Die Stunde der Versuchung: A dusty, dramatic mess

Is this for you?

If you have a weird itch for 1930s German melodrama, you might find something to chew on here. If you’re looking for a tight, logical thriller, stay far away. This is the kind of movie that assumes you’ll just go along with every massive leap in logic because the characters look good in their suits.

Honestly, the whole thing feels like a stage play that refused to leave the room. Everything hinges on Irene being incredibly naive and Mac Norris being the most obvious villain to ever walk through a door. You’ll see the "twist" coming from the opening credits.

The apartment scene that won't end

There is this moment where Mac is trying to corner Irene, and the camera just sits there. It’s supposed to be tense, I think. Instead, it feels like watching two people perform a very stiff, very polite dance. When the gun finally goes off, it’s almost a relief because the talking has finally stopped.

The pacing here is just... weird. It drags for forty minutes and then tries to sprint to the finish line in five. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in The Other Tomorrow, though without the charm.

• Lída Baarová looks like she is doing the heavy lifting for the entire cast.
• The lawyer husband is so absent he might as well be a cardboard cutout.
• That one shot of the apartment door handle? It lingers for way too long.
• The lighting makes everyone look like they are hiding secrets, even when they’re just ordering tea.

There is a strange lack of urgency for a movie about a potential murder. Nobody seems particularly panicked, which is a choice, I guess. It’s almost like they’re all waiting for the director to yell cut so they can go home. Sometimes it’s worth watching just to see how not to handle a suspenseful setup.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a coherent story, really. But for a rainy Tuesday? It’s fine. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. 📽️