Ide 2015-10-08T16:00:00+01:00. Her life, freedom, and sanity may never be the same if she can’t find a way to accept and come to terms with this creature and, in turn, herself. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Yet if you own them, understanding and strength can follow for a fierce and beautiful transcendence. Der Nahctmahr is a feature film from the director known only as Akiz (although his mother might know him by the name of Achim Bornhak). Der Nachtmahr (literally The Nightmare ) opens with a warning about extreme strobe lighting and a worrying sounding combo of "isochoric and binaural frequencies," which is followed by the advice that the film should be … In a remote and isolated German town, young policeman Jakob (Michel Dirercks: In waller Freundschaft 2015, Stille 2014) struggles to find acceptance with his peers, including boss Hovath (Uwe Preuss: Der Nachtmahr … Don’t get left behind – Enjoy unlimited, ad-free access to Shudder's full library of … Akiz is known as an artist and has had a career directing commercials in which he has made several short films and three tv movies, which are not known outside of the German language. I was engaged throughout the film, especially witnessing this creature-haunting-turned-interpersonal journey evolve. “The following contains extreme strobing… isochronic tones … The Nightmare is a psychological horror film. The Nightmare (German: Der Nachtmahr) is a 2015 German drama and psychological horror film directed by Achim Bornhak []. and the Terms and Policies, Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to have been a lot of thought put into things beyond, "E.T., but scary and German".