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Sennentuntschi: Curse of the Alps

“Despite the confusing nature of the film, ‘Sennentuntschi’ is a unique and breathtaking experience that captures perfectly (well, presumably) the horrors of isolation and the depths man will go to when alone. It’s dark, sad, and deeply disturbing, all of which make for one Hell of a ride.”

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There aren’t enough horror movies that deal with folklore; and not generic folklore, like the boogeyman, but small, specific, and most importantly little-known folk tales and myths from around the world. Occasionally one will crop up (though for the life of me I can’t think of any off the top of my head), but when they do, they’re usually lackluster affairs. Sennentuntschi, however, is not like that. Director Michael Steiner manages to take a little known tale – the Sennentuntschi, a popular myth from the German Alps – and construct a beautiful, intricate, and at times downright disturbing thriller out of it.

A young woman wanders into a small village in the Swiss Alps. Dirty, mute, and covered in a shroud, she attracts the attention of Reusch, the local policeman, who takes her in and cares for her. The townspeople, however, are not entirely convinced she’s not a demon responsible for the death of a local priest, found hanged in the Church. Meanwhile, Erwin, a mountain-dwelling herdsman, and his son Albert, take in Martin, a traveler escaping his past, and combat the boredom with copious amounts of absinthe and the Sennentunschi. Their perverted dalliances, however, are not without consequences, and as the secret of the mysterious woman is revealed, the entire foundation of the peaceful village threatens to crumble.

Sennentuntschi is a beautiful film. Sweeping shots of the Swiss Alps set the stage for the loneliness and isolation that rules the lives of the quiet village and neighboring mountain homes while a booming and, at times, epic score complements the perfectly paced rising tension. As the village’s primary lawman and the man responsible for bringing the mysterious woman into the village, Reusch’s isolation is further enhanced by his rift with the townspeople, who fear his intentions as much as they do the presence of the mysterious woman.

Roxane Mesquida in the titular role was phenomenal (and absolutely gorgeous to boot). With almost no dialogue her eyes were filled with every range of emotional necessary of the character, resulting in one of the best performances in the film. As Reusch, Nicholas Ofczarek brought to the role a sort of passiveness and, in contrast to the religious majority in the village, a sense of kindness that does much to temper the brutality that pervades throughout. Andrea Zogg and Carlos Leal as Erwin and Martin, respectively, brought to the fold delightfully disturbing performances that keep knocking you down and bringing you back in with their ability to seamlessly go from kind and gentle men to vile creatures.

The biggest hindrance lies primarily in the execution. Told through a flashback and, at other times, a flashback within a flashback, the film manages to avoid an explicit explanation for the events unfolding, preferring instead to reveal everything toward the very end of the film The end result is a fairly disjointed presentation that relies on a quick dialogue and yet another flashback to reveal just how and why the events took place. When they’re revealed, you’re left scratching your head and trying to piece together the strangely satisfying puzzle.

Despite the confusing nature of the film, Sennentuntschi is a unique and breathtaking experience that captures perfectly (well, presumably) the horrors of isolation and the depths man will go to when alone. It’s dark, sad, and deeply disturbing, all of which make for one Hell of a ride.

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‘Stream’ – Horror Movie from the Team Behind ‘Terrifier’ Sets August Theatrical Release

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While you wait for Damien Leone’s Terrifier 3 later this year from Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting, the team’s next horror movie Stream is headed to theaters in August.

Deadline has announced this afternoon that Terrifier 2 theatrical distributor Iconic Events Releasing will bring Stream to theaters nationwide on August 21, 2024.

The film will be coming to theaters in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Director Michael Leavy‘s Stream comes from Fuzz on the Lens Productions with the film’s makeup FX being handled by Terrifier and Terrifier 2 director Damien Leone!

Leavy said in a statement today, “We are beyond thrilled to partner with Iconic Events Releasing again, but this time to bring an all new and modern horror film to the big screen! We built a very good relationship with Iconic through Terrifier 2 and now with the upcoming Terrifier 3, so we are honored to keep this train rolling and continue to deliver fun and exciting horror movies to our incredible fanbase and beyond.”

The cast is stacked with familiar faces, including Tony Todd (Candyman), Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator / Would You Rather), Danielle Harris (Halloween 4, 5 / Hatchet 2), Tim Reid (Stephen King’s IT / WKRP Cincinnati), Dee Wallace (E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial / The Howling), Mark Holton (Leprechaun), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp / A Nun’s Curse), Daniel Roebuck (The Fugitive / Final Destination), Dave Sheridan (Scary Movie / The Devil’s Rejects), Terry Alexander (Day of the Dead / Night of the Living Dead II), David Howard Thornton (Terrifier / Terrifier 2), Charles Edwin Powell (Exorcist III/Screamers), Bob Adrian (The Conjuring 2), Sydney Malakeh (Cheer Camp Killer), Wesley Holloway (Terrifier 2), Damian Maffei (The Strangers: Prey at Night), and Michael Leavy (Terrifier).

In the film, “As the Keenan’s try to bring their family closer together, they unwittingly enter themselves into a game of life or death. With four deranged killers patrolling the halls of their hotel and competing for the most creative kills, the odds are definitely stacked against them.”

Produced by Steven Della Salla (Terrifier 2, Abnormal Attraction), Jason Leavy (Terrifier 2, Abnormal Attraction), Michael Leavy (Terrifier 2, Abnormal Attraction, Pennywise The Story of IT), Marcus Slabine (Dark Offerings, Island of the Dead), Damien Leone (Terrifier, Terrifier 2), Phil Falcone (Terrifier, Terrifier 2, Joes War) and George Steuber (Terrifier, Terrifier 2).

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