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IMDbPro

The Keep

  • 1983
  • R
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
14K
YOUR RATING
The Keep (1983)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:29
1 Video
60 Photos
DramaFantasyHorror

Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.

  • Director
    • Michael Mann
  • Writers
    • F. Paul Wilson
    • Michael Mann
  • Stars
    • Scott Glenn
    • Ian McKellen
    • Alberta Watson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Mann
    • Writers
      • F. Paul Wilson
      • Michael Mann
    • Stars
      • Scott Glenn
      • Ian McKellen
      • Alberta Watson
    • 207User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
    • 34Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Keep
    Trailer 2:29
    Watch The Keep

    Photos60

    Ian McKellen in The Keep (1983)
    Ian McKellen in The Keep (1983)
    Gabriel Byrne, Jürgen Prochnow, Ian McKellen, and Alberta Watson in The Keep (1983)
    The Keep (1983)
    The Keep (1983)
    The Keep (1983)
    The Keep (1983)
    The Keep (1983)
    Scott Glenn and Alberta Watson in The Keep (1983)
    Wolf Kahler in The Keep (1983)
    Michael Carter in The Keep (1983)
    Jürgen Prochnow in The Keep (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Scott Glenn
    Scott Glenn
    • Glaeken
    Ian McKellen
    Ian McKellen
    • Dr. Theodore Cuza
    Alberta Watson
    Alberta Watson
    • Eva Cuza
    Jürgen Prochnow
    Jürgen Prochnow
    • Woermann
    Robert Prosky
    Robert Prosky
    • Father Fonescu
    Gabriel Byrne
    Gabriel Byrne
    • Kaempffer
    William Morgan Sheppard
    William Morgan Sheppard
    • Alexandru
    • (as Morgan Sheppard)
    Royston Tickner
    • Tomescu
    Michael Carter
    Michael Carter
    • Radu Molasar
    Phillip Joseph
    • Oster
    John Vine
    • Lutz
    Jona Jones
    • Otto
    Wolf Kahler
    Wolf Kahler
    • S.S. Adjutant
    Rosalie Crutchley
    Rosalie Crutchley
    • Josefa
    Frederick Warder
    Frederick Warder
    • Border Guard 1
    Bruce Payne
    Bruce Payne
    • Border Guard 2
    David Cardy
    • Alexandru's Son
    John Eastham
    • Alexandru's Second Son
    • Director
      • Michael Mann
    • Writers
      • F. Paul Wilson
      • Michael Mann
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Michael Mann's original cut of the film ran three and a half hours.
    • Goofs
      When Dr Cuza is translating the writing on the wall, he says "The form is the imperative" i.e. that it's a command. That's taken from the source novel, where the writing is translated as "Strangers, leave my home!" But in the film the translation is "I will be free", which is not an imperative statement.
    • Quotes

      Major Kaempffer: [frightened] What are you? Where do you come from?

      Molasar: Where am I from? I am... from YOU!

    • Crazy credits
      The Keep Production Pays Tribute To Wally Veevers
    • Alternate versions
      Some television versions include additional footage after the original downbeat ending, showing Eva Cuza (Alberta Watson) turn around, entering the Keep and finding the body of Glaecen (Scott Glenn), dead after the final battle with Molasar. Eva hugs Glaeken, who is revived by the power of her love.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: D.C. Cab/Two of a Kind/The Man Who Loved Women/The Keep (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Gloria
      (from the Mass for Four Voices by Thomas Tallis)

      Arranged by Tangerine Dream

    User reviews207

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    A "keep out" sign might have worked?
    A group of German soldiers led by Captain Klaus Woermann are sent to take guard at a Keep near a Romanian pass. One of the soldiers believes that a cross-embedded in the wall is made of silver and digs it out. Only to release an evil presence, known as Molasar. It knocks off a couple of soldiers every night. Sturmbahnfuhrer Kaempffer and his SS patrol arrive in town to stop the problem. They believe it's simply partisan activity, but they soon find out its far from it. So they get the help of a Jewish man, Dr Theodore Cuza (along with his daughter Eva) who knows a bit about this Keep. Meanwhile, a mysterious man, Glaeken Trismegatus is on his way to stop this evil.

    Wow! But huh? Yeah, after spending a long time trying to see this hybrid movie. I finally got the chance and it was a very flawed, but reasonable effort by director / writer Michael Mann. I remember reading the quite interesting and extremely unique premise and being totally compelled by the idea of it. I guess not reading F. Paul Wilson's novel is a bittersweet thing, as I came in with very little expectations, but on the on other hand I was left clueless about certain disjointed sub- plots. Anyhow It's Mann's vision we got. The material is terribly mangled, jadedly rushed and comes across as pure pulp. However it's Mann's surreal direction, Alex Thomson's arresting photography and the moody electronic music score by Tangerine Dream that clicks in this atmospheric combination of fantasy, war and horror.

    Sure, there was interference by the studio in the final product (with a a lot of scenes hitting the cutting room floor), but Mann seemed more preoccupied with his visuals than with the plot and characters. They became nothing more than forgettable background features. The storyline was all over the ship with forced details (like the creation of evil entity) and a script riddled with confusing holes. There's an odd assortment of performances. Those who stood out were the humane German captain played by Jurgen Prochnow and Gabriel Byrne as the tyrant SS officer. Alberta Watson as Eva felt awkward and Ian McKellen was fine. However Glenn Scott looked as if he was somewhere else in a very laboured role as Glaeken Trismegatus. An intriguing character that had VERY little to do and was hard to understand.

    Visually there are plenty of potently dreamy images that spontaneously pop up. There's sharp craftsmanship in depicting certain sequences that just stick in your mind. Like when Byrne's character encounters Molasar. Worked into this is a very effective score that works the emotions thoroughly and creates a very out-of-this-world vibe. What captures this layout beautifully is Thomson's photography. His always in the right spot to get that impressive shot and original angle that just lingers on screen. The special effects is a big (if over-extended) light show that has style and the monster design can look a bit rubbery, but eventually the monster design by Nick Maley does come off. Mann knows how to stage a visually powerful scene, but if your looking for suspense. There are very few build-ups and little scares at all. The pace is slow, but the eerie setting holds up tightly and has a huge impact in the overall feel.

    It isn't perfect, but it's a really unusual and hypnotic good vs. evil opus by Mann.
    helpful•32
    9
    • lost-in-limbo
    • Oct 31, 2006

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    FAQ3

    • Why hasn't this movie been released on DVD?
    • Why is the evil entity named Molasar?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 16, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Home - Paramount
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die unheimliche Macht
    • Filming locations
      • Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales, UK
    • Production companies
      • Associated Capital
      • Capital Equipment Leasing
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $11,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,218,594
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,032,295
      • Dec 18, 1983
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,218,594
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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