61 reviews
A labyrinth indeed
Whether you can figure out where the movie will lead you or whether the split narrative excites you enormously ... well that will be up to you. The movie has great actors for sure - and there are hints I reckon that are telling you where it goes. Because you may second guess certain things, but the movie also hints if you are right about that - or your suspicions in general.
The structure is well thought of, but it also leaves certain things on the floor. No pun intended ... there is a lot of mystery and I feel the movie had way more potential that it actually was able to dig out and really explore. Even so, it is well told it is more than a decent thriller and it is "fun" to watch.
The structure is well thought of, but it also leaves certain things on the floor. No pun intended ... there is a lot of mystery and I feel the movie had way more potential that it actually was able to dig out and really explore. Even so, it is well told it is more than a decent thriller and it is "fun" to watch.
Underrated movie!
I am not usually leaving reviews here but i honestly think that this movie is underrated. It kept me excited for the full 2 hours, something that nowadays hardly a movie manages.
- Hauserfritz
- Aug 31, 2020
- Permalink
Hard movie.
Very interesting story & plot.
The characters are not so likable, I think because the script is so mysterious & full of secrets.
Now the confusing part, you must watch it twice to understand the whole story; it feels like there are two parallel ones & they meet at the end. The time is kinda irrelevant as the plot shifts alot at the end.
It also gave me Sin City "vibes".
Lacking spark
The good: great actors, beautifully photographed, nice music score, intrigueing start of the story.
The bad: this movie is somehow lacking in spark and punch. The stories plot isnt very original either, bit of a bummer actually. It is part Italian spoken, part english spoken.
I think this movie is best suited for an arhouse audience, which has got the patience for longstretched scenes with only dialogue. It is definitely not a bad movie, but somehow I am missing the excitement that I usually get when watching a movie about kidnapping.
The bad: this movie is somehow lacking in spark and punch. The stories plot isnt very original either, bit of a bummer actually. It is part Italian spoken, part english spoken.
I think this movie is best suited for an arhouse audience, which has got the patience for longstretched scenes with only dialogue. It is definitely not a bad movie, but somehow I am missing the excitement that I usually get when watching a movie about kidnapping.
Confusing !
Seems logical for the most part, but at the end some twists makes it very confusing to fully understand... You have to think afterwards to try to figure it out, I think that this problem occurs when tou want to squeeze in 2 hrs a complex book.
In another 10/10 review you can read that bad reviews are ' from people who fell asleep or didn't understand', a thiller that makes you sleep or completely confused isn't what I call a good one.
In another 10/10 review you can read that bad reviews are ' from people who fell asleep or didn't understand', a thiller that makes you sleep or completely confused isn't what I call a good one.
A fun ride which ultimately makes no sense
This movie is a bit underrated at 5.6 stars at this moment. The acting is very good from top to bottom. As others have noted it's also an entertaining callback to 70s Italian giallo cinema, both in terms of the lurid, convoluted plot and the self-consciously stylized, artistic visual design.
Similar to some of those classic '70s flicks, at the end of the day the plot within a plot, story within a story of this movie doesn't make complete sense. If you examine it with cold-hearted logic logic you'd have to apply some significant contortions to fill the plot holes and get it to all work out. But also at the end of the day I'm not sure this lack of complete internal logic can really be seen as a flaw since it is a pretty traditional, even defining, feature of this kind of movie.
Bottom line, this is an entertaining movie filled with good acting, a beautiful to look at visual style, consistent suspense, and a pervasive sense of mystery.
Similar to some of those classic '70s flicks, at the end of the day the plot within a plot, story within a story of this movie doesn't make complete sense. If you examine it with cold-hearted logic logic you'd have to apply some significant contortions to fill the plot holes and get it to all work out. But also at the end of the day I'm not sure this lack of complete internal logic can really be seen as a flaw since it is a pretty traditional, even defining, feature of this kind of movie.
Bottom line, this is an entertaining movie filled with good acting, a beautiful to look at visual style, consistent suspense, and a pervasive sense of mystery.
- ebeckstr-1
- Apr 7, 2021
- Permalink
Sorry didn't get it
Certainly not bad. I was captivated throughout the movie. But I just didn't get it, yet I got a proper education. Maybe there is some high brow meta explanation that the story itself is a labyrinth? Maybe it is about the psyche of people that experience a trauma and make up an imaginary reality? I don't know where they were going with this as I did not get why half the movie was in Italian and the other part in English.
