The Keep (1983): A Cult Classic with Stunning Visuals and Soundtrack
If you are a fan of horror and fantasy genres, you might have heard of The Keep, a 1983 film directed by Michael Mann and based on the novel by F. Paul Wilson. The film is set in Romania during World War II, where a group of Nazi soldiers encounter a mysterious and deadly force inside an ancient stone fortress in the Carpathian Mountains. The film stars Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Jürgen Prochnow, Alberta Watson, and Ian McKellen.
The Keep 1983 720p BRRip X264
The Keep is not a typical horror film, as it blends elements of history, mythology, and spirituality. The film explores themes such as evil, redemption, and sacrifice, as well as the moral ambiguity of war. The film also features stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack by Tangerine Dream, which create a unique and atmospheric mood.
However, The Keep is also a troubled and controversial film, as it suffered from numerous production and post-production issues. The film was originally intended to be over three hours long, but it was cut down to 96 minutes by the studio after negative test screenings. The film also lost its special effects supervisor, Wally Veevers, who died before completing his work on the film. As a result, the film has many plot holes, inconsistencies, and unfinished effects.
Despite these flaws, The Keep has gained a cult following over the years, especially among fans of Michael Mann and Tangerine Dream. The film has been praised for its artistic vision, its cinematography, its performances, and its music. The film has also been influential on other filmmakers and artists, such as Guillermo del Toro and Neil Gaiman.
If you want to watch The Keep in HD quality online, you might want to look for the 720p BRRip X264 format. This format offers high resolution and compression without compromising the quality of the image and sound. You can find this format on various streaming platforms and torrent sites.
The Keep: The Lost Director's Cut
One of the most intriguing aspects of The Keep is the existence of a lost director's cut that has never been officially released. According to Michael Mann, his original vision for the film was much longer and more complex than the version that was shown in theaters. He claimed that his original cut ran 210 minutes (three and a half hours) in length, but it was truncated at the demand of Paramount Pictures to approximately 120 minutes (two hours). However, after test screenings of the 120-minute version received negative audience responses, the film was further cut down to its final 96-minute cut.
What did the director's cut contain that was missing from the theatrical release? According to various sources, the director's cut had more scenes that developed the characters, explained the backstory, and clarified the plot. For example, there were scenes that showed the relationship between Woermann and Alexandru, the caretaker of the keep; the conversation between Molasar and Cuza, where Molasar revealed his true identity and motives; the romance between Glaeken and Eva, where Glaeken explained his connection to Molasar and his role as a guardian; and the final confrontation between Glaeken and Molasar, where they fought in a spectacular display of special effects.
Unfortunately, the director's cut has never been officially released or restored by Mann or Paramount Pictures. The only existing copies are low-quality bootlegs that have been circulated among fans and collectors. Some footage from the director's cut has been shown on television versions of the film, but they are incomplete and inconsistent. Some fans have petitioned for a release of the director's cut, hoping that Mann would revisit his original vision and give it a proper treatment. However, as of 2023, there has been no indication that such a release will ever happen.
The Keep: The Legacy and Influence
Despite its troubled production and poor reception, The Keep has gained a loyal fan base over the years, especially among fans of Michael Mann and Tangerine Dream. The film has been praised for its artistic vision, its cinematography, its performances, and its music. The film has also been influential on other filmmakers and artists, such as Guillermo del Toro and Neil Gaiman.
Guillermo del Toro, the director of Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, has cited The Keep as one of his favorite films and a major inspiration for his own work. He has praised Mann's style and aesthetics, as well as his use of mythology and horror. He has also expressed interest in adapting F. Paul Wilson's novel into a miniseries or a film trilogy.
Neil Gaiman, the author of Sandman and American Gods, has also acknowledged The Keep as an influence on his writing. He has mentioned that he was fascinated by the film's premise and atmosphere when he first saw it in theaters. He has also written a short story called \"The Problem of Susan\", which features a character named Glaeken who is implied to be the same one from The Keep.
The Keep: The Soundtrack by Tangerine Dream
Another distinctive feature of The Keep is its soundtrack by the German electronic music group Tangerine Dream. The soundtrack consists of 13 tracks that combine synthesizers, guitars, vocals, and classical music. The soundtrack creates a contrast between the historical setting and the futuristic sounds, as well as a sense of mystery and tension.
