Entertaining? Yeah, but only barely.
Technically any good? This movie is about a group of Nazis during WWII who are inexplicably drawn to a strange stone building nestled in the mountains of Romania. Inside is something that begins killing them off, one by one. Sounds like a cool enough premise, but this movie is really poorly executed. Directed by Michael Mann, you’d think this would be a better film. Sadly, he gives it the same treatment he gave his classic MANHUNTER. However, this is not a simple plot, like that movie. This plot requires depth of character and story dynamics. The acting is solid, but everything else is not. Also, the Tangerine Dream score is about as appropriate as a screendoor on a submarine. I love their music, but this movie takes place in 1941. You try watching a movie that takes place in 1941 with electronic keyboards backing up the scenes! It knocked me out of the movie every time.
How did I feel as the credits rolled? Confused and even perplexed. How could Mann make such a crappy movie from such interesting material? I really don’t know how. This film does inspire me to want to read the original novel it was based on. I’d also LOVE to see someone do a better adaption of the novel. I think you’d have to be an idiot to not make a better film than Mann has.
Final Rating? OAF - On At a Friend’s (It’s an interesting spectacle, but if you have ANYTHING better to do, like picking your toes, DO IT.)
This movie is NOT on DVD but may be found on VHS.