Christopher Roth (2010)

Directed by: Maxime Alexandre | 88 minutes | horror, thriller | Actors: Joaquim de Almeida, Anna Galiena, Jessica Bonanni, Ben Gazzara, Francesco Guzzo, Inigo Placido, Nathalie Rapti Gomez

One of the most common professions in the thriller genre is that of author. Filmmakers have a predilection for shy writers who like a drink (too much). An author also appears in ‘Christopher Roth’. However, this copy is not an alcoholic with a writer’s block. On the contrary. The title hero is a celebrated writer who is tired of his violent stories and wants to do something new.

‘Christopher Roth’ revolves around the author of the same name (played by De Almeida). When the writer faces a bad review — in which one critic describes his latest story as an “amusing” repetition of moves — he decides to change course. To prove that he can do more than write horror books, Roth takes his wife to Italy. There he hopes to find inspiration to write a love novel. Unfortunately for the couple (and the locals), a serial killer is roaming the woods. ‘The Boar’ – the killer’s nickname – claims to have been inspired by Roth’s books.

A worn-out writer is already a cliché, but a murderer who claims to be inspired by the murders that appear in the writer’s books is also a trite fact. Despite – or because of – these clichés, ‘Christopher Roth’ has become a captivating horror thriller. A separate one. Although (mainly) English is spoken, you notice that this is not the native language of the actors. ‘Christopher Roth’ is an Italian production and that is reflected in the casting. De Almeida speaks good English, but you can’t ignore his Italian accent. The same goes for the other cast members. The choice for an English-language film must have arisen from a commercial point of view. However, if Italian had been chosen, this thriller would have come across more naturally. Because the native language is not spoken, you notice that the actors cannot (or cannot) go all out. People struggle with the lyrics.

Still, the cast’s acting isn’t bad. The story isn’t bad either. The line between reality and fantasy blurs several times, so you don’t know what to believe or not to believe. The fact that the voice over (with a few well-placed, pretentious sentences) of the main character (he is, after all, a writer) has to interpret the events makes it even more exciting. Because can you believe an author who deals in imaginative stories? Its greatest asset is the strong soundtrack by Claude Samard. The threatening atmosphere is enhanced by the dark music, which makes for an uncomfortable and agitated feeling. The pale and gloomy use of color also enhances the atmosphere. You notice that director Maxime Alexandre was inspired by giallo from Dario Argento.

The film gets off to a slow start, but the mystery and the looming sense of doom keep you on your toes. When the massacres finally take place, you see that the budget has not been cut. The violence looks raw and realistic. You know it’s coming, but when the blood starts to flow, it hits hard because it’s portrayed so incredibly coarse and clumsy. ‘Christopher Roth’ is an exciting movie. Unfortunately, that’s a rarity for a (modern) horror thriller. For that reason alone, give this creepy film a chance with you. Don’t be put off by the bold accents and unpolished appearance. Go-getters are rewarded with a haunting film that you will not soon forget.