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42 reviews in total

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15 out of 20 people found the following review useful:
A Pleasant Surprise!, 8 December 2002
Author: fabledmabel from Orange County, CA.

I only watched this movie because it was a Friday night, I was home alone, nothing else was on, I was bored, and the title "Amsterdamned" sent me into enormous, convulsive belly laughs when I saw it on the onscreen satellite guide! What a surprise though!

I have to say that (before watching this movie), of all the places in the world, Holland/The Netherlands was probably the 100th, on a list of 99, that I EVER wanted to visit. I couldn't have been less interested than in anything Dutch. The locations in this movie have changed my mind, however, and now I can't wait to go there!! Most foreign movies are filmed in gritty, urban atmospheres that are totally different than we Americans picture the country and, if anything, deter anyone from any interest in visiting the place. The locations of Amsterdamned, however, are a true delight. What a beautiful, unique and interesting place!

The movie, itself, was different and it was very exciting to try and figure out who the "culprit" was. It was a disappointment in the end, however, although I figured that the primary suspect was not the killer. Also, Huub Stapel's character was not very skilled in police work - he merely went wherever he was told might be linked to the killer, and stood around asking lame questions, as well as doing a lot of posing and lighting cigarettes in a way reminiscent of American "macho men" of the 1970's. He did not "solve" the crime at all, but only happened to be there in the end to "rescue" the female lead. His boss tells off the mayor who is trying to get the case wrapped up quickly and suggests that Stapel's character, Eric Visser, be replaced with someone more competent. I can't figure out why Eric is so respected by his boss, who states to the mayor that he is the "best" and "only" person for the job. I think that, given the opportunity, Eric's young daughter could have solved the crime and done better detective work than he did!

It was still a good movie overall, and one that I will watch again, if just for the scenery. Maybe next time I can figure out just what Stapel's character had going for him that made him so "valuable!"

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10 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Excellent Dutch thriller, 9 June 2000
Author: AlbertV79 from New York

The first time I saw this film was when I was 16, when they released the film in the U.S. At the time, I was a more or less a huge horror fan, so I decided to check it out. This film was awesome in terms of stunts and camerawork. The plot is somewhat typical of a serial killer/slasher film, but give Dick Maas credit. He did a splendid job with this film. I caught the film on TV last year and taped it. Every chance I get, I'll pop in it and watch the film. Kudos to Dick Maas and his team.

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17 out of 28 people found the following review useful:
Aquatic serial killer in one of Europe's finest cities!, 24 April 2006

Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

Dutch director Dick Maas clearly has a flair for entertainment. This serial killer film is lifted above the norm by a series of fantastic sequences; from creepy murder scenes to a hilariously over the top speed boat chase through the canals of Amsterdam, Amsterdamned is a delight to watch from start to finish. It goes without saying that this film takes place in Amsterdam, and it would appear that the film is something of a love letter to the great Dutch city. Amsterdam's streets make for an excellent horror location, while the canal shots are what really give the film its originality. Maas also gives us sequences in which the reputation of the city is discussed. Personally, I love the location shots of this film; having visited Amsterdam a couple of times myself, it's nice to recognise where the film is taking place. The plot is basically your run of the mill serial killer yarn, but it's lifted above the norm because of the fact that the murderer himself is water-based. Amsterdam's canals make for his home, as the murderous diver drags anyone who comes too close to the river to their doom. We follow the trail of murders and the police investigation into the crimes.

The film runs at around 105 minutes; a running time that would usually lead to me saying is too long for this sort of film. However, despite the fact that the film plays from what is a very basic plot, it never becomes boring. Dick Maas bombards the audience with stunning location shots, deliriously entertaining sequences and some very sinister moments of horror to ensure that Amsterdamned never becomes trite or dull - and besides, every time there's a danger of the film going downhill, our competent director is on hand with another grisly murder sequence! For a film that runs so freely, it's surprising that it's actually not all that messy. Maas blends several different styles together, but the plot always stays on course. The atmosphere is always foreboding as it is made clear that the murderer could strike at any time. I've got to say that I was a little disappointed by the end, however. After a brilliant 100 minutes, Maas sees fit to tack on an ending that feels very trite and overly used. However, the build up to this let down is fantastic and by the time it comes to the ending, it doesn't really matter how it ends because you've just witnessed what is one of the finest films ever to come out of the Netherlands. Personally, I loved every minute of this great film and really can't recommend it highly enough!

