A few thoughts: A "horror" movie more in the literal sense than is traditional for the genre, this Czech film about a cremator finds humor in the darkest of places, while still remaining unsettling and difficult to look away from. With a fantastic lead performance, Rudolf Hrusinsky adds quirks and subtle details to his role (brushing his well-groomed hair with the same comb he uses on dead bodies), slowly revealing more and more layers to his madness as the story progresses -- was he always this psychotic and delusional, or just impressionable enough to allow Nazi ideology into his twisted mind? This isn't an easy film and doesn't offer easy answers. With that signature Czech new wave editing and cinematography, this is a very interesting film to look at, from its tight close-ups to the split-second shots that flicker past before you even know it. It might be unpleasant to watch in many respects but visually it's still very striking. Thanks to some great pacing, visuals, and an excellent main character/performance, this movie succeeds in all sorts of ways.
Anyone in the mood for political horror at its best. It's different, twisted, and never too gruesome or extreme for the overly squeamish -- the subject matter is shocking enough for that.
My grade: B
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