- brunovanael
- Feb 25, 2022
- Permalink
A meditation on Dante's 'Inferno'
But with puzzling bits and pieces as though sections have been edited-for example: the origin of the relationship between a prostitute and a criminal tracker, with references to a girl, known to both, who he couldn't save. Later, the killer being tracked deduces both the man who is hunting him and also his relationship with the prostitute...to lure him off of the trail, in an elaborate and improbable ruse that the killer appears to survive only by luck and the tracker's grace.
Dustin Hoffman, despite reports that he is losing his memory, manages to turn in a typically gifted performance. Not the man's first day on the job, even if he is making Russian-produced movies now. He doesn't disappoint. There are several other interesting performances as well as some that are pure schlock.
The design is also uneven, with an inspired division of cold case child abductions, aptly named "Limbo" and some sets that are practically out of an amusement park's haunted house. The style of story-telling itself, switches genre several times; a rocky journey between dream-like, heightened sequences that were not literal and those which appeared intended to be.
As a result, the general feeling is one of a pastiche of tropes used in other, better, movies.
Despite all of my criticism, the film was engaging and clever when it wasn't lost and ham-fisted. I liked that it was told simply, with mostly interior shots...landscape was saved for moments of impact, instead of thrown away in the type of lazy spoon-fed narrative this movie shares nothing in common with.
A scholar of Dante's work will surely draw more parallels than I did-this was written by an Italian author and set in Italy. I caught only very obvious references, such as a map of the maze comprising (I am pretty sure) the right number of levels to make the dungeon Hell.
Worth a look. Better than a lot out there.
Dustin Hoffman, despite reports that he is losing his memory, manages to turn in a typically gifted performance. Not the man's first day on the job, even if he is making Russian-produced movies now. He doesn't disappoint. There are several other interesting performances as well as some that are pure schlock.
The design is also uneven, with an inspired division of cold case child abductions, aptly named "Limbo" and some sets that are practically out of an amusement park's haunted house. The style of story-telling itself, switches genre several times; a rocky journey between dream-like, heightened sequences that were not literal and those which appeared intended to be.
As a result, the general feeling is one of a pastiche of tropes used in other, better, movies.
Despite all of my criticism, the film was engaging and clever when it wasn't lost and ham-fisted. I liked that it was told simply, with mostly interior shots...landscape was saved for moments of impact, instead of thrown away in the type of lazy spoon-fed narrative this movie shares nothing in common with.
A scholar of Dante's work will surely draw more parallels than I did-this was written by an Italian author and set in Italy. I caught only very obvious references, such as a map of the maze comprising (I am pretty sure) the right number of levels to make the dungeon Hell.
Worth a look. Better than a lot out there.
- seat-filler
- Apr 4, 2021
- Permalink
Where's the Beginning, Middle and End to this failed movie.
I starting understanding the storyline until it showed the policeman put the bunny head on and turn to the little girl, put his finger to to lip to say shush. Now toward the end when Mila was escaping her memory of her desk with herself and I assume her daughter in a picture, the little girl looked like the same girl watching the cop put on the bunny head. Not a explanation at all, or did something pass right over me? Where did the bunny originate? Might have been a good movie, if the writer would not have intentionally try to confuse its audience and not to have an actual ending with all scenarios explained made it a wasted couple of hours.
- kathyfields-25159
- Aug 13, 2021
- Permalink
Inspired by "Giallo" style, a dream-like, twisted thriller
A kidnapped girl is found 15 years after her abduction. A celebrated psychiatrist is trying to deal with her trauma and a retired detective who only has hours to live is ready to put it all on the line to find a vicious killer. Will he be able to succeed? And who is the real villain?
Donato Carrisi adapts his rather complex and at times convoluted plot to a film that makes surprising sense. That alone is an achievement. This is chronologically the third book in the series which makes it a particularly difficult adaptation. The good news - it works out well.
Writers rarely makes good directors. Carrisi is an exception. Choosing carefully his colour pallet he nods to the "giallo" sub-genre of the 80s and draws inspiration from the likes of Dario Argento (Suspiria). The whole movie feels like a dream-like sequence, although it is more procedural crime fiction than anything else.
What makes the movie feel focused is its great performances. Dustin Hoffman as Dr Green who is trying to get into the mind of a beautiful victim and Toni Servillo (THE GREAT BEAUTY) as a dying detective who has made it his life goal to catch the killer, carry the film on their shoulders. The story has an episodic structure and echoes heavily the SAW franchise, although, I am sure, Carrisi would be devastated to hear of the comparison. What he has been trying to create with his books (and films) is a serial killer cinematic universe. INTO THE LABYRINTH may not be the best start, but it definitely has the potential to becoming a mystery to remember.
