The Devil Strikes at Night

Play trailer

The Devil Strikes at Night

Released Jan 29, 1959

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

73%

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

It crouches but -- alas -- never springs.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Time Out

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.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Fred Camper

Chicago Reader

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

Jan 10, 2004

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

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...

Rated: 6/10

Dec 8, 2022

Full Review

Anne Brodie

What She Said

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

Mar 25, 2022

Full Review

Manny Farber

The New Leader

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.

Sep 14, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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¬!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Robert Siodmak

Director

Mario Adorf

Bruno Luedke

Claus Holm

Kriminalkommissar Axel Kersten

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Tiger Bay

78%

84%

Tiger Bay

Watchlist

The Killer Is Loose

60%

40%

The Killer Is Loose

Watchlist

The Bat

17%

47%

The Bat

Watchlist

North by Northwest

97%

94%

North by Northwest

Watchlist

TRAILER

for North by Northwest

Night People

86%

50%

Night People

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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