The Devil Strikes at Night

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The Devil Strikes at Night

1959

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

In 1944 Germany, handyman Bruno Luedke (Mario Adorf) has been a serial killer for 11 years without attracting suspicion. After Luedke kills again, the victim's boyfriend is arrested -- but detective Axel Kersten (Claus Holm), newly assigned to the case, doubts his guilt and continues investigating. Luedke's clumsiness soon leads Kersten to him, but after the handyman's arrest, an SS officer meets with Kersten to discuss the delicate implications of a serial killer in Nazi Germany.

Howard Thompson

New York Times

03/25/2006

2.5/5

It crouches but -- alas -- never springs.

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Time Out

01/26/2006

Werner Peters enjoyably essays another of his sweaty losers and the depiction of Bruno as a squalid dimwit makes a change from the Hannibal Lecter fantasy of the suave serial-killing mastermind.

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Fred Camper

Chicago Reader

01/10/2004

This fascinating 1957 film, based on a true story, concerns the hunt for a serial killer by the Nazi regime.

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

12/08/2022

6/10

Besides the craft of the film itself, it offers special interest because it was shot in what was then (1957) West Germany, including location shooting in Berlin and Munich...

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Anne Brodie

What She Said

03/25/2022

Interesting twists and subtleties in politics, psychology and a special time and place, make this most unusual.

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Manny Farber

The New Leader

09/14/2021

This ghoulish portrait accomplishes a feat that is rare in current mixed-goodies film... Siodmak's best moments, flexibly relaxed or tight, seem comfortably inventive.

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06/11/2012

Morality tale about state hypocrisy in the form of a thriller--A Different Kind of Nazi Horror!!

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12/20/2008

Excellent film relatant la traque d'un tueur en serie en pleine allemagne nazie tout en proposant une grosse critique du systeme juridique. Tres bon â¬!

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Robert Siodmak

Director

Mario Adorf

Bruno Luedke

Claus Holm

Kriminalkommissar Axel Kersten

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Synopsis

In 1944 Germany, handyman Bruno Luedke (Mario Adorf) has been a serial killer for 11 years without attracting suspicion. After Luedke kills again, the victim's boyfriend is arrested -- but detective Axel Kersten (Claus Holm), newly assigned to the case, doubts his guilt and continues investigating. Luedke's clumsiness soon leads Kersten to him, but after the handyman's arrest, an SS officer meets with Kersten to discuss the delicate implications of a serial killer in Nazi Germany.

Director: Robert Siodmak
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 29, 1959, Limited
Runtime: 1h 37m