Torture Chamber – Der Folterkeller

Every time I came across this film, the name “Torture Chamber”, the amateurish poster and the director’s filmography consisting of not very well known or well received movies discouraged me completely. But today, after randomly reading several positive reviews on renowned horror websites, I decided to give it a go, and I’m really happy I did! I’m very pleased and I’m almost giving it five stars. The film is illogical; rather irrational, overall. To judge it on the basis of the complexity or coherence of the story would be a very bad idea. It’s better to judge it by its intensity (there isn’t a SINGLE scene that is not either terrifying or at the very least disturbing) and at all costs avoid taking it as a stupid allegory, the meaning of which can be fully seen in the ending (and maybe also in that very intense sequence of the conversion of one image). Torture Chamber blends the best of European old-school horror (Argento and especially Fulci), complementing it with that evil aura around the main villain – the burnt boy, Jimmy, is the pure embodiment of evil, just like Michael Myers was in Carpenter’s Halloween. In short, a horror movie from another era; if it was made 30 or 40 years ago, by now it would have at least five sequels and a remake from Platinum Dunes. I wouldn’t have given a toss before watching it, but now I can’t wait to see what Dante Tomaselli will do next. (08.09.2014)