The Keep (1983)

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 (novel), Michael Mann (screenplay)

Stars:

Scott Glenn, Ian McKellen, Alberta Watson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Scott Glenn	...	Glaeken
Alberta Watson	...	Eva Cuza
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Woermann
Robert Prosky	...	Father Fonescu
Gabriel Byrne	...	Kaempffer
Ian McKellen	...	Dr. Theodore Cuza
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Alexandru (as Morgan Sheppard)
Royston Tickner	...	Tomescu
Michael Carter	...	Radu Molasar
Phillip Joseph	...	Oster
John Vine	...	Lutz
Jona Jones	...	Otto
Wolf Kahler	...	S.S. Adjutant
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Josefa
Frederick Warder	...	Border Guard 1

Storyline

Nazis are sent to guard an old, mysterious fortress in a Romanian pass. One of them mistakenly releases an unknown force trapped within the walls. A mysterious stranger senses this from his home in Greece and travels to the keep to vanquish the force. As soldiers are killed, a Jewish man and his daughter (who are both knowledgeable of the keep) are brought in to find out what is happening.

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Plot Keywords:

demon | gothic horror | father daughter relationship | inn | nazi | 

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Taglines:

THEY WERE ALL DRAWN TO THE KEEP. The soldiers who brought death. The father and daughter fighting for life. The people who have always feared it. And the one man who knows its secret... THE KEEP Tonight, they will all face the evil.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 December 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Satans borg

Filming Locations:

UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures,Associated Capital,Capital Equipment Leasing

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 91 min (video) 210 min (original cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of two movies released in 1983, in which Scott Glenn appeared. The other film was The Right Stuff (1983).

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Goofs

One of the German soldiers who opens the tomb accidentally nudges a fake boulder which slides away way to easily.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Captain Klaus Woermann: [to a soldier, looking at the Keep] Your new home. How do you like it ?

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Crazy Credits

The Keep Production Pays Tribute To Wally Veevers

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Connections

Featured in Trailer Trauma 3: 80s Horrorthon (2017)

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Soundtracks

Gloria
(from the Mass for Four Voices by Thomas Tallis)
Arranged by Tangerine Dream

User Reviews

Horror and supernatural force in a Rumanian citadel during Nazi invasion

This exciting movie is set during WW2 , when a detachment of the German army (commanded by Jurgen Prochnow) is sent to guard a mysterious Rumanian keep located on a strategic mountain pass in Carpathian Alps . The Nazis ignore villagers' warnings and of a Ortodox monk (Robert Prosky)about a weird presence inside. But one of the soldiers unwittingly releases an unknown spirit trapped within the walls. As the soldiers are mysteriously killed , the SS (Gabriel Byrne) arrives to deal with that is thought to be partisan activity . What the SS encounters, however, is an evil force trapped within the citadel, a menace that will do anything to flee. With no way of combating the force, the Nazis have no option but to seek the aid of a Jewish man (Ian McKellen) and his daughter (Alberta Watson), who are both knowledge about the keep and who can translate signs vital to combating the rare menace . Meanwhile appears a strange man (Scott Glenn) with supernatural power, an angel exterminator named Glaeken.

This fantastic movie packs action, violence, terror, suspense with creepy and eerie scenarios. The film is based on Paul Wilson novel , also screenwriter along with Michael Mann. Some versions include different endings and additional footage. The star-studded cast is well headed by Jurgen Prochnow, Scott Glenn and Ian McKellen and excellent plethora of secondaries as Gabriel Byrne, Robert Prosky, William Morgan Sheppard and a very secondary role by Bruce Payne and Roselie Crutchley. Impressive production design with breathtaking scenarios by John Box. Colorful cinematography with flog and fume and plenty of lights and dark by Alex Thomson. Eerie musical composed by means of synthesizer is made by Tangerine Dream (Christopher Frank, among others). The motion picture is professionally directed by Michael Mann, a successful director and usual screenwriter from the 80s with several hits (Manhunter,The last Mohican, Heat,Insider, Ali, Miami vice). The story will appeal to terror genre fans and WWII buffs.