I have to admit there were some good elements to this movie, mainly the cinematography. The architecture of the house was amazing; I wonder where they found it. But the script- after wondering a while what happened to it, I finally surmised that much of it was either written as they filmed or it was ad-libbed in parts,and not very well. The actress that played Laura was very easy on the eyes but her little girl voice was a bit distracting. The dialog was so bad that most of the actors throughout the whole movie whispered their lines as if they were too embarrassed to speak them and the volume was so low that I couldn't understand most of it.I searched the internet for subtitles without any luck. This could have been a good movie but there were too many lost opportunities (a little more nudity would have been nice).
12 Reviews
The Script is the Only Thing That Should Have Been Forbidden Here
DarylKMiddlebrook31 July 2015
What is an artistic masterpiece? If you're talking about music, take a listen to Miles Davis' Bitches Brew. Looking for artistry in films? Get comfortable on your couch and check out Jean-Luc Godard's 1960 beauty Breathless, or David Lynch's 2001 mystery Mulholland Drive. Those pieces of work are artistic things of beauty. Unfortunately, 2013's The Forbidden Girl, only wishes it were. Written and directed by German Til Hastreiter, this stylishly shot film is a convoluted mess. Almost two hours in length, this movie plods along at a snails pace. There is no attempt to infuse the characters with any backstory, or understanding of what is going on. The movie treats the viewers like passerby's more than as an audience.
For what it's worth, the story is centered around Toby (the capable Peter Gadiot), a young man raised by a psychopathic religious zealot father is warned that he must never love anyone. Why? I was never quite sure why. From what I could gather, Toby has been marked to be some type of evil repellent. However, Toby doesn't adhere to his father's orders and finds himself in love with a young girl named Becky (the interesting Jytte-Merle Bohrnsen). The two decide to consummate their love inside an abandoned mausoleum only to have Becky suddenly snatched away by some ominous demonic force. The next thing we know, Toby is in an insane asylum for allegedly killing his father.
Things only get worse from this point. Toby is released six years later and is given the worse job in history, a tutor for a couple that would give Gomez and Letitia Addams a run for their money. Weirdness takes center stage from this point, but not good weirdness. Ghostly guys pop in and out, Toby finds a girl who is the identical twin of Becky only blonde, crazy and going by the name Laura.
As I'm watching this film, I'm hoping for some revelation, some accountability to the audience as to what's going on, but this never happens. As I mentioned the movie looks great, cinematographer Tamas Kemenyffy does a great job, and would appear to have a bright future in filmmaking. The acting is better than I would have expected, and I can only imagine that with a better script they would have had some work to be proud of. The special effects weren't bad considering the budget for this film had to be miniscule.
Overall, Forbidden Woman is neither artistic or scary. There are moments in this film when you can see what the director was grasping for. Unfortunately, it always managed to stay beyond his talent to obtain. Overall, I couldn't recommend this film to anyone other than an insomniac, who after a few minutes of this somniferous offering would find themselves in peaceful sleep.
For what it's worth, the story is centered around Toby (the capable Peter Gadiot), a young man raised by a psychopathic religious zealot father is warned that he must never love anyone. Why? I was never quite sure why. From what I could gather, Toby has been marked to be some type of evil repellent. However, Toby doesn't adhere to his father's orders and finds himself in love with a young girl named Becky (the interesting Jytte-Merle Bohrnsen). The two decide to consummate their love inside an abandoned mausoleum only to have Becky suddenly snatched away by some ominous demonic force. The next thing we know, Toby is in an insane asylum for allegedly killing his father.
Things only get worse from this point. Toby is released six years later and is given the worse job in history, a tutor for a couple that would give Gomez and Letitia Addams a run for their money. Weirdness takes center stage from this point, but not good weirdness. Ghostly guys pop in and out, Toby finds a girl who is the identical twin of Becky only blonde, crazy and going by the name Laura.
As I'm watching this film, I'm hoping for some revelation, some accountability to the audience as to what's going on, but this never happens. As I mentioned the movie looks great, cinematographer Tamas Kemenyffy does a great job, and would appear to have a bright future in filmmaking. The acting is better than I would have expected, and I can only imagine that with a better script they would have had some work to be proud of. The special effects weren't bad considering the budget for this film had to be miniscule.
