Angst (1983)

A troubled man gets released from prison and starts taking out his sadistic fantasies on an unsuspecting family living in a secluded house.

Director:

Gerald Kargl

Writers:

Zbigniew Rybczynski (screenplay), Gerald Kargl (screenplay)

Stars:

Erwin Leder, Robert Hunger-Bühler, Silvia Ryder

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Erwin Leder	...	K., the Psychopath
Robert Hunger-Bühler	...	Off-Text (voice)
Silvia Ryder	...	Daughter (Silvia) (as Silvia Rabenreither)
Karin Springer	...	Daughter (voice)
Edith Rosset	...	Mother
Josefine Lakatha	...	Mother (voice)
Rudolf Götz	...	Son
Kuba	...	Dog
Renate Kastelik	...	Taxi Driver
Hermann Groissenberger	...	Guest at the Café
Claudia Schinko	...	Guest at the Café
Beate Jurkowitsch	...	Guest at the Café
Rosa Schandl	...	Waitress at the Café
Rolf Bock	...	Police Officer
Emil Polaczek	...	Police Officer

Storyline

A man is released from prison after serving ten years for murdering an elderly woman. He quickly begins to feel the compulsion to kill again. After failing to murder a cab driver, he flees and discovers a secluded rural home, where a young woman lives with her sick mother and disabled brother. He then begins to take out his sadistic pleasures on them, attempting to hold them hostage, while thinking of his troubled childhood with his abusive mother and grandmother...

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Plot Keywords:

female stockinged legs | black pantyhose | pantyhose | psychopathic killer | maniac | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Austria

Language:

German

Release Date:

1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Schizophrenia

Filming Locations:

Stein, Lower Austria, Austria

Box Office

Budget:

€400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gerald Kargl

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min (director's cut) 87 min (international cut)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The man in the Espresso restaurant (Hermann Groissenberger) is reading a newspaper. In the beginning of the movie the headline reads "WAR". At the end of the movie it reads "PAX", peace.

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Goofs

When the daughter picks up the knife with her mouth it suddenly has changed into an upright position.

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Quotes

[first lines]
The Psychopath: The fear in her eyes and the knife in the chest. That's my last memory of my mother. That's why I had to go to prison for four years, even though she survived.

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Connections

Referenced in Manhunter (1986)

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Soundtracks

Surrender
Written by Klaus Schulze (uncredited)
Performed by Klaus Schulze

User Reviews

10/10. An outstanding horror film

Angst (1983) is one of my favourite horror films of all time. This very disturbing German horror picture is a true gem. The camera work for me is one of the many things that make this film so great. The camera feels very over the shoulder and gets you up close and personal with the disturbing events that take place. Plenty of facial shots also really capture the essence of the main character. It's honestly not hard to tell the man is mentally disturbed. The actor who plays the main character is beyond perfect in the role, looking very sly and demented. Plus the narration that this character gives us throughout the whole movie is simply pure evil. I felt as if I was watching a real life serial murder happen before my eyes, which is exactly what makes this film so disturbing. It's not heavy on gore and nudity but the manner in which it was filmed and narrated is definitely disturbing to me. since the film at it's core is a character study that follows a deeply disturbed serial killer, there isn't much of a plot here. this however doesn't detract from the film it really just strengthens it. you feel far more immersed in the character and his thoughts because there is no plot for you to pay attention to. this makes for a very real and in depth character study about a mentally unstable man. topped off by excellent casting and acting. All that's left for me to say is, go watch it. You will not be disappointed!

The verdict: 10/10 a perfectly disturbing masterpiece