Deed Poll (2004) User Reviews

Good, but not great.

[demunfallopferseinefrau · 7/10 · 22 March 2005]

I like dark movies. I like porn. I thought "Deed Poll" was a good combination. It was. A hustler's getting killed for sexual stimulation.

Pro: André Schneider's fine performance gave me the chills and Rainer-Maria Wittenauer was pure eye-candy. The fact that we get to see an erection a great bonus. The cameraman did a good job. The whole thing is well-written.

Contra: Barbara Kowa's overacting annoyed me. She's wearing a terrible wig and is hysterical throughout the movie. The whole Ivy character is horrible! The sound quality is poor, poor, poor! Why couldn't they afford a better sound system?

All in all: a good movie, made under very bad circumstances, with a great plot, a good ending, and a bad leading lady.

gang bang explosion

[TaorminaLove · 6/10 · 10 June 2006]

the sexy guy from Colgado de la luna and La Silla, andre schneider, wrote, produced and starred in this dark fairytale of a drug habit that becomes an obsession. the title rang my bell. wasn't that an infamous internet hoax a couple of years ago? schneider was falsely blamed for it, and his career was almost over. now he got it made, ij. biermann directed it, and this year, he showed it audiences in Madrid. the audience liked it, but I am unsure to this day. the plot was intriguing, but the way it was told was too much for me: too much sex, too many drugs, too gory, too much blood. still, there were some good ideas in it and the dialogue was fine. meanwhile, schneider did good in some smaller parts in Spanish low budget movies, so he doesn't need to bother how this cheap little cult trash porn is received. barbara kowa deserves a special mention, her powerful appearance lifts the movie's value up, up, up.

Getting Moist One Way Or The Other...

[ingolino · 5/10 · 30 January 2007]

Andre Schneider rather stands out in an ensemble

cast who takes themselves and the matter

they're talking about way too serious.

What could've been a rather niece piece of trash or even a cute little "Basic Instinct"- homage comes down extremely heavy and after a splendid interrogation scene it quickly runs a little bit out of focus and wants to be so much more... Even the sex-scenes are not that bad, but the actors are in desperate need to lighten up and when Ivy Poll mumbles "I'm just getting moist again"

one wonders if she had ever been in the first place...

A game. A drug. An orgasm. An art.

[Sleugercios · 15 June 2005]

Deed Poll: a game, a drug, an orgasm, an art.

To play poker already will never be like before. Have you played poker at some time? Surely yes. The tact of the playing cards in your hands encourages you to continue playing ... to play more and more. It is a natural instinct, a risk, an art. When you see the movie, to play poker will turn into a new game not known for you. "Deed Poll" will not make you indifferent. As the tact of the playing cards the movie is soft, exquisite, luminous. But simultaneously it is a risk, a danger, a bomb that will wake your more basic instincts up.

In 1943 Hoffman discovers the LSD. The ecstasy is an hallucinogenic and some of the effects are that the vision sharpens, the colours meet more alive and vivacious, the persons and the objects acquire a fascinating character, the sensibility for the small details increases, the painful sensibility diminishes, the capacity of suggestion increases, heart runs. The same effects are the film's effects. At some time have you taken LSD? I recommend to you not to do it. But if you want to have an amazing trip you must see "Deed Poll". André Schneider will lead you for this trip of 45 minutes. "Deed Poll" is like an hallucinogenic. With him the colours will be different, you will not feel the pain and will have very much pleasure, the small thing will be enormous, everything will be fascinating, he will be fascinating and you also.

Sex does the persons and the persons do sex. "Deed Poll" takes us to a personal orgy of feelings and passion. Feelings that immerse the prominent figures in a spiral of wild sex; spiral that each one uses to escape of a world and to enter other one. An orgy in which you can be one of them. You can meet reflected in one of four prominent figures and to feel as them, to be one of them. The active, the submissive, the intelligent, the madman, the risky, the masochist, the sadistic, the drug addict, the amicable, the incestuous, the shy, the slender… you. Have you had sex? I recommend to you that yes. But if you want to have an orgasm seeing a movie, undoubtedly your movie is "Deed Poll".