Overall, Forbidden Woman is neither artistic or scary. There are moments in this film when you can see what the director was grasping for. Unfortunately, it always managed to stay beyond his talent to obtain. Overall, I couldn't recommend this film to anyone other than an insomniac, who after a few minutes of this somniferous offering would find themselves in peaceful sleep.
Low budget movie & actors
Quarrel-525 August 2013
I personally found this movie to be boring and very predictable. It comes off as being very amateur in most every respect possible. The movie is full of Very bad visual effects (blue filters for night scenes and what looks like a pencil drawn sky) , predictable plot lines, and very embarrassing acting make this movie not worth watching. I wouldn't recommend this movie unless you are very bored or need something to be put on the background while you work.
There are some subtle nude scenes (breasts and underwear), no swearing, very little gore and some poor attempts at "creepy"
It is asking me for 10 lines and there is not that much more I can really say about this movie.
There are some subtle nude scenes (breasts and underwear), no swearing, very little gore and some poor attempts at "creepy"
It is asking me for 10 lines and there is not that much more I can really say about this movie.
Waste of time
eawalther13 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of those movies that never provides any kind of satisfactory sense of what is going on. One minute the kid is at home (in what seems like an insane asylum, or a cult), the next he's in a real insane asylum, then next moment he's in some house trying to get a job as a Tutor, who knows for what. Suddenly he's a prisoner in this house, but he seems to have no problem with it. Lots of bizarre stuff happens with no connecting plot links, it's all very arbitrary and random. It's as if the writer had several ideas and played them all out as he narrowed down what one to finally end the movie on. Which, when you discover the plot revealed at the end, makes the majority of the movie seem completely nonsensical. It is truly a bad movie; some movies can even be so bad they're good, but not this one, it's just a lousy waste of time. It finally ended rather in a rather cliché way and I asked myself for the hundredth time "really? what the hell?!".. And as for the other reviews touting the "WTF!?" quality of this movie. They must either have some really good drugs, or they are just really easily amazed. There were no good WTF scenes. I could understand if this movie had some actual entertaining WTF scenes, but these weren't like that. These were the lame "WTF? that made no sense! why am i watching this piece of crap?!" kind of WTF scenes. A movie that is just mind-numbingly confusing and convoluted does not make it GOOD. In fact it was so bad, I took it upon myself to come write this review to warn others not to waste their time too!
Lights, Camera ... Boring
kosmasp22 November 2013
Let me explain or better elaborate: The camera and the lighting is pretty good, especially considering the budget frame this was (probably) made. And I say probably, but it's obvious from the CGI effects that they did not have a lot of money to make the movie. The actors either got bad directions though or were convinced they are in a play. Too much gestures and sometimes wrong gestures too.
So while it looks good (and has some nudity in it too), it is not looking good in the other departments. Missed opportunities, script wise and a lot of other things too. It is also too long for its own good. The end twist is nice, but does not safe the movie at all. Plus it's overall predictable as expected ...
So while it looks good (and has some nudity in it too), it is not looking good in the other departments. Missed opportunities, script wise and a lot of other things too. It is also too long for its own good. The end twist is nice, but does not safe the movie at all. Plus it's overall predictable as expected ...
If you have problems sleeping, then this is the movie to watch...
paul_haakonsen22 September 2013
This movie was really an uphill battle to sit through, especially because it was unbelievably slow paced and uneventful. I had to split this movie up over two days, because I literally fell asleep after the first 30 minutes of watching it, and then I decided to give the movie a second chance the next day. Picking up from where I fell asleep, but I quickly within another 15 minutes or so had to turn it off and find something else to watch.
Yeah, this movie is just that dull and mind-numbing.
The story is uneventful and rather mundane to say the least. And as such, then it was very hard to invest yourself into the movie or buy into it. And having this slow pace in a movie is a test for anyone watching it. I succumbed to it and just gave up.
The acting was adequate. And I can't claim to have seen anyone in the movie elsewhere, so it was actually nice to see a whole new ensemble of people in a movie. Just a shame that the movie killed itself off with its downright sheer boredom.
"The Forbidden Girl" wasn't my cup of tea, to say the least. And I can honestly say that I will never attempt to finish it - it just lacks anything that even resembles any kind of appeal.
Yeah, this movie is just that dull and mind-numbing.
