The Element of Crime

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The Element of Crime

1987

1h 40m

Sci-Fi

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83%

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18 Reviews

72%

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2,500+ Ratings

Fisher (Michael Elphick), an ex-detective, decides to take one final case when a mysterious serial killer claims the lives of several young girls. Fisher, unable to find the culprit, turns to Osbourne (Esmond Knight), a writer who was once respected for his contributions to the field of criminology. Fisher begins to use Osbourne's technique, which involves empathizing with serial killers; however, as the detective becomes increasingly engrossed in this method, things take a disturbing turn.

Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

Feb 14

The Element of Crime isn't a wholly successful first feature: but it's an odd one. Sometimes, that's as good.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Feb 14

Von Trier clearly has talent, imagination, originality and a capacity to surprise. I just wish he would learn not to force it down one's throat.

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

Feb 14

Well before the end I ceased to be interested in the characters' fates or the solution to the mystery, but I never detected a moment when the directors' self-confidence flagged.

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

08/22/2023

This is the movie that established and enabled this enfant most terrible. It’s a difficult ride but for cineastes it is one worth taking.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

01/21/2023

3/4

Slow-moving yet sturdy.

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Jay Antani

Cinema Writer

08/21/2006

2.5/4

Nearly incomprehensible but stylistically dazzling

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Mason M

09/07/2024

One of the absolute most visually stunning and impressive films ever made. It's unbelievable that Von Trier made this as his first real feature film. Maybe one of the times I've been most disturbed by a film due to it's shocking and horrifying ending.

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Dave S

02/23/2023

Always a polarizing force with audiences and critics alike, director Lars von Trier certainly got off on the right foot with his debut film, The Element of Crime. When a former police detective is put under hypnosis, he recalls his final case as an investigator, a grisly murder case involving the killing and mutilation of young girls who sell lottery tickets. Set in a sepia-tinged, nightmarish world of mist, rain, and darkness, The Elements of Crime is a visual wonder throughout, filled with creative camera angles, interesting lighting, and fantastic sets. Strangely, it is so visually arresting that the viewer may be distracted from the characters and the storyline, wondering to themselves as the credits roll ‘what the hell was that all about?' This is a classic case of style over substance.

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05/11/2019

20 minutes and I've had enough.

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vilém n

08/02/2018

It's kinda briliant but I still fuckin hate it

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05/30/2016

I can't say I'm very fond of Lars von Trier's debut feature. It's certainly an atmospheric and visually stunning film, but the extremely sluggish pace isn't really rewarded with much of a plot. It's fine, but I enjoy his later work to a much larger degree. It is pretty wonderful that Me Me Lai has both "Eaten Alive!" and this flick on her resume.

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02/21/2016

It looks beautiful (albeit in a maximally oppressive way) but almost wilfully refuses to make a lick of sense... welcome to the wonderful world of Lars von Trier. Obliqueness wouldn't normally be a problem, but I had a big suspicion that this story of those who have to get into the mindset of serial killers to hunt serial killers risking becoming monsters themselves was both a bit hackneyed and more than a bit plain nasty.

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Lars von Trier

Director

Michael Elphick

Fisher

Esmond Knight

Osborne

Me Me Lai

Kim (as MeMe Lai)

Jerold Wells

Kramer

Ahmed El Shenawi

Therapist

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Synopsis

Fisher (Michael Elphick), an ex-detective, decides to take one final case when a mysterious serial killer claims the lives of several young girls. Fisher, unable to find the culprit, turns to Osbourne (Esmond Knight), a writer who was once respected for his contributions to the field of criminology. Fisher begins to use Osbourne's technique, which involves empathizing with serial killers; however, as the detective becomes increasingly engrossed in this method, things take a disturbing turn.

Director: Lars von Trier
Distributor: Criterion Collection
Production Co: Per Holst Filmproduktion
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 1, 1987, Limited
Release Date (DVD): Sep 19, 2000
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)