"Deed Poll" is an art. It is a special art, an original art ... a new art. The colours of the movie are not usual and the camera angles are very good. The style of filming is genuine and very interesting and for it, from here, I congratulate the director. The actors are very credible actors, give life to prominent figures marvellously created in the script. Dynamical script and impacting, a personal and only script. Undoubtedly you will not repent on having seen it.

Some good actors wasted in a bad movie

[asteriskinblue · 4/10 · 22 December 2005]

I watched this movie a couple of weeks ago and must say: I was not impressed, not at all. I do side with the other posters when it comes to the fine performances, but some good performances do not make a good movie.

On the discussion board, I found a review by an anonymous poster that captured some of the main points. It says: "'Deed Poll' is a movie that raises many questions but hardly answers even a few; a movie that is disturbing and above every attempt at categorizing; an experiment and a very conventional sexual drama despite some shocking scenes. The brilliant acting of Barbara Kowa and André Schneider, the partly very impressive editing and the good camera work (Steffen Ritter) make up for gross plot holes and some technical slips (especially in sound). However, the boredom the audiences have to deal with for 40 minutes remains." Unfortunately, this is true. I wasn't intrigued by the story at all. The protagonists are cold, ambition-less people. They do a lot of drugs and have a lot of (incestuous) sex. So what? For many times, the direction seemed to be virtually non-existent, not to mention the technical aspect: the poor sound quality was enormously disturbing.

What's the point of the movie? What's the message behind it all? The anonymous reviewer said: "Somehow Biermann failed to make a clear point and so the movie remains hanging in mid-air without a message. Thus the boredom I blame on the movie. The movie is reserved and emotionless, cold, almost neutral and it doesn't take long to see the flaws: for long stretches the characters of Sean and Ivy are not credible (they clearly have difficulties with the English pronunciation), the character of the mute brother is not developed very well. Some moments are very promising though - in the scene where the call boy is skinned (the one and only true love scene) an intensity is reached that one would love to see the whole movie long. As a spectator one has to regret the chances given away." Again, I must agree. I did like the final scene, especially because of the beautifully captured faces of Gianni Meurer and André Schneider, but it was nothing compared to the boredom I had to suffer for the first thirty minutes. (The sex scenes, though, were aesthetically staged and perfectly edited.)

All in all, "Deed Poll" was not my cup of tea - a good, controversial idea wasted -, but it was a interesting to see how a movie can be made with practically no money. Maybe if they had a bigger budget and a more experienced director, this would have become a better movie.

dirty beyond belief

[oleg_teabaum · 2/10 · 14 July 2006]

it's hard to make a negative statement here after all this raving about how great deed poll is, how wonderful the actors did and so on and so on. i did not like the film. it's crappy!

there are orgies, they have taboo sex (gay sex, bi sex, oral sex, rape, anal sex, masturbation, brother-sister-sex, brother-brother-sex, sex on drugs, sex without drugs, sex, sex, sex seems to rule their world. i guess the director is desperately in need of a getting laid.) the story is just dirty and shameful. i wonder what made those people get up with this story. and above all: who cares?

the technical stuff didn't satisfy me as well. the sound is poor, so is the editing and the "direction" is absent. the actors are admittedly fine, but guess what! it's their job! their job is to act! no need to jump off your seats if an actor did a decent job. do you applause when a bus driver brings you home safely? see?

i gave it 2/10 because after all this thing had something that i can't put in words. b movie charm? camp fun? nudity? i don't know.

This movie belongs to Mr. Schneider's haunting face

[brushfirerecordsaddict · 8/10 · 5 December 2005]

Since this movie will probably never be released widely, I was truly fortunate to get a copy of the DVD through a friend of mine who was visiting Andre Schneider in Germany earlier this year.

A weird film, I must say, but it's highly entertaining, dark and sexy. As a gay man, I was hugely attracted to Mr. Schneider who gave a tour-de-force performance in this movie. I haven't seen any of his other performances yet, but this one was electrifying. Equally good were Miss Kowa and Mr. Wittenauer who played an incestuous pair of siblings. But despite of their good performances, "Deed Poll" entirely belongs to Andre Schneider's face and presence: raw and sensitive, sexy and vulnerable, tender and fierce, seductive and ugly. It's his face and the great script that makes the viewer forget about the inept direction, the hilariously bad sound and some goofs.