The story is uneventful and rather mundane to say the least. And as such, then it was very hard to invest yourself into the movie or buy into it. And having this slow pace in a movie is a test for anyone watching it. I succumbed to it and just gave up.
The acting was adequate. And I can't claim to have seen anyone in the movie elsewhere, so it was actually nice to see a whole new ensemble of people in a movie. Just a shame that the movie killed itself off with its downright sheer boredom.
"The Forbidden Girl" wasn't my cup of tea, to say the least. And I can honestly say that I will never attempt to finish it - it just lacks anything that even resembles any kind of appeal.
This here film don't make a lick of sense!!!
deacon_blues-38 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Good quality cinematography, acting isn't completely terrible, and the music shows some acumen. But the script was written by a college drop out on crack or something close. The direction shows no attempt to make any sense out of the story, but just makes each succeeding scene more irrelevant than the last. In this way, the film achieves a pseudo- artistic mystique that it doesn't deserve from a pervasive contrived ugliness. I have to say that neither of the female actresses is even close to being attractive enough to be worth even a fraction of the trouble they seem to cause the male characters.
I'll just pass on this waste of time.
I'll just pass on this waste of time.
Nice boobs
fluffchop6 January 2022
The story if you can call it a story, no you can't call it a story. Things happen, words are spoken, more things happen but there is not really a story. It may need to be watched several times to sort out just what is happening. I think that the visuals are happening so fast yet the story doesn't progress very quickly. This is what causes so much confusion when watching it. You're constantly looking for a point of reference but it's away with the fairies the whole time. Things don't really connect very well, like the director wasn't really sure what the story was supposed to be. You're left to try and piece together what you're seeing, into something vaguely coherent. It's kind of annoying if you get caught up in needing to know what is going on. Ultimately I think we are seeing the confusion that the lead male is experiencing as the events of the film go on around him. See that's what this is like. It's a wonderful world of what's going on the whole time. I'm not sure it makes for a good movie in the end but it's interesting to watch.
kind of a 'bad' movie but is completely WTF worthy
tcdoeh19 August 2013
I'm really surprised by this movie. It is 'bad' in many aspects, but is also really WTF worthy. The cinematography is really quite good. There are completely amazing scenes and then... it gets 'bad' again (e.g. contrived, writing, etc.). Still, the thing is, every time the movie gets 'bad' all of a sudden there's a completely WTF scene and I'm amazed.
I have to say that I have not recently come across a movie that is so bad and good at the same time. It's almost schizophrenic. I recommend a watch/rent. There may be genius here. Also it's entertaining which is more than I can say for most crappy big-budget movies lately. I haven't watched the end yet, but hopefully it wraps up all this craziness.
Edit: I'm sort of convinced that this is a brilliant film disguised as a bad movie. I'm not sure what I'm watching, which is impressive. It's really weird. I'm going to say that this is a great flick that may someday achieve cult status.
I have to say that I have not recently come across a movie that is so bad and good at the same time. It's almost schizophrenic. I recommend a watch/rent. There may be genius here. Also it's entertaining which is more than I can say for most crappy big-budget movies lately. I haven't watched the end yet, but hopefully it wraps up all this craziness.
Edit: I'm sort of convinced that this is a brilliant film disguised as a bad movie. I'm not sure what I'm watching, which is impressive. It's really weird. I'm going to say that this is a great flick that may someday achieve cult status.
KILLING EVIL IS DOING GOOD
nogodnomasters11 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The film opens with a weird monologue about how the door to evil opens every 66 moon cycles and is allowed for 66 moments(?). And I am not sure how that fit into the film but apparently it does with a girls' birthday falling on 06-06.
Toby McClift (Peter Gadiot) grows up under the careful teachings of his father, a preacher who teaches Toby that "Killing evil is doing good" and that he must not love...ever. Meanwhile Toby believes that cowards miss out of life and of love as he has a rendezvous with Katy (Jytte-Merle Böhrnsen) in a cemetery. Things go horribly amiss as Toby sees a demon cart off his girl.
6 years later (about 66 lunar months?) Toby is released from a mental institution and takes a tutoring job at the Wallace manor and instructs a young girl Laura who looks just like Katy. There is also Lady Wallace (Jeanette Hain) who lives in the house with her consort Mortimer (Klaus Tange) who is the epitome of evil. Toby "knows" Laura must be Katy and wants to escape with her, but the odd events going on in the house as well as his weird dreams hinder his plans. Also Laura likes to play games.