Donato Carrisi adapts his rather complex and at times convoluted plot to a film that makes surprising sense. That alone is an achievement. This is chronologically the third book in the series which makes it a particularly difficult adaptation. The good news - it works out well.
Writers rarely makes good directors. Carrisi is an exception. Choosing carefully his colour pallet he nods to the "giallo" sub-genre of the 80s and draws inspiration from the likes of Dario Argento (Suspiria). The whole movie feels like a dream-like sequence, although it is more procedural crime fiction than anything else.
What makes the movie feel focused is its great performances. Dustin Hoffman as Dr Green who is trying to get into the mind of a beautiful victim and Toni Servillo (THE GREAT BEAUTY) as a dying detective who has made it his life goal to catch the killer, carry the film on their shoulders. The story has an episodic structure and echoes heavily the SAW franchise, although, I am sure, Carrisi would be devastated to hear of the comparison. What he has been trying to create with his books (and films) is a serial killer cinematic universe. INTO THE LABYRINTH may not be the best start, but it definitely has the potential to becoming a mystery to remember.
dark italian bunny
Very dark Italian film, twisted, at times surreal, with an aesthetic that owes much to Twin Peaks.
Spoken in Italian except in the scenes that Dustin Hoffman appears, who plays a profiler who interrogates a reappeared young woman who had been kidnapped 15 years earlier. On the other hand, a private detective (Toni Servillo) who dies at any moment from a heart condition, who investigates doggedly to discover the elusive kidnapper who is wearing a rabbit mask with luminous red eyes.
It is an ominous thriller with overtones of terror and mystery, cleverly designed to end in a made in M. Night Shayamalan ending. It is directed by Donato Carrisi, who debuted in 2017 with "La ragazza nella nebbia", also starring Servillo and with the participation of Jean Reno.
- HERMANO_MANSON_DIXIT
- Jul 31, 2020
- Permalink
Dustin must have needed a paycheck
I've seen some real stinkers but this one takes the cake. I can't believe I spent over two hours watching this garbage. As soon as it was over, I will never give it another thought. Please don't torture yourself like I did.
- lovethesun
- Sep 12, 2021
- Permalink
Bait & Switch
- The-Sarkologist
- Apr 6, 2023
- Permalink
It's a decent thriller
It's a decent thriller. It's slow at certain points, but overall, decent thriller. It has twists and moments you are on edge of your seat. There are also moments in the middle where you have to concentrate and push through a couple slower spots, but it's worth it. Some portions are in Italian, the rest in English. Unique. I would recommend watching it when you are chilling, have the time, and feel like a slow-burn type thriller with some twists. I enjoyed it, but was glad I didn't pay to rent it.
- damatk2568-179-380636
- Mar 10, 2021
- Permalink
Into the Labyrinth
A young woman has been found after being held prisoner for 15 years. She can remember nothing and is now being interviewed by profiler Dustin Hoffman. At the same time terminally ill private detective Tony Servillo is following up leads to try and unmask the kidnapper, but at every turn he is told that the one responsible is a rabbit!
There a great deal of interesting stuff going on here and both the Hoffman interviews and the Bogartesque Servillo investigation hold the attention, not least because they're both terrific actors. There are things wrong here though, the film is far too long and poorly paced and some scenes just feel like fillers. It works best when it's playing the thriller / investigation elements rather than the surreal horror bits and the ending whilst actually quite smart is too messy and over engineered. Some good things here, but not what it could have been.
There a great deal of interesting stuff going on here and both the Hoffman interviews and the Bogartesque Servillo investigation hold the attention, not least because they're both terrific actors. There are things wrong here though, the film is far too long and poorly paced and some scenes just feel like fillers. It works best when it's playing the thriller / investigation elements rather than the surreal horror bits and the ending whilst actually quite smart is too messy and over engineered. Some good things here, but not what it could have been.
Atmospheric
Good film, very atmospheric, some great scenes. Could have been better. Lead actress was absolutely terrible performance.
- geoffthesaint
- Sep 27, 2021
- Permalink
Few chills and no spills
Average child kidnapper film with few highlights to be seen. Average job from Dustin, and Valentina looks very much like a man for most of the film, which added little to the realism. No real ups and down, an average plot twist in a poorly paced film.
- grabthepostandy
- Sep 8, 2021
- Permalink
Decent thriller, but if the ending surprised you then you should watch more movies.
I will be brief.