Too weird for American audiences, this movie will sooner or later become a cult classic. I watched it more than a dozen times and made copies for many of my family members and friends. This is a movie with a message.

You either love it or hate it

[kenny_doughty_fan · 9/10 · 1 April 2005]

"Deed Poll" is a strange phenomenon: It was a "cult" film (with hundreds of "fans" worldwide) years before it was even made. The internet rumours about this Lord of the Rings actor and Mr. Schneider's involvement with these rumours drew so much attention to a movie that started out as a "ghost movie" and became a controversial little masterpiece when it finally got made. Mr. Schneider is maybe one of the most hated people in the (internet) world for some people, but after this film, even his worst enemy can't deny his writing and acting abilities: In the bathroom scene, you can literally see to the bottom of his soul. There were some massive boycotts of "Deed Poll" before and after its release; some people started posting lies about Mr. Schneider over and over again - which drew only more attention to the film which has been shown in many European cities meanwhile. I watched it at the 19th London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and must say that, despite of the bad things that happened in 2000/2001, "Deed Poll" is a tricky sex thriller with moments of sheer brilliance.

You either love or hate this movie. I loved it.

A Bizarre Sex Fantasy That Culminates in Frenzy

[Orrrrrti · 10/10 · 29 March 2005]

"Deed Poll" is one of my favourite films of the past few years. A quiet tip of a movie, with some touching performances (André Schneider as Nathaniel, Gianni Meurer as his brother, and Martina Schaak in her portrayal of a lawyer with a chequered past are very convincing) and a great script with fabulous lines (Ivy: "I don't smoke!" - Nathaniel: "Because you consider it a weakness?" - Ivy: "Maybe." - Nathaniel: "Am I allowed to be weak, then?").

Ivy Poll (played hysterically by Barbara Kowa) has an incestuous relationship with her brother, Sean (sex on legs: Rainer Maria Wittenauer). After her rich father finds out about the sexual relationship of his children, Ivy kills him. That's where the movie starts.

The Poll siblings inherit a great mansion, a yacht, and A LOT of money. They are aimless, purposeless; they only seem to live for drugs (ecstasy, dope, cocaine, speed), card games and bizarre sex fantasies. Ivy hires a call-boy, Nathaniel (André Schneider in his best performance so far), in order to break more and more rules. The hustler has a mysterious understanding for his client - he can literally read her mind. To fulfil her kinky sex dreams, he even brings his handicapped brother, Thor (stunning: Gianni Meurer), for a foursome.

Throughout the movie, Ivy expresses repeatedly her wish to have a "hand-made set of cards: smooth, good-smelling, thick, sensual and sexual". While on drugs, Nathaniel makes a strange offer: He wants the Polls to skin him in order to make cards out of his skin.

With the words, "That's the hottest thing I've ever experienced!", Ivy takes a scalpel and cuts 32 cards out of Nathaniel...

Although I prefer Biermann's shorter films, like "Coda" or "Zwischen Flieder wandern und singen", I must say that "Deed Poll" is a high art product. A thoughtful, atmospheric picture with sexy moments, some good camera angles, and an ending that certainly leaves no-one untouched.

Thriller fans will rejoice!

Fans of "Basic Instinct" will love this!

[Coughly · 9/10 · 22 March 2005]

"Deed Poll" is the movie to prove that Barbara Kowa is the next Sharon Stone. Her sexy performance reminded me of Stone's performance in "Basic Instinct".

Like Catherine Tramell, Ivy Poll is a deeply disturbed and dangerous character: sad and vulnerable, yet deadly. After she had killed both her parents ("I was following an impulse!"), she and her brother hire a call-boy to celebrate their re-gained freedom. As the bisexual S&M sex games progress, more and more drugs are taken, and the call-boy finally sheds his skin.

After sitting through this dark and moody little shocker, I listened to Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin" all night long.

Unfortunately, "Deed Poll" is hard to find, but if you get your hands on it, you will surely enjoy it. In about ten years, this will be a cult film, just like "Se7en".