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17 out of 29 people found the following review useful:
Very, very good slasher movie that makes the most of a good budget..., 7 August 2005

Author: Luisito Joaquin Gonzalez (RareSlashersRated) from Spain

Being that I was born in Sevilla of Spanish heritage, studied in Moscow, currently reside in England and speak Russian/Polish/Spanish and English fluently, you could say that I am somewhat culturally blessed. But when I'm not at home in Spain, you can usually find me enjoying the company and astonishing beauty of Polish women in Krakow or relaxing somewhere in the Netherlands. I love everything about Amsterdam. From its rich and tranquil canal based landscapes to its friendly and welcoming inhabitants, (that's not mentioning its wealth of world class soccer stars) you truly haven't lived until you've been there. That's why I was infinitely excited when I learnt that Holland had created its own addition to my favourite cinema sub-genre – a Dutch slasher movie! You read it right; Amsterdamned manages to mix the B-movie bliss of a masked psychopath with the cultural trademarks of my summer break paradise. And the best thing about it is that it's actually an amster-damned good movie (Apologies for the pun)…

It opens with a cool credit sequence that mixes some brilliant underwater photography with an eerie horror soundtrack that was provided by director Dick Maas. The shot pans along the riverbanks as a yet unidentified predator stalks its prey. It's almost like Jaws in a canal, as we watch the camera emerge from the murky depths, scan the area and then move on to another location. Next we cut to a prostitute flagging down a taxi later that same night. After an amusing bust up with the randy driver, the hooker is left walking the back streets to find her way home. Before she even has a chance to begin her journey, a dark figure raises out of the canal and repeatedly stabs her with a large blade. The killer, leaving a streaming trail of blood behind him, then drags her corpse into the river and disappears into a mass of bubbles. The following morning, the woman is discovered hanging upside down from a bridge and dripping with blood by a boat that's filled with tourists. That scene launches a terrific flair for subtle pitch black humour from the director, which continues throughout the movie.

Next up we meet Detective Eric Visser (Huub Stapel); a hard-boiled Dirty Harry-alike who is immediately put on the case of the bizarre killings. After a vital clue is found at the scene of the second slaughter, the Police seem convinced that the maniac is a diver and begin checking out all the local clubs and stores. Whilst following that lead, Eric meets Laura (Monique Van de Ven), a beautiful artist who is keen to help him crack the case. Meanwhile the body count is rising and the town mayor wants this killer caught. Can Visser track down this maniacal madman? Or will the killer find him first…?

Amsterdamned is probably one of the best slasher movies to be released towards the end of the eighties. Boasting a superb script ("What does she mean a big black monster with huge claws?" "I don't know but your mother-in-law better have a good alibi!"), some stunning photography, a great cast of characters and an extremely talented director; this is truly a great advertisement for Dutch cinema. It's not really a teen-slasher in the hackneyed Friday the 13th mould. Instead it's best described as a slasher/murder-mystery/thriller, which makes the most of being part of each category. The first thing I noticed was that Amsterdamned was extremely well financed even compared to its American brethrens. How many hack and slash flicks have you seen that have included a town-wide motorcycle chase AND a colossal boat pursuit in the same feature? Dick Maas did an extremely good job of making his movie stand out from the mediocrity that had engulfed the cycle this late into its rein.

Even though it is not famed for it's extreme gore, there's enough gooey corpses floating about (literally) to keep the bloodhounds interested. It's also competently written, which means that you won't have worked out the psychopath's identity when he is unmasked at the conclusion. The body count is fairly high and most of the murders are carried out creatively, whilst trying to pack in as much suspense and intrigue as possible. My favourite would have to be the underwater battle between the killer and an unsuspecting Police diver. The whole scene is filmed aboard a submerged boat and the claustrophobic tension is superbly executed. Unfortunately, Amsterdamned was yet another victim of poor dubbing for international broadcast, which means that the voice-overs sound like a consignment of English speaking foreigners from everywhere else BUT Holland! It's impossible for me to rate the cast's performances because I own the dubbed version, but I've heard that they're pretty poor from the supporting actors anyway.

This is wholly recommended to slasher fans across the globe. It's extremely well financed, boasts some snappy dialogue, superb direction, a cool killer costume and even a enjoyably cheesy theme tune; how can you argue with that. The boat chase alone is worth the budget purchase price. I'll be keeping a close eye on the Dutch movie-market to see if they bless the slasher genre once more with such credible output. Make sure you give this one a go…

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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
Fun filled thrill, 31 October 2002
Author: Bertine Centen from The Netherlands

Like I say in my comments on "De Lift", this is particularly funny for Dutch-aholics. A lot of the scenes are references to Dutch famous people, or will later become references to those.

The Bond-like chase through the canals of "Amsterdam", is one of the most famous scenes, and is up to Hollywood standard. Huub Stapel is again the best choice for the leading character "Eric Visser", charming, tenacious, and this time single. The comic relieves are numerous in this movie, but the best to me are the scenes where Stapel's daughter Anneke and her friend Willy try to find the killer through telepathy. And luckily Dick Maas doesn't resort to an old Hollywood trick, and let them solve the whole thing.

Unfortunately, the whole industry in Europe is only interested in making "interesting, and challenging" movies. Movie making in Europe should be about the art, not about the money, according to the critics. The result, however, is that most movies from Europe are either depressing to the point of throwing yourself from a tall building, or completely incomprehensible, or just boring. There are a few great exceptions to the rule, and this is certainly one of them.

For those who saw it in 1988 in a theater, and happened to be in a theater that (as is usual in Holland) puts in a break half way through the movie, so they can scam you out of your money selling over priced drinks (okay different story), you might remember one of the best finishing touches to a movie ever seen: the hand that shoots out of the water, holding a strawberry ice cream cone! That actually had me about 5 inches of my seat.

