Colonia

Argo 2 – made in Germany (so a bit worse). Too bad about the clumsy script, which throws up one formulaic thing after another, because otherwise this is a pretty decent German scenic drive. Great actors without exception, an electrifying finale, and an interesting, period-accurate, portrayal of 1970s Chile and the camp practices. Emma Watson confirms that she can break out of the role of Harry Potter's uptight friend and is starting to emerge as a top-notch actress with all the prerequisites for success. (01/01/2017)

Using cheap clichés from Hollywood genre movies, Colonia is silly in places, but at the same time, it has a solid romantic storyline and, in contrast to that storyline, can also be fascinatingly bizarre (the microworld of the colony, its characters and internal laws). Viewers are frightened by the cruelty of domination and the helplessness of the victims, and the tension’s so great that they are kept on their toes the entire time. Michael Nyqvist’s bad guy is truly abominable. (21/03/2016)

I was looking forward to this film, but I’m disappointed. Daniel Brühl was excellent as usual, but this time he was overshadowed by the main villain played by Michael Nyqvist. The role obviously agreed with him. My disappointment stems mainly from the fact that it is difficult to create an atmosphere of terror when you have to rely on mere hints. I'm not saying that I need to see splashes of blood on the screen all the time, but Colonia felt a bit like a porn movie with a bunch of people sitting around a table discussing sex. It could have been a good film if it hadn't been for the wasted potential and the resulting lackluster atmosphere. (18/11/2016)

Colonia has a somewhat slower start, in which we get acquainted with the characters and the inhospitable setting of Colonia Dignidad, while the second half is already more action-packed, and in the last twenty minutes I was squirming in the cinema, waiting anxiously to see how it would all turn out. Some of the colony scenes were really raw to the point of being uncomfortable to watch at times. It's almost unbelievable how out of control a system based on the thoughts of a fanatical madman can get. In short, a solid drama that gains more power and impact the moment you realize it's based on real events. (25/06/2016)

I ignored the film at first and watched it more out of necessity and was pleasantly surprised. I certainly wouldn't be put off by the drama/romantic/historical genres like I was initially, the premise alone is interesting and intriguing enough to fall reliably into the thriller genre. While the film is not as gritty and breathtaking as the description would suggest, the suspense and atmosphere paces perfectly, keeping the viewer concerned for the main characters, who are the likeable Emma Watson and Daniel Brühl. Also worth mentioning is the sleazy Michael Nyqvist, whom you will hate from the first moment. If you like films about camps with a strange regime crossed with a fanatical religious sect you will be satisfied. Story 7/10, Atmosphere 8/10, Gore 1/10, Visuals 7/10, Action 5/10, Suspense 7/10,Humor 5/10. Entertainment 7/10. 75% (11/05/2016)