Der Mörder Dimitri Karamasoff (1931) is a sweaty, beautiful mess

Should you actually watch this?

If you enjoy old movies that feel like the actors are having a collective nervous breakdown, then yes, you should watch this today. It is definitely for people who like the dark, moody vibes of early German sound films, but it might be a bit much for anyone who prefers a quiet, subtle drama.

I went into this expecting a dry literary adaptation, but it’s actually more like a fever dream. Fritz Kortner plays Dimitri, and the guy is basically a walking heart attack from the first scene to the last.

The whole plot is kicked off because Dimitri needs money, and his father is a total jerk who won't give it to him. It’s one of those classic family-hating-each-other setups that feels very relatable, even if they are wearing old military uniforms.

There is this one scene where Dimitri is arguing with his father, and the camera just hangs on their faces. You can almost smell the stale cigarette smoke and the desperation in the room. 🚬

The lighting is incredibly dark, which I guess is the point since it’s about a potential murder. Sometimes the shadows are so thick you can’t even see who is talking, but it adds to the feeling that everyone is hiding something.

Anna Sten plays Grushenka, and she is honestly the best part of the whole thing. She has this way of looking at the men in the movie like she’s both bored and totally in control of their lives.

When Dimitri first sees her, you can tell he’s doomed. It isn't a subtle 'love at first sight' moment; it's more like he just got hit by a bus. 🚌

I noticed that the sound is a bit crunchy, which is expected for 1931, but it actually makes the screaming matches feel more authentic. It’s like listening to a fight through a thin wall in a cheap apartment building.

The movie does this weird thing where it speeds up during the party scenes. It’s supposed to show how chaotic Dimitri’s mind is, but it mostly just made me feel a little bit dizzy.

Speaking of chaos, there is a lot of drinking. Like, a lot of drinking. They drink like the world is ending in twenty minutes, which, for Dimitri, it kind of is.

If you’ve seen Women of Ryazan, you might recognize that same heavy, earthy feeling that some of these older Eastern-influenced films have. It’s not polished like a Hollywood movie, and that’s why I liked it.

One thing that bothered me was the editing in the middle. It feels like a few scenes were chopped out or maybe they just forgot to film the transitions between people walking into rooms.

There is a moment where a character just appears in a doorway and I had to rewind to see if I missed him walking up. He was just... there. It’s a bit clunky, but it didn't ruin the mood.

The father is played by Max Pohl, and he makes the character so annoying that you kind of want Dimitri to actually kill him. He’s got this smug look on his face that just screams 'I am going to ruin your life for fun.'

The trial toward the end feels a bit long, though. They spend a lot of time talking about things we already saw happen, which is a pet peeve of mine in movies.

I found myself looking at the background extras during the court scenes. Half of them look like they are actually falling asleep, which made me laugh because the main actors are being so dramatic.

It reminds me slightly of the pacing in The People vs. Nancy Preston, where the legal stuff starts to drag down the actual excitement of the crime. But here, the visual style keeps it from getting too boring.

The movie is at its best when it’s just Dimitri running around the streets or staring intensely at a bag of money. Fritz Kortner has these huge, expressive eyes that make him look like he hasn't slept in three years. 👀

There is a very specific shot of a hand reaching for a bell that lingered for way too long. I think it was supposed to be suspenseful, but after ten seconds, I was just like, 'Okay, just ring the bell already.'

I think people who like the weirdness of silent films transitioning into sound will find this fascinating. It still has that big acting style where every gesture is ten times larger than it needs to be.

It’s not a perfect movie, and the ending feels a bit rushed compared to how much time they spent on the setup. But it has a soul, which is more than I can say for a lot of the stuff that comes out now.

It's messy and loud and the costumes look a bit itchy. But I'm glad I watched it on a quiet night with the lights off.

• The Good: Anna Sten's performance, the incredible shadows, and the general feeling of doom.
• The Bad: Some very clunky editing and a middle section that feels like it’s running in circles.
• The Weird: The way Dimitri sweats. Seriously, the guy is drenched in every single frame.

If you're looking for something that feels like a real piece of history rather than a museum object, give this a spin. Just be prepared for a lot of shouting. 📢

It’s definitely better than The Age for Love if you're looking for something with actual stakes and tension. At least here, you care if the main guy goes to jail or not.