Tattoo (2002)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Robert Schwentke

Writer:

Robert Schwentke (writer)

Release Date:

4 April 2002 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Crime

Tagline:

Save Your Skin...

Plot Keywords:

Hit By Car | Loss Of Daughter | Ecstasy | Oath | Ambiguity

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

August Diehl	...	Marc Schrader
Christian Redl	...	Minks
Nadeshda Brennicke	...	Maya Kroner
Johan Leysen	...	Frank Schoubya
Fatih Cevikkollu	...	Dix
Monica Bleibtreu	...	Kommissarin Roth
Ilknur Bahadir	...	Meltem
Joe Bausch	...	Günzel
Florian Panzner	...	Poscher
Jasmin Schwiers	...	Marie Minks
Gustav-Peter Wöhler	...	Scheck
Ingo Naujoks	...	Stefan Kreiner
Christiane Scheda	...	Lynn Wilson
Wanda Perdelwitz	...	Baby

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German | English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:VM14 | New Zealand:R18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

B.A. Produktion

Trivia:

The tattoos in the "tattoo exhibition room" were produced on actual goat skin.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Marc chases the suspect, who just heard a message on the walkie-talkie and saw him on the balcony, in one shot you can see Marc just turning left the corner and in the subsequent shot he's turning right the same looking corner.

Movie Connections:

References Se7en (1995)

Dark, atmospheric and brooding euro-horror / thriller

"Tattoo" is a first class macabre psychological horror movie / thriller from director Robert Schwentke. From the start, its cold colour palette and distanced camera-work create a dark and sinister atmosphere. Nightclub life in the world of "Tattoo" appears depressing and emotionless. This is a world where there is little laughter, only pain.

Schwentke manages to create an on-screen world where the fantastic events of this tale seem believable. Inspired by the German expressionist movement, it's a fantastic achievement and although comparisons will always be made with Fincher's "Se7en", I think "Tattoo" is the superior film.

The cast are excellent. August Diehl plays the young cop who is blackmailed into joining Christian Redl on the grittier side of police work. Diehl's first case is the murder of a young woman who was into self-mutilation and who died shortly after biting off a man's finger...and swallowing it. The beautiful Nadeshda Brennicke plays Maya Kroner whose secrets take the story in an exciting and unpredictable direction.

While the subject of people being murdered for their tattoos is not new (Roald Dahl's short-story "Skin" covers the same ground), the film's plot is gripping and effectively told.

After viewing this film shortly after "Antikörper" and "Kontroll," it would appear that some of the best psychological horror films of the noughties are coming out of Europe. Rich on atmosphere and slightly other-worldly, these films are a delight to watch.

9 out of 10.