Nightmares
I have something to confess, I only watched The Keep because I couldn’t watch Michael Mann’s Manhunter. I am a huge fan of the Hannibal Lecter books, movies, and show. I only recently found out that not only does this first adaptation of Thomas Harris’ The Red Dragon exist, but it’s not currently streaming anywhere. To save myself some money, I turned to Mann’s supernatural WWII horror film, The Keep. It’s still the only Michael Mann movie I’ve seen. I’m sorry.
While The Keep is considered a cult classic by many, it was plagued with problems and practically disowned. Visual effects supervisor Wally Veevers passed away before production was finished, leaving much of his original vision for the creature lost. Paramount wouldn’t pay for Mann’s desired ending and cut the film from 3.5 hours to just over 90 minutes. Ian McKellen called The Keep his worst movie-making experience. Michael Mann describes it best, saying:
“And, so it became for me, a film that was never completely, never completely realized.”
The Keep may have been a nightmare to create, but was it worth it? Not yet.
Review
Plain and simple, The Keep is a mess.
I found most of the plot almost incomprehensible. We begin in 1940s Romania as Nazi soldiers secure a mysterious fortress. When the men start dying, a Jewish historian and his daughter are brought in to discover why. From that point on, I cannot accurately describe what happens next. Throw in some ancient gods and mysterious strangers and you’ll get the idea. I’ll give Mann the benefit of the doubt and conclude that the plot is the fault of the movie being chopped up by Paramount, but even knowing that I can’t see myself being able to sit through a 3.5-hour-long version. The 90 minutes we got felt like an eternity. I also have to remember that The Keep is based on a book series by F. Paul Wilson, so if anything it’s his fault (I’m mostly joking, I would love to read the book)1.
There are moments of greatness in The Keep. The opening scene is gorgeous, the fortress is fascinating, and the creature design really spoke to me. Red glowing eyes, big booming voices, soft blue lights. The Tangerine Dream score adds another layer to the film’s overall dreamlike aura. By far The Keep is also the most laid-back movie I’ve seen for this series. It’s often referred to as a horror movie, but to me, it’s almost a sci-fi/fantasy epic. A dark Lord of the Rings in tone. Undeniably beautiful, even in its filth.
I’ve read many positive reviews of people who swear The Keep is secretly a masterpiece. That if you give it a chance, you’ll see the beauty and genius. I can understand why people would love it, but to me, it’s not much more than bedazzled trash. I cannot survive on vibes alone.
Dreams
I usually can’t remember my dreams2. Just fragments, perceptions, and a desire to fall back into a fantasy I don’t even recall. That’s how I like to remember The Keep.
Watched late at night, half awake and half sober, I think it would take on a new life. A movie not made to understand, but to worm into your subconscious. While writing this review I struggled to remember even basic plot points, but I could visualize certain frames perfectly. A testament to the film’s confusing nature, but also its dreamlike aura. In my memories The Keep is wonderful, but when I consider rewatching it I hit a mental block. I don’t like the film, but I continue to think about it. Maybe The Keep is better left to my memory. It seems to thrive there.
Reality
I cannot recommend The Keep. I don't think it's secretly brilliant, but I think it could have been. It still could be. Normally I don’t encourage remakes, but The Keep is a perfect candidate. Someone will watch it and just get it in a way I don't. I also believe it's a movie I might change my opinion on. It needs to marinate, to embed itself.
One day The Keep will be transformed, whether it be on screen or just in my mind. For now, I guess I'll keep on dreaming.
Bonus
Some double feature ideas based on vibes alone:
Blade Runner (1982)
In The Earth (2021)
The Exorcist II (1977)3
He has a TON of work. I assumed the inspiration for the show Midnight Mass was his book of the same name because they are both about religion and vampires, but apparently they are unconnected. I have not seen the show or read the book though, so really what do I know?
Yet I always remember my nightmares, rude!!
The Exorcist sequel is misunderstood. It completely fails as a sequel, but if it were surgically removed from The Exorcist I think people would view it in another light. Also, I love The Exorcist III more than the original, bite me.