The wisdom of the crocodiles

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Movie
German title The wisdom of the crocodiles
Original title The Wisdom of Crocodiles
Country of production GB
original language English
Publishing year 1998
length 98 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Po Chih Leong
script Paul Hoffman
production Carolyn Choa ,
David Lascelles
music Orlando Gough ,
John Lunn
camera Oliver Curtis
cut Robin Sales
occupation

The Wisdom of the Crocodiles is a British horror film , psychological thriller and romance drama from 1998 starring Jude Law and Elina Löwensohn . Directed by Po-Chih Leong based on a script by Paul Hoffman .

action

The physician Steven Grlscz, who claims to be the son of Eastern European immigrants, enjoys an excellent reputation among British experts. On top of that, he looks good, is charming, wealthy and a gifted artist. What nobody knows is that he is a bizarre entity that needs certain ingredients in the human blood that the body produces in a state of love. To get to them, he has to seduce women and then kill them.

In the long term, however, he cannot prevent the police, especially Inspector Healey, from tracking down him. The policeman is at first convinced of Steven's guilt, but at the same time fascinated by the young man's personality. After he saves him from a gang of thugs, an almost friendly relationship develops between the two.

Meanwhile, Steven has chosen his next victim: civil engineer Anne Labels is strong and self-confident at the same time, but also very vulnerable. Their occasional asthma attacks make them almost defenseless prey. But this time everything is different, Steven falls genuinely in love and uses the police shadowing as an excuse to postpone the day of the killing again and again. His body begins to deteriorate more and more, he needs the blood and the messenger substances it contains so that his lungs can breathe and his organs do not stop functioning.

After the inspector mistakenly clears him of all suspicions and lets him go in good conscience, Steven returns to Anne and begins his usual killing ritual. At the last moment he stops and confesses who and what he really is. She is shocked and torn between her affection and fear. The fear prevails and causes her to hurt Steven. The latter remains alone and dies in the midst of the portraits of his victims because his body is too emaciated.

background

  • The film quotes from the biblical “Song of Solomon” at various points , and the gang attacking Steven and the inspector is an allusion to the youngsters in “ Clockwork Orange ” in their behavior, speech and clothing .
  • The title refers to the ability of crocodiles to cry when they kill their prey, the so-called crocodile tears .

Awards

  • Silver Grand Prize at the European Fantasy Film Festival in Brussels
  • Special prize of the jury at the Gérardmer Film Festival
  • Audience Award at the Valenciennes International Festival of Action and Adventure Films

Reviews

“The classic vampire story is brought into the present day London by means of a highly concentrated production, in which every movement and every word are treated with caution and care. The film is masterly in the choreographic integration of the characters into a hermetic world. "

- Lexicon of International Films

Web links