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The Devil Strikes at Night

Play trailer The Devil Strikes at Night 1959,  1h 37m,  Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 89% 9 Reviews Tomatometer 73% 100+ Ratings Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In 1944 Germany, handyman Bruno Luedke (Mario Adorf) has been a serial killer for 11 years without attracting suspicion. After Luedke kills again, the victim's boyfriend is arrested -- but detective Axel Kersten (Claus Holm), newly assigned to the case, doubts his guilt and continues investigating. Luedke's clumsiness soon leads Kersten to him, but after the handyman's arrest, an SS officer meets with Kersten to discuss the delicate implications of a serial killer in Nazi Germany.

Critics Reviews

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Howard Thompson New York Times Mar 25, 2006
2.5/5
It crouches but -- alas -- never springs. Go to Full Review
Time Out Jan 26, 2006
Werner Peters enjoyably essays another of his sweaty losers and the depiction of Bruno as a squalid dimwit makes a change from the Hannibal Lecter fantasy of the suave serial-killing mastermind. Go to Full Review
Fred Camper Chicago Reader Jan 10, 2004
This fascinating 1957 film, based on a true story, concerns the hunt for a serial killer by the Nazi regime. Go to Full Review
Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl Dec 8, 2022
6/10
Besides the craft of the film itself, it offers special interest because it was shot in what was then (1957) West Germany, including location shooting in Berlin and Munich... Go to Full Review
Anne Brodie What She Said Mar 25, 2022
Interesting twists and subtleties in politics, psychology and a special time and place, make this most unusual. Go to Full Review
Manny Farber The New Leader Sep 14, 2021
This ghoulish portrait accomplishes a feat that is rare in current mixed-goodies film... Siodmak's best moments, flexibly relaxed or tight, seem comfortably inventive. Go to Full Review
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The Devil Strikes at Night

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Siodmak

Director

Mario Adorf

Bruno Luedke

Claus Holm

Kriminalkommissar Axel Kersten

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The Devil Strikes at Night

The Devil Strikes at Night (1958) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1944 Germany, handyman Bruno Luedke (Mario Adorf) has been a serial killer for 11 years without attracting suspicion. After Luedke kills again, the victim's boyfriend is arrested -- but detective Axel Kersten (Claus Holm), newly assigned to the case, doubts his guilt and continues investigating. Luedke's clumsiness soon leads Kersten to him, but after the handyman's arrest, an SS officer meets with Kersten to discuss the delicate implications of a serial killer in Nazi Germany.
Director
Robert Siodmak
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
German
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 29, 1959, Limited
Runtime
1h 37m
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