Amsterdamned (1988)

Sick Product of a Sick System

Lack of good storyline.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This must be one of the best dutch action/thriller movies made until now, at least in my opinion. Huub Stapel is perfectly cast as the protagonist with Monique Van De Ven as his love interest. The movie locations mostly involve canals/water, which create a nice, thrilling horror-atmosphere. Director Dick Maas also takes care of the great soundtrack. To me, he had already proved he's perfectly capable of this by doing a great job producing the score of "De Lift" (1983) also starring Huub Stapel. The movie simply keeps the spectator in suspense throughout the whole installment. This movie mixes thriller and horror elements perfectly! To me, it's a great one!

I can't help myself: I greatly respect Dick Maas. He directed three self-penned movies to Dutch box office success in the 80s, all three fast-paced, original stories permeated with a typical Dutch brand of humor. You could make a case that Maas is the Low Countries' equivalent to Luc Besson or Quentin Tarantino, even if his work doesn't come close to a quarter of their production values - or their international recognition.With its faux-English title, touristy Amsterdam settings and serial killer/hardboiled cop storyline, "Amsterdamned" (1988) was made with an eye on international success. As always, Maas' direction is instinctively entertaining, doesn't waste time and doesn't mind sacrificing logic for pace and shock value. It results in trashy 80s fare. Personally? I love it. Don't expect "Seven" or "The Silence of the Lambs", but enjoy the lewd sex scenes, speedboat chases and blood stains. Time will fly; Maas and lead Huub Stapel know what they're doing.But does "Amsterdamned" work for an international audience? Only if you're prepared to appreciate the irreverent, self-deprecating sense of humor as part of the movie's charm. Maas' shtick as a writer/director is so fundamentally Dutch that his international ambitions were probably doomed from the start. But let's give the man his due: he wrote his own stuff, put his own money on the line and drew big crowds to the theaters, creating popular culture at a time when other Dutch directors were busy adapting 19th-century novels.

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

This movie is fun to watch because of its poorness. Audio is overwhelmingly bad, where all lines are dubbed and poorly synchronized.Also, Eric Visser must be one of the worst policemen around, since he basically does nothing to solve the crimes. Then again, that is sort off typical for dutch policemen anyway!Being from Amsterdam (and actually was at the set of the speedboat-jump over the bridge) it is great to see so many shots of the city centre. And (opposed to what many say), except for the bit with the people having lunch next to the canal, which is shot in Utrecht, almost all shots are taken in the Amsterdam canals.I guess if you like (bad) horror movies this one is a must.Bas