Dutch Filmmaker
Alex van Warmerdam is no stranger to dark fables, having made his own bizarre
twist on “Hansel & Gretel” with 2003’s Grimm.
From the opening sequence which has a priest arming himself with a shotgun and
large spear to hunt a group of men dwelling in underground structures, it is
clear that Warmerdam’s Borgman exists in a similarly fantastical world. It is
more horror film than fable, but the whimsical presentation inspires terror and
dread more than providing scares or gore.
The title
character, Camiel Borgman (Jan Bijovet), is one of the men dwelling
underground, and seemed to be the priest’s main concern. Though he at first
appears to merely be a vagrant, Borgman quickly shows himself to be something
far more deadly and inexplicable. After approaching several other homes, he
sets his targets on an upper-class family and aggressively manipulates his way
into their lives. Once inside, he shows even more of a malevolent purpose,
combined with subtle supernatural abilities that include the manipulation of
dreams. It seems no coincidence that it was a priest hunting him in the woods.
Much of
Warmerdam’s narrative is left purposefully ambiguous, though it is not
difficult to read between the lines in discovering the true meaning. Details
such as Borgman’s true form or his ultimate goal are nearly irrelevant in the
dream-like home invasion narrative that Warmerdam has created. It is somewhat
of a cross between Michael Haneke’s Funny
Games and any number of demonic horror films (Rosemary’s Baby, The Omen,
The Devil’s Advocate, etc.), with
just a twist of whimsy.
The Blu-ray
release of Borgman comes with a 28-page booklet with cast/crew interviews and
photos, as well as a digital copy of the film. On the actual disc are a handful
of deleted scenes and the theatrical trailer. The film itself is extremely
cinematic, which I am certain was enhanced by the high definition presentation.
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 8.5/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
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