The Keep

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The Keep

R

Released Dec 16, 1983

1h 38m

Horror

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42%

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19 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

A stranger (Scott Glenn) fights timeless evil in a Romanian castle occupied by a Nazi captain (Jürgen Prochnow).

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Kat Sachs

Chicago Reader

It’s not bad and it’s definitely worth watching if you’re a Mann completist.

Jul 17, 2025

Full Review

Keith Uhlich

Reverse Shot

Mann must share the blame for the movie's failures. But nor should its beauties be denied.

Sep 9, 2011

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Simon Abrams

House Next Door

As dated as it is, The Keep (1983), Michael Mann's second theatrical release after Thief (1981), remains an intriguing mess of historical provocation.

Mar 29, 2011

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Mann fares better when sublimating the metaphysical into the nocturnal neon landscapes of Thief, Collateral, and Heat.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jan 3, 2024

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Josh Slater-Williams

Vague Visages

Regarding its deserving of potential "film maudit" status, sometimes the rabbit hole just leads you to dirt, kids.

Nov 13, 2023

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Chris Alexander

Alexander On Film

It is a film of many sensory pleasures and the key to truly enjoying it is to overlook its flaws, its lapses in logic, its often-dated visual effects and let it simply wash over you, to sink into it and perceive it like an opium inflicted hallucination.

Dec 8, 2022

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David W

I absolutely love this bizarre horror curio. It's a cult classic in my book that's dripping with atmosphere and has a truly fantastic score by Tangerine Dream.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

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David A

The Keep is one of those movies you either love or hate. Atmosphere, a great score by Tangerine Dream, and a brilliant cast make this film one you either have to see or will be disappointed by. It's confusing storyline which probably would have made more sense if the film wasn't cut down to 90 min from the original almost 3 hours. Hard to say what was cut out. I remember renting this movie back when it was on Vhs in the early 80's and fell in love with it. But for others, I can see why it would be incomprehensible to most. Unless you're familiar with the book it was based on, you'll have a difficult time trying to piece what is happening. I won't go into the storyline as it has been told briefly in other reviews. For some bizarre cinema check it out. Some movies require an open mind to absorb, ie. Blade Runner which was a huge disappointment when it first came out. Looking forward to the Imprint Films release that is coming in September. I deducted half a star from my personal review just for the uncoverted. For those interested in bizarre fantasy it may deliver for you like it did for me.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

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Tom C

Don't understand the bad reviews. Really liked the story. Lesson to be learned from this 80s flick is somethings should be left alone.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/03/25

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Erin M

Great movie….the atmosphere and music are so eerie! Great actors and acting,and a classic story of good trying to stop the spread of evil.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/25

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Audience Member

There’s other movies that are more or less the same story, but just told better.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

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Jelisije J

An underrated hidden gem of a film that I will never forget and yes i will be asking for the director cut of this film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/08/24

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Michael Mann

Director

Scott Glenn

Glaeken Trismegestus

Alberta Watson

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Synopsis

A stranger (Scott Glenn) fights timeless evil in a Romanian castle occupied by a Nazi captain (Jürgen Prochnow).

Director: Michael Mann
Producer: Gene Kirkwood, Hawk Koch
Screenwriter: F. Paul Wilson, Michael Mann
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Associated Capital, Capital Equipment Leasing
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 1983, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 4, 2017
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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