Der stählerne Strahl (1935) review: Clunky death rays and intense staring

Look, if you are expecting a fast-paced sci-fi thriller, just skip Der stählerne Strahl right now. But if you have a soft spot for dusty, black-and-white espionage from the 1930s where scientists wear three-piece suits to work on death rays, you might actually find some charm here. 🛠️

It is definetly not for everyone. Most modern viewers will probably find the endless talking scenes incredibly boring.

The Tech looks like kitchen appliances

The plot is basically about this new invention—the "steel ray"—which can stop engines from a distance. It is supposed to be this terrifying military weapon, but the actual machine looks like a glorified radio transmitter with some extra knobs glued on.

I love how seriously everyone treats this metal box. There is a scene where Karl Ludwig Diehl just stares at a blueprint for what feels like three minutes straight, sweating profusely.

He looks like he is trying to solve a very difficult crossword puzzle rather than saving the nation. It is hilarious.

The pacing is... well, it is very uneven. Sometimes the movie feels as claustrophobic as Trapped in a Submarine, where you just want someone to open a window and let some air into the room.

"We must protect the ray at all costs!"

That line gets repeated in various ways about five times. We get it, guys. 🙄

Standout moments (or just weird ones)

There is this one actor, Alexander Golling, who plays one of the shadier characters. He has this incredibly intense face and he seems to be acting in a completely different, much louder movie than everyone else.

Every time he enters a room, he slams the door. I actually started counting after the third time he did it.

• The sound design is mostly just high-pitched humming whenever the ray is turned on. It got a bit grating after a while.
• Dorothea Wieck has some good scenes, but she is mostly underused here. She just sort of stands around looking worried in beautiful coats.
• The ending happens so fast you might miss it if you blink. It is like they ran out of film and just decided to stop shooting.

It is not a masterpiece, not even close. But as a weird artifact of 1930s German cinema, it is a fun little watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon when you have nothing else to do.