The
Terrible People
Director:
Harald Reinl
Year
1960
The
Terrible People, AKA Die Bande des Schreckens, is a wonderfully
demented and highly atmospheric Krimi film which relishes in its
ample twists and turns. Cast in the genre's stylistic black and white
photography and bathed in morbid visual splendor, this extremely
enjoyable murder mystery is every bit as entertaining as its
fantastic cast. With a steady balance of horror archetypes and
comedic shenanigans, The Terrible People is an Edgar Wallace adaption
that is sure to thrill.
The film
begins with the capture and execution of master criminal Clay
Shelton. Before he is sentenced to death, he curses all that were
involved with his capture, claiming the “Hand of the Gallows”
will murder each one ending with Chief Inspector Long of Scotland
Yard. As bodies begin piling up and the list of intended victims
begins to lessen, Inspector Long searches through throngs of shady
characters and scrupulous dealings in order to find out who is behind
these mysterious murders, all the while trying to keep his new-found
love interest, Nora Sanders, from harms way.
Joachim
Fuchsberger takes on the role of Chief Inspector Long and he does a
fabulous job in the featured role. Joachim is no stranger to those of
you that are fans of the genre, for he pops up in a great number of
Krimi films, often taking on the lead role and doing it with style.
His charisma and screen presence is unquestionably captivating, and
in The Terrible People, he's in top form. His quick wit and sarcastic
demeanor fits perfectly with the whimsical, yet atmospheric
proceedings, and you can tell that he is an actor made for the genre.
As the central focal point of the film, and the character who leads
us into the fray, you can find no one better than Fuchsberger. He
takes the character of Inspector Long and just runs with it, making
an already enjoyable film that much more entertaining.
The rest
of the cast fills in rather nicely with Fritz Rasp playing the
Inspector's rigid father Lord Godley Long, Dieter Eppler taking on
the sneaky and opportunistic Mr. Crayley, Ulrich Beiger as the
mustachioed cad Mr. Henry, and Elisabeth Flickenschildt as the
mischievous heiress Mrs. Revelstoke. They all do an impressive job in
pulling out every red hearing trick in the book, and each one gets
ample time to chew up the scenery. The real standouts among the cast
are Krimi regulars Karin Dor and Eddi Arent. Karin Dor takes on the
role of Nora Sanders, Inspector Long's love interest, while Eddi
Arent plays the bumbling and faint of heart crime scene photographer
Antony Edwards. Karin looks absolutely spectacular in her innocent
portrayal of Ms. Sanders, while Arent does his usual comedic shtick
to perfection. All in all, the cast is a wonderfully diverse group of
characters that make this Krimi world come to stark life.
As for
the story of The Terrible People, it is one that is filled with just
the right amount of twists and turns, making you second guess every
character that comes into frame. The set up of Clay Shelton's ghost
murdering the people responsible for his capture and death is
expertly executed, and the horror infused elements that this premise
brings to life is a real treat to see play out. Those handful of
moments where Shelton's figure is spotted at the scene of the crime
are rather haunting, and they do marvels for ratcheting up the
mystery of the story.
The
atmosphere of the film is equally palpable, providing a slew of
outstanding locations and sets to allow all the morbid sequences to
pan out. From swanky country clubs, to fog covered woods, to tranquil
rivers, and the stereotypical interiors of lavish mansions, the film
has an overabundance of locales that always serve the story well. Not
only are these locations distinct in tone and presence, but they are
shot in the most exquisite and picturesque of ways. The black and
white photography is outstandingly vivid, making for a perfect
mixture of foreboding horror and unabashed beauty. Combine that with
the intricate plot of multiple murders by the hand of a phantom
specter and you have yourself one hell of a good time.
The
Terrible People, AKA Die Bande des Schreckens, is a perfect example
of the quality of films you can find in the Krimi genre. Its perfect
display of balancing the horror and comedic elements of the narrative
is a testament to the genre as a whole. This is also prevalent in the
movie's visual aspects, as there is an abundance of charm to be had
in all the eye candy within the picture. With the film's beautiful
cinematography and fabulous black and white photography, the movie is
a classic presentation that allows the style to gel with the
substance.
Adding
to the already impressive aspects of the production, the cast gives
an outstanding ensemble performance allowing the paranoia of the
narrative to grab hold and never let go. Though infused with a tongue
and cheek attitude, the movie and its characters still manage to
emphasize the mystery surrounding the film, and it is a balancing act
that I've only really seen accomplished within the Krimi genre.
Joachim Fuchsberger, Karin Dor, and Eddi Arent seem bred for the
proceedings, giving tremendous turns as our central figures. Joachim
especially brings a charismatic approach to his Inspector Long
character, which can attribute to the film's infectious appeal and
lasting impression. If you're new to the genre or are looking to
expand your Krimi knowledge, then I highly recommend checking this
entry out. The Terrible People is.....
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| There's something fishy about this guy. |
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| Are you gonna bark tree, or am I going to have to pump you full of lead? |
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| Now that's an interesting way to take a photo. |
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| I hate classically painted portraits...... There's one right behind me isn't there? |
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| Hello there! |
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| Just hold it right there you sexy beast! |
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| God damn I'm one sexy motherfucker! |
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| The name's Long.... Inspector Long. |
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| I'm sorry, is my mustache disrupting your meal? |
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| Look at my mustache..... Look at it! |
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| Murder Mystery Staring Contest.... GO! |
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| Let's see if we can't get that booger out. |
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| Ahoy there! |
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| Mr. Crayley... You dirty traitor you. |
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| Eddi! Say it Arent so! |
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| Check out my bling bitches. |
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| Surprise! It's a gun-phone! |
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| Hey you! Pull my finger! |
