In a Glass Cage (1986)

A former nazi child-killer is confined in an iron lung inside an old mansion after a suicide attempt. His wife hires him a full-time carer, a mysterious young man who is driven slowly mad by the old man's disturbing past.

Director:

Agustí Villaronga (as Agustín Villaronga)

Writer:

Agustí Villaronga (as Agustín Villaronga)

Stars:

Günter Meisner, David Sust, Marisa Paredes

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Günter Meisner	...	Klaus (as Gunter Meisner)
David Sust	...	Angelo
Marisa Paredes	...	Griselda
Gisèle Echevarría	...	Rena (as Gisela Echevarria)
Imma Colomer	...	Jornalera (as Inma Colomer)
Josuè Guasch	...	Niño Cantor (as Josue Guasch)
David Cuspinera	...	Niño barracon
Ricardo Carcelero	...	Angelo Niño
Alberto Manzano	...	Niño Gitano

Storyline

In Spain, the former Nazi doctor Klaus tries to commit suicide jumping off the roof of his manor. However, he survives with the entire body paralyzed and dependable of an iron lung with glass sides. His wife Griselda decides to hire a nurse since she does not bear the situation. Klaus asks Griselda to hire Angelo, a mysterious teenager that appears in their house. Angelo befriends Klaus' daughter Rena and sooner it is shown that Klaus was a pedophile that loved to feel the fear of death in young boys before abusing and killing them. Further, Angelo is a disturbed and totally insane victim of his experiments that intends to follow the insanities described in Klaus' diary and incorporate his personality.

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Plot Keywords:

iron lung | dead children | giallo | spanish giallo | sleazy giallo | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

5 March 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Im Glaskäfig

Company Credits

Production Co:

T.E.M. Productores S.A.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Günter Meisner originally turned down the role, horrified by the story. According to Villaronga, Meisner called him a few weeks later to accept the part, arguing he couldn't stop thinking about it.

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Quotes

Klaus: [talking to a child] Want a cigarette? Want to make some money?

User Reviews

Extremely intense, only for the adventurous

Talk about a movie that lives up to its reputation -- In a Glass Cage is relentlessly intense from start to finish. The story of a Nazi doctor /pedophile in hiding and the strange young man who comes to work as his "nurse," this film explores taboos with relish. Unfortunately, it devolves into horror movie shtick toward its end (thereby obfuscating the very real horrors it has developed to that point), but In a Glass Cage packs a wallop , earning its reputation as one of the more disturbing movies ever made. It 's very much a European movie, and, given its horrifying subject matter -- pedophilia, the torture and murder of children, the relationship between monsters and their victims -- it could never have been made in the U.S. Strongly recommended for viewers who have strong stomachs and are not otherwise easily offended; all others are urged to avoid it at all costs.