The film would have made more sense if it was a simple witchcraft story and they left out the 66 lunar stuff and some aspect of Christianity never fully utilized. There are abstract scenes that are artistic dreams which caused me to scratch my head as Toby is also on meds. It is a film I would of enjoyed better if I wasn't trying to figure out what was going on.
This is more of a supernatural thriller/drama than a horror film.
Parental Guide: sex, nudity (Jytte-Merle Böhrnsen) No F-bombs that I recall.
Toby McClift (Peter Gadiot) grows up under the careful teachings of his father, a preacher who teaches Toby that "Killing evil is doing good" and that he must not love...ever. Meanwhile Toby believes that cowards miss out of life and of love as he has a rendezvous with Katy (Jytte-Merle Böhrnsen) in a cemetery. Things go horribly amiss as Toby sees a demon cart off his girl.
6 years later (about 66 lunar months?) Toby is released from a mental institution and takes a tutoring job at the Wallace manor and instructs a young girl Laura who looks just like Katy. There is also Lady Wallace (Jeanette Hain) who lives in the house with her consort Mortimer (Klaus Tange) who is the epitome of evil. Toby "knows" Laura must be Katy and wants to escape with her, but the odd events going on in the house as well as his weird dreams hinder his plans. Also Laura likes to play games.
The film would have made more sense if it was a simple witchcraft story and they left out the 66 lunar stuff and some aspect of Christianity never fully utilized. There are abstract scenes that are artistic dreams which caused me to scratch my head as Toby is also on meds. It is a film I would of enjoyed better if I wasn't trying to figure out what was going on.
This is more of a supernatural thriller/drama than a horror film.
Parental Guide: sex, nudity (Jytte-Merle Böhrnsen) No F-bombs that I recall.
Think Italian Horror of the 1960's and you'll love it!
ipad-483-9177586 November 2013
I really enjoyed this film and am amazed at its poor reviews and rating on IMDb. I think over time its rating will go up and maybe it will even achieve cult film status, I think it deserves it.
For those wanting a straight horror/mystery film with a final scene that wraps up all the loose story lines then you need to go elsewhere to one of the more predictable Hollywood horror films of the moment. This film is far more reminiscent of the Italian and English horror films of the 1960's and 70's, more about the atmosphere and the visuals than following a coherent story line. The cinematography is glorious and the locations and the sets look stunning. Others have complained about the 'blue' night scenes being amateurish, I think this was the intention of the director, to make it look more stylised than a regular night shot, think Dario Argento's 'Deep Red'.
The acting is fine from unknown actors; Jytte-Merle Böhrnsen is captivating as the Forbidden Girl whilst Klaus Tange plays a wonderful 1960's style baddie with blond Nazi hair.
So if you love the atmospheric horror films of the 1960s and 70's then you'll love this, go on, give it a try.
For those wanting a straight horror/mystery film with a final scene that wraps up all the loose story lines then you need to go elsewhere to one of the more predictable Hollywood horror films of the moment. This film is far more reminiscent of the Italian and English horror films of the 1960's and 70's, more about the atmosphere and the visuals than following a coherent story line. The cinematography is glorious and the locations and the sets look stunning. Others have complained about the 'blue' night scenes being amateurish, I think this was the intention of the director, to make it look more stylised than a regular night shot, think Dario Argento's 'Deep Red'.
The acting is fine from unknown actors; Jytte-Merle Böhrnsen is captivating as the Forbidden Girl whilst Klaus Tange plays a wonderful 1960's style baddie with blond Nazi hair.
So if you love the atmospheric horror films of the 1960s and 70's then you'll love this, go on, give it a try.
Entertaining
mjazzguitar-800-1897020 July 2021
The photography and scenery were good. The special effects were decent.
If you don't try to make any sense out of it and just go along for the ride it's not bad. It's not a drag, something is always happening. I can see why some didn't like it; who knows, maybe the writer did have some symbolic meanings in there that only he knew about.
If you don't try to make any sense out of it and just go along for the ride it's not bad. It's not a drag, something is always happening. I can see why some didn't like it; who knows, maybe the writer did have some symbolic meanings in there that only he knew about.
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