This film is good, not great. If you havent watched a ton of movies with twists you'll probay love it. Twists were Kool but very cliche.
It was ablut 20 minutes too long as well. Overall i liked it but Nothinf special here.
This film is good, not great. If you havent watched a ton of movies with twists you'll probay love it. Twists were Kool but very cliche.
It was ablut 20 minutes too long as well. Overall i liked it but Nothinf special here.
- korywhite-60216
- Oct 24, 2020
- Permalink
Deliberate confusion does not make a movie good
- twilightzoneimdb
- Mar 26, 2022
- Permalink
Don't let bad reviews sway you
People are leaving bad reviews because they can't read subtitles or were confused about the plot. This was a suspenseful and very entertaining movie!
Low ratings from Anglophiles?
I'm wondering if the low ratings on here are from people who don't like subtitles.
You do really have to watch this as it switches back and forth a bit, and if you don't understand Italian you need to read the subtitles, but it is interesting and engaging.
I got Alice in Wonderland vibes from this, it was quite surreal and you're not sure what is real or not but it just about ties up in the end.
I liked this so much I've bought the Donato Carrisi book this is based on. Never heard of him before and never read his stuff so I am looking forward to reading this book.
All in all, a great and mindbending film with good actors and an engaging plot. Don't blink, you will miss something.
You do really have to watch this as it switches back and forth a bit, and if you don't understand Italian you need to read the subtitles, but it is interesting and engaging.
I got Alice in Wonderland vibes from this, it was quite surreal and you're not sure what is real or not but it just about ties up in the end.
I liked this so much I've bought the Donato Carrisi book this is based on. Never heard of him before and never read his stuff so I am looking forward to reading this book.
All in all, a great and mindbending film with good actors and an engaging plot. Don't blink, you will miss something.
- little-lou1984
- Jun 1, 2024
- Permalink
Horrible
I tried to watch this 3 times because I love Italian movies, but this was just terrible. I'm not sure why Dustin Hoffman even signed up to be part of this movie. The idea of the movie sounds creepy and cool, but the execution was strange and disconnected. The dialogue going between Italian and English was annoying and pointless. The acting was atrocious from the main female, it was very cringy to watch her lay in the hospital bed trying to be upset and get words out. The make up job was just weird too, what's with the eyes and lips on her?! The concept was thrown together and didn't seem well played out from the start. Not worth a watch.
- jendevjoss
- Sep 15, 2023
- Permalink
Terrifying thriller with an appropriate name
The writing is very good. This is a terrifying thriller with an appropriate name.
Servillo has made such an odd stylistic choice for the interior spaces in this film. They don't resemble anything usual or commonplace I've seen in Italy while I lived there or in my various travels to the country. The symbolism of the red interiors in Linda's and the Lai apartments clamors for attention but I find it unnecessary and distracting from the story's credibility. The same applies to the fleas on Bunny's pillow or any other interior in the film.
Dustin Hoffman is excellent as always. I like the choice to do a film in 2 languages. I think it resembles the globalized culture we are becoming. There are immigrants and emigrants in almost every country and this movie reflects it as an incidental issue. It is also reflected in the surnames of the characters and the doctors at the hospital.
Did the movie wow me? No. But I can't say I found it predictable. The small parts of predictability were indeed obscured by the labyrinth.
Servillo has made such an odd stylistic choice for the interior spaces in this film. They don't resemble anything usual or commonplace I've seen in Italy while I lived there or in my various travels to the country. The symbolism of the red interiors in Linda's and the Lai apartments clamors for attention but I find it unnecessary and distracting from the story's credibility. The same applies to the fleas on Bunny's pillow or any other interior in the film.
Dustin Hoffman is excellent as always. I like the choice to do a film in 2 languages. I think it resembles the globalized culture we are becoming. There are immigrants and emigrants in almost every country and this movie reflects it as an incidental issue. It is also reflected in the surnames of the characters and the doctors at the hospital.
Did the movie wow me? No. But I can't say I found it predictable. The small parts of predictability were indeed obscured by the labyrinth.
- linamorenog
- Aug 3, 2023
- Permalink
waste of time
Two hours and ten minutes and when it is finished I was left frustrated and wondering what in heck it was about and why was it in English and Italian. Acting fine but the plot was a total mess with nothing settled ot clarified. Would have been better off watching just about ANYTHING else rather than this mess of a film ... even Ishtar was a better showcase for Dustin Hoffman than this and why reviews need to be novel length is beyond me !
I only liked the Italian part
Not my kind of movies, but i love the Italian touch