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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Schloß Hubertus remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school German melodrama where people spend a lot of time staring intensely at mountains and being difficult, you might actually enjoy this. If you need pacing faster than a glacier or hate seeing old guys being stubborn, stay far away.
It’s a strange little movie. Honestly, it feels like it crawled out of a dusty attic.
So, the Baron is up in his retreat. He’s basically hiding from his children because, well, parenting is hard and he’s an aristocrat. Then, bam, an eagle blinds him. It’s not subtle. It’s not poetic. It’s just a bird deciding the Baron’s eyes are no longer necessary.
The scene is oddly funny if you don't take it too seriously. The bird looks like it’s having the time of its life.
There is a lot of scenery here. The mountains are the real star, really. They have this way of making everyone look small and petty while they argue about inheritance and pride.
I found myself wondering if they ever get cold filming these scenes. Everyone looks so stiff, like they’re trying not to shiver through their velvet jackets.
It kind of reminds me of the vibe in The Source where the landscape just eats up the plot. You stop caring about the dialogue and just watch the clouds move.
Once the Baron is blind, the whole tone of the movie turns into a softer, slightly annoying lesson in humility. He suddenly wants to be a better dad. It’s a bit of a stretch, but sure, let’s go with it.
It’s not a movie I’d watch twice. But for a rainy Tuesday? It hit the spot, even if the ending felt like it was rushing to get out of the theater. 🏔️