The Ogre

Released Sep 12, 1996

1h 57m

Drama

List

89%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

A simple Parisian's (John Malkovich) love of children involves him in a Nazi scheme to kidnap boys and train them as SS troops during World War II.

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Audience Member

This tides up some of the ambiguities of the original novel, and broadens out the admittedly bizarrely fascinating Goering character, but does overall a good job of putting the context of Abel's way of living on screen; and John Malkovich, though cast in many ways against type (scrawny, intellectual rather then giant and almost simple), manages to express the confusion of Abel within himself and towards himself and his role in life. But the inherent and very complex contradictions, as well as the philosophical aspects of Tournier's writing were always going top be difficult to get onscreen> For me, thought the book is a wonder, the film is merely a good provocation. That I enjoyed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

I guess Malkovich was too young in his career to be more discriminating.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

I guess Malkovich was too young in his career to be more discriminating.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

This strange and original work is a French film about Nazi Germany done in English with a fine performance by Malkovich--A brilliant study in disparity!!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

Persoanlly expected more from the director of The Tin Drum & Ulzhan, Way more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

Haunting as the film is, it never feels quite cohesive. Malkovich delivers, but the movie lacks continuity.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Volker Schlöndorff

Director

John Malkovich

Abel Tiffauges

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Count von Kaltenborn

Gottfried John

Chief Forrester

Marianne Sägebrecht

Mrs. Netta

Volker Spengler

Fieldmarshall Hermann Goering

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Schlndorff and Jean-Claude Carrire find in Michel Tournier's novel a companion piece to their earlier Gnter Grass adaptation, The Tin Drum.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Astonishing, disturbing, and altogether an affecting piece of work, The Ogre is Schlondorff -- and everyone else involved -- working in top form.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 3, 2003

Full Review

Peter Stack

San Francisco Chronicle

With his slightly cross- eyed gaze of wonderment mixed with ferocious intensity, Malkovich makes Abel both childlike and frightening.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Haunting as the film is, it never feels quite cohesive.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 25, 2008

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 3/5

Sep 28, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 1, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

A simple Parisian's (John Malkovich) love of children involves him in a Nazi scheme to kidnap boys and train them as SS troops during World War II.

Director: Volker Schlöndorff
Producer: Claude Berri, Andreas Grosch, Lew Rywin, Jeremy Thomas
Screenwriter: Michel Tournier, Jean-Claude Carrière, Volker Schlöndorff
Distributor: Kino International Corp.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.2K
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround