The movie is loosely based upon life of Peter Kurten, the psychotic serial killer from Dusseldorf, Germany. Apparently looks and says like it, but this movie is not closely accurate. The true story of serial murderer Peter Kurten is far darker, sinister, disturbing and scary than this film. And I understand that Robert Hossein maybe did not want to make a film with such elements. And kind of, I feel sorry for it, because I expect a story to follow real events. If you are making a movie based on true story, then make sure to put more facts than fiction. And of course, put some usual, fictitious movie drama while at it. However, the movie is not all that bad and I think that Hossein excelled as both director and actor. As a director, he gave us a great screen shoots (for example), good lightning and great night atmosphere. As actor he was even better. His Kurten was, well, yes, far more different than the real one. Hossein's Kurten had this uncomfortable stare, socially awkward looks, and unusual walking, with his head focused on victim. He is somewhat reminiscent of Bela Lugosi (in that good old vampire sense). Also, he fell in love with a singer at the night café, named Anna, played by Marie France – Pisier. Marie was good in her role, as beautiful, voluptuous, yet innocent-looking, but brash and young. The element of these two falling in love was quite fitting, as Kurten sees her not as a potential victim, but rather as someone who could, perhaps calm the evil within him. The movie offers quite, reasonable amount of tension, interesting music score, though I expected to be more musical scores for each scene. Camera work, editing, make up, costumes and other actors are good. The thing that makes this movie slow and uninteresting is that we have a subplot about Nazi Germans rise to power and the big depression. Yes, I understand that those things happened back then. However, I think it would be better to keep it low. At the beginning of the movie, we have exposition about everything that happened about Nazis, depression and Kurten, so Hossein basically, tells us about the stuff that happens in the film, before we even see it. I think that big depression and Nazi Germany fits well in that exposition, while he leaves Kurten and his crimes to the rest of the film. So, I do recommend this film, it's pretty good. Kudos to Robert Hossein.
