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6.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Die fünf verfluchten Gentlemen remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like a dusty, old postcard you found in an attic, you’ll dig this. It’s got that specific 1930s European moodiness that doesn't care about rushing the plot. But if you need snappy editing or a high body count every ten minutes, you’ll probably be bored to tears. It's more about the vibe than the payoff. 🏜️
The whole thing kicks off in Morocco, which is basically the ultimate backdrop for people making bad decisions. We’ve got a bunch of tourists—typical travelers, really—who run into this sorcerer guy. He lays out the curse, and honestly, the way he just drops that news is hilarious. It’s like telling someone they’re getting a flat tire on the way to work.
What I liked is how the movie doesn't lean too hard into the "supernatural" side. It’s all psychological. The fear isn't really the curse itself, it’s watching these guys start to look at each other sideways. You know how it goes—once you put a timer on a group of people, they stop acting like friends real fast.
I caught myself noticing the background extras more than the main cast. There’s a specific scene in a marketplace where the lighting is just… weird. It looks like the shadows are doing more acting than the actual people. It reminded me a bit of the atmosphere in The Painted World, where you can tell the set is trying to tell a story all on its own.
Also, the suits. Everyone is wearing these heavy, perfectly pressed outfits in the desert heat. Nobody is sweating! Maybe that’s just how they did it back then, or maybe they were all just too afraid of the sorcerer to complain about the temperature.
The pacing is, well, let's call it deliberate. Sometimes a scene goes on for an extra few seconds after the dialogue stops, and you’re just sitting there watching someone stare at a wall. Is it deep? Probably not. Is it kind of hypnotic? Yeah.
Don't expect the intensity of something like Smashing Barriers. This isn't that kind of ride. It’s a smaller, weirder movie that feels like it belongs on a late-night broadcast in a room that hasn't been aired out in a week.
It’s not perfect. The middle section gets a little stuck in the mud. But there’s something about the way these gentlemen start to unravel that kept me watching until the end. It’s an odd, dusty little relic. Give it a shot if you’re feeling nostalgic for black-and-white trouble. 🌙
IMDb —
1921
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