"Kommissarin Heller - Der Beutegänger" is the second of so far three movies starring Lisa Wagner as detective Winnie Heller. A fourth movie is planned already. The dramatic crime sequences (two joggers get killed) are solid, but this film also has a nice share of comedy. For example, the protagonist has to see a psychologist because of a former hostage situation, but she ends up asking the psychologist questions about her current cases. On a side-note, the psychologist is played by Lena Stolze, who was the lead actress in the German Oscar nominee "Das schreckliche Mädchen" 25 years ago. Also the guy in his drag clothes had something entertaining. The movie is directed by Christiane Balthasar who has lots of experience and worked on "Tatort" and "Polizeiruf 110" previously. The script writer is Mathias Klaschka, who has worked on romantic comedies mostly before. This duo has worked on all three Heller movies so far, all based on Silvia Roth's novels.
The main topic here is stalking, but also misogynist behavior which the protagonist experiences herself at one point when her boss discriminates against her. Halfway into the movie I thought maybe the husband from early on would have been the killer as the stalker seemed just too obvious. Many films probably would have gone for such a plot twist, but this movie did not and it was a brave decision. It does not hurt the film at all that we sort of know who did pretty early. Heller is interesting to watch, not only physically, but she is not scared of asking tough questions even if they offend people. There were not many scenes with her that I did not like. Also the car fire sequence was pretty cool. The cast here is not too known, but that is not a problem at all as unknown actors can create a great movie as well if they have talent and a good script (as we recently also saw on "Whiplash"). Both applies here.
Sometimes this movie is a little bit over the top, but not in a bad way. The ending is okay as well, even if I had preferred the stalking victim killing her offender in cold blood right away. Would have been quite gutsy. The only thing that was not entirely clear to me is why he killed the other women. Then again, he is a psychopath and does not act particularly reasonable as a consequence, so you probably do not even have to ask this questions. Good thriller. Recommended.
The main topic here is stalking, but also misogynist behavior which the protagonist experiences herself at one point when her boss discriminates against her. Halfway into the movie I thought maybe the husband from early on would have been the killer as the stalker seemed just too obvious. Many films probably would have gone for such a plot twist, but this movie did not and it was a brave decision. It does not hurt the film at all that we sort of know who did pretty early. Heller is interesting to watch, not only physically, but she is not scared of asking tough questions even if they offend people. There were not many scenes with her that I did not like. Also the car fire sequence was pretty cool. The cast here is not too known, but that is not a problem at all as unknown actors can create a great movie as well if they have talent and a good script (as we recently also saw on "Whiplash"). Both applies here.
Sometimes this movie is a little bit over the top, but not in a bad way. The ending is okay as well, even if I had preferred the stalking victim killing her offender in cold blood right away. Would have been quite gutsy. The only thing that was not entirely clear to me is why he killed the other women. Then again, he is a psychopath and does not act particularly reasonable as a consequence, so you probably do not even have to ask this questions. Good thriller. Recommended.
