Craig (2008)

Director:

Kim Sønderholm

Writers:

Jan T. Jensen (ideas)
Kim Sønderholm (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

A little loneliness can be hazardous..

Plot:

Craig is left all by his own when his parents die in a fire, and when he loses his medication, his world is turned into terror and fear. |

Plot Keywords:

Fear | Terror | Drowning | Dead Girl | Cult Favorite

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Kim Sønderholm	...	Craig Anderson
Peter Ottesen	...	Johnny
Christian Magdu	...	Chris
Jan Tjerrild	...	Cliff
Merete Van Kamp	...	Leila
Lloyd Kaufman	...	Voice of God
Manoush	...	Herself
Anna Bård	...	Catherine, Craig's sister
Zoe Hunter	...	Nightmare Girl
Anja Owe	...	Psychologist
Sarah Louise Christiansen	...	Fantasy Girl
Bianca Barnett	...	Dream Girl (as Bianca Abel)
Ian Burns	...	Craig's father
Alice Haaber	...	Camilla
Robyn Griggs	...	TV Newscaster

Also Known As:

Craig: The Movie (USA) (informal title)

Runtime:

USA:100 min | Denmark:100 min

Country:

Denmark | USA

Language:

Danish | English | English

Color:

Color (NTSC Color) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Amager, Denmark

Company:

Cetus Productions

Soundtrack:

Blood and Snow

Psycho drama captivates

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Who knows what is going on in the mind of a serial killer. Is is synapses failing to fire correctly, or the lack of some chemical? Can psychotropics solve the problem? Danish filmmaker Kim Sønderholm makes a valiant attempt to show a man who struggles with his impulses, and, ultimately, loses.

A hint of child abuse is given in a zombie encounter with his father, who was killed, along with his mother, in a fire. Craig's (played by the director) inadvertently put his sister in a coma in the fire. He is plagued by guilt over his sister's condition and seeks psychotherapy. Sønderholm must have a bit of Scientology in him as his psychotherapist is a real loser.

Lithium seems to help Craig, but it seems strange that he takes it like breath mints out of a tin whenever a panic attack is revealed. Maybe that is the way medicine is dispensed in Denmark. But the slights to his manhood continue from all directions and, at some point, the medicine loses it's effectiveness and he gives in to his murderous impulses.

There is little blood and gore, so don't expect Saw. It is more about the drama going on in Craig's head. His method is usually strangulation. His targets are always women, although he gets most of his insults from men. He ends up chasing a girl though the woods and raping her after he shoots her. This is where I have a problem with the film. Not the supposed necrophilia, but the fact that it doesn't end with his shooting, as it should. It goes on for two more scenes that just don't make sense to me.

Those that like their horror more psychological than bloody will find this to be an interesting film. The camera work of Jan T. Jensen and Søren Ulfkjær was excellent, and the soundtrack will please all those who like their music hard and loud. Both really fit well with the script.

A little humor and a lot of flesh makes for icing on the cake.