Peter Greenaway meets David Lynch

[kinkymonkeyrob · 8/10 · 22 March 2005]

First of all, "Deed Poll" was a cult movie years before it was made. The expectations were high, with or without a certain movie star from Canterbury. Finally it got made, and it became quite good. You may not be able to decide whether it's a horror film, a droll sex comedy, a psychological drama, or a thriller, but the movie will certainly not leave you untouched. IJ.Biermann directed his actors fabulously, the cinematographer did a great job with the sex scenes, and Barbara Kowa and André Schneider are lovely to look at. The best thing about "Deed Poll", though, is the editing by Christine Denck. She turned a sequence of ten minutes into a nightmare with cuts that make "Natural Born Killers" look like a slow-moving family film. Can't wait for the sequel!

"Devotion to the divine and absolute surrender..."

[sunshineseeker1978 · 10/10 · 20 April 2005]

DEED POLL's been a rumour for years, and in 2003 dozens of people finally said that this movie was all a big lie. I pitied that since I always thought that the plot sounded great. (I like sick movies.) Then, two years later, I got word that Mr Schneider got it done, so I ordered a copy through his production company a couple of weeks ago.

Even though you see that it's a low-budget film, DEED POLL has it's magic. Mr Schneider's performance is really strong, the sex scenes are well done: good choreography, great photography, stunning film editing. The best thing about it, still, is the script. The lines are just remarkable! And, after all, this is a movie about sadomasochism and love, about the need to submit and/or dominate and about the will to sacrifice yourself. A pity that it is so short.

Now, it's almost a little secret that this film actually does exist, but DEED POLL will gain more and more fans over the years until it will be a cult classic like all the other "great sick" films: MARNIE, DEATH AND THE MAIDEN, EYES WIDE SHUT, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE PILLOW BOOK, THE ADDICTION, THE WISDOM OF CROCODILES and so on.

Sex, Art House Style

[withoutyou-imnothing1965 · 8/10 · 10 June 2006]

Deed Poll is a cool movie, though I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. It's a tough cookie. I watched it by accident at a friend's house and thought it was nicely made - it's astounding to see what you can do with no budget.

The story is interesting and could have made a full-length picture. One wonders why they made it a short one.

The sex scenes are very aesthetic and staged in an artistic appealing way. The direction could have been better, all in all, the movie seems a bit cold and lacks high emotions. The actors do well and after all, this is Kowa's and Schneider's film.

Many people might expect to see Orlando Bloom. He isn't in it, a guy named Wittenauer plays Sean Poll, and he does it decently. 8/10

decadence at it best!

[montyvalentino · 8/10 · 29 May 2008]

i had the honor of seeing this well made and tense drama; set against a backdrop of murder, drugs, and psycho-sexual psychologically, i found this film to be one of the most sexually charged films in a long time. think something along the lines of LAST TANGO IN Paris.

there are powerful performances here amidst delicate subject matter; not for the faint at heart.

immediately i was gripped from the opening scene; the film further picks up momentum with the arrival of a hustler (andre scheider); from there its a wild ride.

unlike most films of this nature, the dialogue is superbly written.

the film has a fine balance of cinema verite and traditional narrative.

Deed Poll

[austrianmoviebuff · 8/10 · 14 July 2006]

After his brief appearance in Greenaway's "The Tulse Luper Suitcases" and before his three-months-run as Puck on West End, Andre Schneider found the time to write, co-produce and star in this film, apparently his most personal one to date.

Schneider plays Nathaniel Griffin, a hustler getting hired by two rich siblings who, after having him under the influence of cocaine, ecstasy and various other drugs, paint playing cards all over his body and cut them out. The last scene is a breath-stealer, but the rest of the movie is often slow-moving and the siblings, played by Barbara Kowa and Rainer Wittenauer, fail completely to intrigue. Schneider's performance, though, remains a justifiable reason to sit through this, it's an impressive knock-out.

The nicely photographed film suffers from the sheer unbearable narcissism of the director whose crashing self-love screws the otherwise beautifully written and acted film up. Most of the time, Biermann seems to say, "I'm the director, I outsmart you all, you're just some stupid audience." If you can deal with this attitude, you will enjoy "Deed Poll".

After a string of equally disappointing works in Germany, Schneider turned his attention to France, Great Britain, Ireland and Spain, where he gave stellar performances in interesting films like "La Silla" and "La paz de tus ojos tristes".