Following my review of The Exorcism of Emily Rose I as good as promised a review of Requiem, it’s German language Bavarian counterpart. Both films are based on the true story of Anneliese Michel who allegedly suffered possession and eventually died of exhaustion, yet both films treat the subject matter in entirely different fashions on the one hand providing the viewer with a Hollywood horror film with the usual special effects trappings whilst on the other hand the viewer gets a far more ‘real’ and gritty interpretation of events.
Requiem is much more of a drama, concentrating on the life of the central character (Michaela) following the start of her ‘fits’ until shortly before her eventual death. It’s much more of an examination of Michaela’s motivations, aspirations and problems. It’s hardly surprising that this film lacks the ‘high drama’ and special effects of it’s Hollywood counterpart but then, for all that, it feels more real. You don’t see the horrors she sees, you see her seeing her horrors.
Struggling with her possession and her religion the film pretty much brushes over the medical and religious interventions which might otherwise have provided much of the bread and butter for a film about demonic possession - we only have passing references to doctors and treatments and we get a couple of glimpses of attempted exorcisms.
The film ends well short of anyone dieing, although you can see that it’s on the cards, that being left to a short textual epilogue. Rather the films focus is on the key relationships between mother and daughter, father and daughter and between a small group of friends. In itself this isn’t a bad film, so long as you’re not looking for a gore-fest or for any scares.
The possession scenes are understated and if you didn’t know what the film was about you might assume it was any other sort of fit. The scenes of Michaela attempting to touch the cross and eventually being completely overcome are interesting in a national geographic kind of way, but you aren’t going to be hiding behind any cushions.
MATH Rating: I actually kind of liked this film, although it’s never going to make any top 10’s, it was an ok drama with some amusing moments, none so amusing though that I can actually recall any … apart from the “I have to make sandwiches” chat-up line. Class!
Related Links:
Requiem Homepage
Buy this film from Amazon.com - US Site
Buy this film from Amazon.co.uk - UK Site
