Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
William Morgan Sheppard
- Alexandru
- (as Morgan Sheppard)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe main set of the film was built in a disused abandoned former slate quarry at Glyn Rhonwy near Llanberis in North Wales. Some interiors of "The Keep" were filmed inside the natural stonework of the Llechwedd Slate Caverns near the historic mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog in Gwynedd, Wales. Michael Mann once described the set by saying: "It's a black monumental structure that might have been built by a medieval Albert Speer."
- GoofsWhen Dr Cuza is translating the writing on the wall, he says "The form is the imperative" i.e. that it's a command. That's taken from the source novel, where the writing is translated as "Strangers, leave my home!" But in the film the translation is "I will be free", which is not an imperative statement.
- Quotes
Major Kaempffer: [frightened] What are you? Where do you come from?
Molasar: Where am I from? I am... from YOU!
- Crazy creditsThe Keep Production Pays Tribute To Wally Veevers
- Alternate versionsSome television versions include additional footage after the original downbeat ending, showing Eva Cuza (Alberta Watson) turn around, entering the Keep and finding the body of Glaecen (Scott Glenn), dead after the final battle with Molasar. Eva hugs Glaeken, who is revived by the power of her love.
Featured review
This is a consistently strange, yet engaging film.
I wish that Mann had been a more experienced director when he tackled this really bizarre film, but all things considered it is really a damn fine movie. The soundtrack has some problems, but the dialogue and acting are so interesting that the faults of the film are balanced out. I especially enjoyed the conversations between Byrne's SS Major and Prochnow's German Army Captain. In fact, I almost wish that the majority of the film had dealt with this rather than the bizarre supernatural stuff. I really do advise this film to anyone that is interested in strange cinema. If you can get past the unfortunate flaws of the film, I think you will notice that it is actually a kind of fascinating little movie. I have seen it many times (first back in '85) and still find it a good watch (although most of my friends do not). In other words, this movie is not for everyone, but I thought it is quite interesting.
helpful•8317
- A-Ron-2
- Aug 12, 1999
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Die unheimliche Macht
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $11,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,218,594
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,032,295
- Dec 18, 1983
- Gross worldwide
- $4,219,430
- Runtime1 hour 36 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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