Craig (2008) Reviews

• Psycho drama captivates

  lastliberal2008-05-14

  Who knows what is going on in the mind of a serial killer. Is is synapses failing to fire correctly, or the lack of some chemical? Can psychotropics solve the problem? Danish filmmaker Kim Sønderholm makes a valiant attempt to show a man who struggles with his impulses, and, ultimately, loses. A hint of child abuse is given in a zombie encounter with his father, who was killed, along with his mother, in a fire. Craig's (played by the director) inadvertently put his sister in a coma in the fire. He is plagued by guilt over his sister's condition and seeks psychotherapy. Sønderholm must have a bit of Scientology in him as his psychotherapist is a real loser. Lithium seems to help Craig, but it seems strange that he takes it like breath mints out of a tin whenever a panic attack is revealed. Maybe that is the way medicine is dispensed in Denmark. But the slights to his manhood continue from all directions and, at some point, the medicine loses it's effectiveness and he gives in to his murderous impulses. There is little blood and gore, so don't expect Saw. It is more about the drama going on in Craig's head. His method is usually strangulation. His targets are always women, although he gets most of his insults from men. He ends up chasing a girl though the woods and raping her after he shoots her. This is where I have a problem with the film. Not the supposed necrophilia, but the fact that it doesn't end with his shooting, as it should. It goes on for two more scenes that just don't make sense to me. Those that like their horror more psychological than bloody will find this to be an interesting film. The camera work of Jan T. Jensen and Søren Ulfkjær was excellent, and the soundtrack will please all those who like their music hard and loud. Both really fit well with the script. A little humor and a lot of flesh makes for icing on the cake.

• Poor everything

  dantheman6969692010-03-05

  If you're inclined to forgive such understandable faults like amateurish acting, lazy story, bland camera-work, uninspired direction etc. The this dull lifeless psycho thriller (I laughed) film, just might be for you. CRAIG bored me to death and I cannot possibly force myself to take it more seriously than it took itself. CRAIG is a dull character meandering through a dull plot that's shot and directed in an entirely dull way and I can't think of a single reason why anyone would want to watch this. I'm sorry. I wanted to like it, but it lost me at 'hello' and it kept sinking from there towards a thoroughly silly ending never to surface for a single breath of fresh air. The good bit if you like seeing naked hookers, tarts ET AL getting what they deserve - You might take yourself to hand in the dark with a tissue.

• there is a future for danish independent film after all!

  seenfreaq2009-02-06

  i liked this film a lot. it is obvious that it did not have a multi million dollar budget, but the style they have chosen for the film works better this way i think. it is a quite intelligent serial killer story with an actual and believable back story about a normal (well, not so normal but nevertheless a guy with seemingly no evil in him..) who finally turns into a avenging maniac due to all the things done wrong to him. i think sønderholm does a remarkable job with this character and he should definitely be given more credit as a method actor, cause it is fully deserved. the inspiration to David lynch is clear several places, not as rip off sequences but inspirations wise it does have a lot of the same absurd elements and it seems to work well. it is not a perfect film but definitely a very good attempt and i would be glad to see more from these guys in the future. 8/10