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5 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
The best (and only) Dutch action movie, 24 April 2002

Author: bas rutten from Eindhoven, the Netherlands

"Amsterdamned" is probably the only real Dutch action movie ever made. As such, it's also the best Dutch action movie ever made. When compared to standard Hollywood action movies, Amsterdamned falls somewhere in the middle: it's not a masterpiece, but it's not terrible either.

The acting is usually terrible in Dutch movies, and this movie is no different. Monique v.d. Ven and Huub Stapel are fine, but the supporting cast is filled with a bunch of over-acting amateurs. Sound quality is poor too: I am from Holland and I often have trouble understanding what the people are saying. But the action sequences (and there are a lot of those) are surprisingly well done for Dutch standards. And fortunately, the movie doesn't take itself too seriously.

All in all the action and humour make up for the occasionally terrible acting and somewhat flawed plot.

**/2 out of **** stars

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8 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
I know it's only a bad film, but I like it!, 20 June 2005

Author: Henry Fields (kikecam@teleline.es) from Spain

One of the most popular movies from the Nederlands made by one of the most popular directors from the Low Lands. A thriller about a serial killer who finds his victims in the canals of Amsterdam City and the cop who's trying to catch him. Original, ain't it?

OK, it's not Truffaut, it's not Hawks or Von Trier, the dialogs are such a mess, and the situations are hackneyed to the nausea but, what can I say? I like this movie! I watched it first when I was 9 or 10 and it has kind of a nostalgical meaning from me. Anyway, you may have a nice pop-corn bag and a bottle of Coke, embrace your girl and turn the lights off.

The best of it all: the very spectacular boat-chasing all around the canals of Amsterdam.

*My rate: 5/10

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
The muddy, toxic canals of Amsterdamned, 5 March 2001
Author: quin1974 (quin@hideout.demon.nl) from Den Haag, The Netherlands

When this movie was first released in theaters, back in 1986, it got quite a buzz and it was certainly a winner at the box office. I went to see this picture back then and, I must say, was scared s***less at the end. I was 12 at the time and not used to seeing stuff like that on the big screen, I had nightmares the following several nights. The severed heads, the dangling body on the bridge, to name but a few instances, made an enormous impact on me.

Now, when you think I am going to praise this movie alround, you are wrong. See, I was twelve and was not in any way educated in film arts. Nowadays, my knowledge in the film department has quite significantly improved and when I now watch this movie it certainly lacks a lot.

As is normal in Dutch movies, it seems, in particular the sound editing is dreadful. I do not know where this constant deficiency comes from, but it is omnipresent in just about every movie that is released from Holland. The acting is not all that great, but given the material that the cast and crew were presented with, it is still a pretty nice job. Production values are absolutely high-standard for a small country like Holland. The fact that some scenes in the boat chase were filmed in Utrecht is something that is absolutely unforgivable, but sometimes a director has to make sacrifices towards this sort of thing to make the story work. The chase scenes were absolutely riveting to say the least. Regrettably, the make-up on the villain was a little crappy when I look at it now.

Story-wise this was pretty decent. The tension was kept on a good level in the high-octane speed of situations that followed each other. Some of the photography was better than average, the stalking POV was awesome. Some scenes really stood out above the rest, for instance the girl who is resting in her little rubber boat and subsequently being sliced and diced in the middle of the Amsterdam canal, this is timeless stuff. I love it.

Overall this was a decent movie not to be viewed by the smallest among the family. The pace in the story will keep you tied to your seat. Look past its flaws and just watch this movie unprejudiced. At least it's a hell of a lot better than Maas' clunker of 1999 "Do Not Disturb".

7/10

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5 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
A surprise from Holland..., 28 September 2001

Author: gridoon

Technically, "Amsterdamned" is about as good as any average American thriller about serial killers and tough cops; Dick Maas directs competently, shows a sense of humor and the unusual setting is an extra plus (how often do you get to see a boat chase in the Amsterdam canals? Not even the Bond pictures exploited that opportunity). It's just that the whole concept of the film treads on all-too-familiar territory, and that there are a few too many red herrings and a few too many climaxes. (**1/2)

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Interesting "psycho" version of "Jaws", 13 December 2006

Author: lord_ruthven from Genova, Italy

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Again, terror comes from the water, but don't let you be fooled, there's nothing that can be taken for granted in this eccentric Dutch horror flick. This is the third movie directed by Dick Maas, one of the most successful directors of the little known Dutch cinema, after the lucky "De Lift" (1983), awarded at the Avoriaz festival. "Amsterdamned" is a thrilling slasher that's almost a "psycho" version of the famous "Jaws", from which ironically borrows the famous scenes with subjective camera technique, underwater and on the surface. With his effective visual talent, Dick Maas (who wrote the script and composed the soundtrack, too), films a fascinating and putrescent Amsterdam, with its muddy canals and its magnificent settings. Apart from the inventions of Dick Maas' direction, the script, never banal and full of turning points, that always avoids to sink in "already seen" things, the credible acting by all the members of the cast, the excellent make-up of the disfigured maniac, shrewdly showed only in the end, are praiseworthy. This is entertainment cinema at his best. You must see it!

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