carbuff Very good dark comedy set in unpopulated portion of Germany (I believe) in winter, taking place mostly in a large empty hotel. The very stark winter works exceptionally well with the subject matter of this film, which is the story of how two bungling low-level German hit men spiral into a mess of trouble. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say that the fairly original plot develops pretty slowly for most American tastes, although it had no problem keeping my attention, especially given its many unpredictable plot twists. If you have some patience and let the plot develop some momentum, I think you will find that the story becomes quite compelling. About the only major negative comment I can make about this film is that it is devoid of likable characters--if you truly need somebody to root for, there's nobody here, with the possible exception of the least stupid hit-man, who is the lead character, and who you are obviously supposed to find sympathetic (although I personally didn't find myself very invested in his fate either). Unlike after nearly every Hollywood blockbuster, I actually felt like I consumed something intellectually nutritious here, so, for that alone, it deserves a high rating.

gsjaeger-968-581723 A unique and, to me, hilarious film. The dialog is a treasure, with just the right density for the setting. The characters are well and carefully developed, for the relatively shallow people they are meant to be. I've seen it compared to "Dumb and Dumber", but that is really not a meaningful comparison, as this is a much darker and existential film. Indeed, there are a serious of tortuous situations the two main characters are run through. The film comes across a bit like a Tarantino in the woods but without the 70s baggage and with a touch of Stephen King. The film is full of great twists and turns and well paced, considering the idyllic setting. I cannot wait for another film from this writer/director. It is very nice that it was picked up by Netflix in the US. You will like it a lot or not at all.

CatherineSawers Snowman's Land is a superb exercise in suspense. While the story is character driven and remains absurdly plausible until the end, Snowman's Land is in no way predictable. Walter, a sub-par hit man, is summoned to a remote mountain lodge to work for a crime boss who had disappeared from the scene several years before. Walter's colleague and fellow hit man turns out to be an old acquaintance, Mickey, who has his own history of botched jobs and brushes with death. The action is a sustained, deliberate adrenaline rush that eschews the cut-happy editing blitz of most dark comedies about the criminal underworld. Snowman's Land makes full use of the ecosystem at hand and it seems like the celluloid itself is covered in a fresh dusting of snow.

alpatin This movie is not very typical of German (dark) comedies -- it's intelligently written and well thought out. The actors do a great job of making situations which could easily fall flat very enjoyable to watch and the dialogue is strong. It is easy to root for and sympathize with the main character, even when his actions are questionable; the actor does a great job of pulling off the role. The movie is quiet and reserved, there is no slapstick or cheesy dialogue to keep things moving. It remains suspenseful, however, until the end. Definitely worth seeing if you enjoy untraditional comedies.