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dave s Kontroll is a slick and stylish film set in the subterranean world of Budapest's subway system, following the exploits of ticket inspectors as they grind their way through thankless day after thankless day. Despite featuring some witty dialogue, nice visuals and interesting encounters, things seem to get a bit repetitive as the beleaguered inspectors encounter increasingly combative members of the public. Basically, it's an episodic exercise where some of the episodes work while others become tiresome, like the scene in the psychiatrist's office. It's an admirable attempt at something different that only partially succeeds. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A strange hermetic Hungarian comedy-thriller, set entirely in the grimy netherworld of the Budapest subway system. A posse of ticket inspectors are charged with ensuring every passenger has a permit. Why are they stuck down there? Why do they all look so ill? And who is the strange hooded figure who seems to signify death? It's a measure of the confidence and skill here that none of this seems pretentious and so much of it is funny. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Don't believe the internet hype. This movie is boring and pointless. The whole thing revolves around such a mundane concept - the ticket checking - and there is no reason for any of the characters to be this invested over something no one considers important! Oh, and how is this a dark comedy? Nothing funny happens at all! Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member "Kontroll" is a pleasantly wacky film. It is set underground (in the Budapest metro) and that makes it pretty special - and it's not just a gimmick. Nimród Antal makes excellent use of the subway system as well as the cast and delivers an exciting, varied little gem that meshes suspense, comedy, romance, mystery and drama very well. The finale is just beautiful and reveals an unadorned allegorical take on the film's underground setting which strikes as very resonant. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member surreal,thrill-ride and fun. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member I have seen all of Nimrod Antal's American films and I have to say, I never would have guessed he had it in him to create something like Kontroll. OK, first off I will still always like Vacancy and Predators more from him, simply because I'm a huge horror fan and they were some of the first films I've ever seen from Antal. But Kontroll is his indie art house thriller, making it stand out from the rest of his films. The only other movie that comes close to being stylistic and artistic is Metallica Through the Never, but Kontroll is way better than that, in my opinion. (though I love the music in Metallica Through the Never). Kontroll gets grittier and darker as the film progresses, giving you the feeling that you falling deeper down the rabbit hole of some dark underbelly. The story focuses on a hero whose job is to make sure you have a ticket and making sure you're not riding the subway without paying. Everyone seems to hate him, his crew, and the rest of the employees. Our hero's group is a ragtag team of misfits just trying to do their job with the least amount of hassle. We find out our main character is also living down in the subway and probably hasn't traveled up to the surface in quiet some time. This is not your typical thriller. Yes, there is a murderer pushing people on the track and making it look like suicide, but it isn't just about finding this murderer. It is also about this workers dealing with the stress of their job, a romantic subplot with our main character falling in love with a young woman dressed as a teddy bear (I kid you not), the crew trying to catch a recurring rule breaker constantly getting free rides just because he can out run them, and several other elements. It might be the most thrilling of thrillers the whole way through (even compared to slow-burning thriller standards), but it is a great blend of drama, character development, and world building that is well crafted and admirable. There is a distinct style for the movie that is gritty, dark, artistic, and sometimes funny. Some of the shots remind me of other movies and other director styles, but I can't quite place where I've seen them before. Nevertheless, it is nothing like any of Nimrod's other films. The middle does get slow because it tries to weave in many different genres and elements into the film. I think it all works, but some might not like it as much. It's not the kind of thriller for everyone and I kind of have a hard time calling it a thriller, but I can't really come up with a genre that fits this film best. If you've seen Vacancy, Armored, Predators, and Metallica Through the Never and you feel Nimrod Antal isn't a good director that hasn't shown what he's capable of yet, then watch Kontroll and you just might think differently. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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