Die Wasserteufel von Hieflau: A weirdly damp trip back in time

Should you bother?

Look, if you have a soft spot for grainy, old-school European black-and-white films that feel like they were dug out of a literal basement, you might get a kick out of Die Wasserteufel von Hieflau. If you need pacing, clear stakes, or acting that doesn't feel like it’s being shouted at the back row of a theater, skip it. This is for the completists and the people who just like the *vibe* of old mountains and rushing water.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream of a log-rolling contest. The title alone promises water devils, which sounds way more exciting than what you actually get, but that’s the deal with these older films, isn't it? They sell you a myth, and you get a group of guys in hats standing near a river.

Oddly specific observations

• The water shots are actually kind of mesmerizing, in that way where you can tell the camera operator was just happy to be outside for the day.
• There is a moment near the middle where someone turns away from the camera for just a second too long, and you can see them checking to see if they’re still in the frame. Classic.
• The sound design is basically just "loud" or "silent." There is no in-between.

Watching this made me think of the rugged simplicity found in The Man from Hell's River. Both films have that weird, heavy sense of place where the geography is more interesting than the dialogue. You spend half the time watching people walk through scenery and the other half trying to figure out why they’re so upset about the river.

The performances? Well, they’re loud. Everyone is giving 110% even when they’re just eating soup or looking at a map. It’s almost charming, if you don't mind the theatrical posturing that was just *how you did things* back then. Sometimes a character will just stand there with their hand on their hip, staring into the distance, and the scene just... ends. No resolution. Just a cut to black. It’s disorienting in the best way possible. 🌊

There’s a scene involving a bridge that goes on forever. I’m pretty sure they just kept rolling because they didn't have enough film to do a retake. It’s not great, but it’s honest in its own clunky, dusty way. Don't go looking for deep themes or life-changing revelations. Just watch the water and let the old film grain do its thing.