The Keep - A quick retrospective review with some personal points

I have been a fan of horror for just about as long as I remember.  I have, in fact, been a horror fan probably longer than some of you have been alive.  One of my earliest memories of watching a horror film is that of The Keep.

My memories of the film are thus - a Nazi regiment takes over a keep.  This is the titular keep of the title.  After some troops die, a more awful Nazi regiment arrives.  In the meantime a something (I always took it to be a demon) is released and kills the Nazis.  In my memory, the demon is almost the good guy.  I mean he prevents the gang rape of Eva Cuza (played by Alberta Watson).  He kills a lot of Nazis.  However, my naive young brain (and so addled memories) missed the subtext.  That being, the demon was manipulating me, as well as Doctor Cuza.  When this is revealed, things go very wrong in the film.

On viewing again a few times, there is rather more to the film.  Firstly, I would point out that I firmly believe that the acting still holds up.  Ian McKellen may be a little strained at times, but I was captivated in particular by the presentation of Jurgen Prochnow.  Scott Glenn was also effective as Glaeken.  He was suitably strange and creepy.  Perhaps otherworldly is the best description, given he is perhaps angelic in nature in this movie.

Modern audiences may well be slightly turned off by the poor special effects of this film.  Whilst I enjoy The Keep, I am not a fool nor a sycophant.  Times change and effects do too.  In movies, we want to be absorbed and believe in the world that is being presented.  Unfortunately, I cannot state that this is the case with The Keep.  The opposite is the case with this film.  The drawn/animated effects show poorly, whilst the physical effects actually hold up.

I for one am glad that The Keep has not made the modern reboot list (at least at time of writing, August 2017).  I still believe that it stands the test of time better than many other films of recent release.  The concept is disturbing, the use of evil manipulating good offers a metaphor that modern audiences can understand.

My final verdict remains that Michael Mann's The Keep demonstrates that he is an auteur of the highest order.  Only a true visionary could produce something so deeply concerning, historically troubling and also relevant to a modern audience.

Final verdict: 4/5.