The soundtrack was composed and recorded by Tangerine Dream in 1983, using various instruments and equipment, such as the PPG Wave 2.2, the Roland Jupiter-8, the Moog Taurus II, and the Mellotron. The soundtrack also features a rendition of \"Puer Natus Est Nobis\", a Christmas mass composed by Thomas Tallis in the 16th century, and a rearrangement of \"Walking in the Air\", a song composed by Howard Blake for the animated film The Snowman (1982).
The soundtrack was never officially released as an album until 2020, when it was included in the Pilots of Purple Twilight: The Virgin Recordings 19801983 boxset. Before that, only a limited number of CDs were sold at a concert by Tangerine Dream in 1997, and some tracks were available for download from their website. The soundtrack has been praised by fans and critics for its originality and mood, and has been considered one of the best works by Tangerine Dream.
The Keep: The Reception and Criticism
The Keep was released in theaters on December 16, 1983, by Paramount Pictures. The film was a commercial failure, grossing only $4.2 million in the U.S. against a budget of $6 million. The film was also a critical failure, receiving mostly negative reviews from critics who criticized its incomprehensible plot, poor editing, and lack of scares. The film currently holds a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 16 reviews, with an average score of 4.8/10.
Some of the negative reviews include Jay Scott of The Globe and Mail, who called it \"the worst horror movie of 1983\"; Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, who gave it one star out of four and wrote that it was \"a confused and frustrating thriller\"; and Janet Maslin of The New York Times, who described it as \"a murky, muddled mess\". Some critics also accused the film of being insensitive and exploitative for using the Holocaust as a backdrop for a horror story.
However, not all reviews were negative. Some critics praised the film for its visual style, its atmosphere, and its soundtrack. For example, Keith Uhlich of Reverse Shot wrote that \"Mann must share the blame for the movie's failures. But nor should its beauties be denied\"; Simon Abrams of House Next Door called it \"a supernatural thriller set in WW2, one of director Michael Mann's early flicks before his great success with films like The Last of the Mohicans (1992)\"; and Chris Alexander of Alexander On Film wrote that \"it is a film of many sensory pleasures and the key to truly enjoying it is to overlook its flaws\".
The Keep: The Trivia and Fun Facts
The Keep is a film that has many interesting and curious trivia and fun facts behind its production and reception. Here are some of them:
The film is based on the 1981 novel of the same name by F. Paul Wilson, who was so unhappy with the film adaptation that he wrote a short story called \"Cuts\", in which a writer puts a voodoo curse on a director who has butchered his work.
The film was originally intended to be over three hours long, but it was cut down to 96 minutes by the studio after negative test screenings. The director's cut has never been officially released or restored, and only low-quality bootlegs exist.
The film was the first American Hollywood theatrical feature film of Ian McKellen and Jürgen Prochnow, who later became famous for their roles in The Lord of the Rings and Das Boot respectively.
The film was the second and last collaboration of German electronic music group Tangerine Dream with Michael Mann, who also worked together on Thief (1981). The soundtrack was never officially released as an album until 2020.
The film was shot in various locations in Wales, including a disused slate quarry, a cavern, and a castle. The main set of the keep was built in a former slate quarry near Llanberis.
The film was dedicated to the memory of Wally Veevers, the visual effects supervisor who died in the middle of post-production. The film features some unfinished and inconsistent special effects due to his death.
The film features a rendition of \"Puer Natus Est Nobis\", a Christmas mass composed by Thomas Tallis in the 16th century, and a rearrangement of \"Walking in the Air\", a song composed by Howard Blake for the animated film The Snowman (1982).
The film was influenced by various sources of horror and fantasy, such as H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker, M.R. James, and J.R.R. Tolkien. The name of the demon character, Radu Molasar, is derived from Vlad Tepes (Dracula) and Moloch.
The film was a commercial and critical failure, grossing only $4.2 million in the U.S. against a budget of $6 million. It received mostly negative reviews from critics who criticized its incomprehensible plot, poor editing, and lack of scares.
The film has gained a cult following over the years, especially among fans of Michael Mann and Tangerine Dream. The film has been praised for its artistic vision, its cinematography, its performances, and its music.
The Keep: The Conclusion
The Keep is a film that has been largely overlooked and misunderstood by many viewers and critics. It is a film that suffers from many flaws and problems, but also has many merits and qualities. It is a film that deserves to be seen and appreciated for what it is: a fairy tale for grown-ups, a visual and musical feast, a cult classic with a loyal fan base. It is a film that challenges and intrigues the audience with its blend of history, mythology, and spirituality. It is a film that showcases the talent and vision of Michael Mann, one of the most influential and distinctive filmmakers of our time. It is a film that invites us to enter the keep and discover its secrets. d282676c82
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