Amsterdamned (1988)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Dick Maas

Writer:

Dick Maas (writer)

Release Date:

25 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

The city is murder

Plot:

A mysterious diver hiding in Amsterdam's canal system embarks on a rampage of gruesome murders, terrifying...

Plot Keywords:

Canal | Diver | Murder | Violence | Automobile Chase

Cast

Huub Stapel	...	Eric Visser
Monique van de Ven	...	Laura
Serge-Henri Valcke	...	Vermeer
Tanneke Hartzuiker	...	Potter
Wim Zomer	...	John
Hidde Maas	...	Ruysdael
Lou Landré	...	Chef
Tatum Dagelet	...	Anneke
Edwin Bakker	...	Willy
Door van Boeckel	...	Maniac
Barbara Martijn	...	Prostitute
Pieter Lutz	...	Skipper
Simone Ettekoven	...	Salvationist
Koos van der Knaap	...	First Environmentalist
Pieter Loef	...	Second Environmentalist

Also Known As:

Amsterdamned (USA)

Runtime:

105 min | Australia:114 min | USA:114 min | Argentina:114 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch | Spanish | Mandarin | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 (cut) | Netherlands:16 (re-rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (2009) (uncut) | UK:15 (re-rating, uncut) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Argentina:16 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Amstel Canal, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

First Floor Features

Trivia:

During the filming of the speedboat chase, the boat with actor Huub Stapel crashed into a wall, what resulted in several injuries and took him out of shooting for three weeks.

Quotes:

Vermeer: What do you think she meant when she said a huge black monster with giant claws?
Eric Visser: I don't know, but I hope your mother-in-law has an alibi.
Vermeer: UGH!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Allemaal film: De amerikaanse droom (#1.6)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Amsterdamned

A Pleasant Surprise!

I only watched this movie because it was a Friday night, I was home alone, nothing else was on, I was bored, and the title "Amsterdamned" sent me into enormous, convulsive belly laughs when I saw it on the onscreen satellite guide! What a surprise though!

I have to say that (before watching this movie), of all the places in the world, Holland/The Netherlands was probably the 100th, on a list of 99, that I EVER wanted to visit. I couldn't have been less interested than in anything Dutch. The locations in this movie have changed my mind, however, and now I can't wait to go there!! Most foreign movies are filmed in gritty, urban atmospheres that are totally different than we Americans picture the country and, if anything, deter anyone from any interest in visiting the place. The locations of Amsterdamned, however, are a true delight. What a beautiful, unique and interesting place!

The movie, itself, was different and it was very exciting to try and figure out who the "culprit" was. It was a disappointment in the end, however, although I figured that the primary suspect was not the killer. Also, Huub Stapel's character was not very skilled in police work - he merely went wherever he was told might be linked to the killer, and stood around asking lame questions, as well as doing a lot of posing and lighting cigarettes in a way reminiscent of American "macho men" of the 1970's. He did not "solve" the crime at all, but only happened to be there in the end to "rescue" the female lead. His boss tells off the mayor who is trying to get the case wrapped up quickly and suggests that Stapel's character, Eric Visser, be replaced with someone more competent. I can't figure out why Eric is so respected by his boss, who states to the mayor that he is the "best" and "only" person for the job. I think that, given the opportunity, Eric's young daughter could have solved the crime and done better detective work than he did!

It was still a good movie overall, and one that I will watch again, if just for the scenery. Maybe next time I can figure out just what Stapel's character had going for him that made him so "valuable!"