Rent Berlin Syndrome (2017)

Decent thriller but with an unsatisfying ending - Berlin Syndrome review by BS

If you're a woman wandering the streets of Berlin on your own, and you end up sleeping with a guy after knowing them for about 24 hours, who lives in an apartment in a derelict block of flats where the windows don't open and there's a massive security bar across the door, as a viewer I found myself tutting throughout the opening act - this classic naivete is a horror trope. Before long she ends up his hostage, but if I say anymore I'm likely to give the game away. In short, the lead actress Teresa Palmer, is convincing. Direction is about as good as it can get for a story like this. There's some genuine suspense and the odd surprise.

The ending is woefully lacking in terms of story resolution, and due to a major lack of dialogue late in the movie, we're left guessing. Still, if I had a teenage daughter going backpacking, I'd definitely make her watch this.

Despite an interesting premise, I just couldn’t get into this film, despite the actors efforts - Berlin Syndrome review by TB

I rented this film after seeing many good reviews for it, plus I always like to find something new & interesting to watch. 

This film starts out well and builds tension up nicely. Clare is holidaying in Berlin and meets charismatic Andi whilst out. She goes back to his flat for sex, then wakes up the following morning to discover that he’s left for work and locked her in. The building that she is in is totally secure and there is no way out. The first day this happens, she is slightly perturbed but lets it slide. However, it then becomes apparent that she is in fact a prisoner there and cannot escape. 

When the film first starts picking up pace, I was very interested, plus also the deep unease that it creates really affected me. But then the film just coasts and loses its way. I found myself after about 40-45 minutes just bored and getting fidgety, then switched it off a few minutes later. It was in one way quite an achievement that a film that had started this good then just nosedived. 

I may one day re-rent it and give it another shot, in which case of course I’ll update this review if I change my mind, but I cannot recommend this at the moment sadly, despite its positives. 

Teresa Palmer gives a wonderful performance - Berlin Syndrome review by PT

This is the first film I have seen with Teresa Palmer and was in awe of her acting skills.

An anti social psychopathic teacher chats up an Australian photographer visiting Berlin. They make love in his apartment and the next day Andi goes to work. Clare has a lie in, then goes to let herself out, only to find she has been locked in. The film then focuses on the captive and her imprisoner in great detail.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, mainly down to Palmer.