The Devil's Bath(2024)(Review)

Imagine being so depressed that not even Death can spare you. This is the central crux of the grim period piece, ‘The Devil’s Bath’ – written and directed by Severin Fiala & Veronika Franz (The Lodge, Goodnight Mommy). It’s gotten a lot of praise and groans in equal measures since it’s release earlier this year, but of course when I hear people using words like “bleak”, “depressing”, and “I’ll never watch it again” – I’m all ears.

‘The Devil’s Bath’ (which was an old saying used to describe depression) centers around Austria in the 18th century. A time when family, community, and church meant everything. The film begins with a woman walking her baby through a beautiful stroll of the woods, only to end up at the top of a waterfall, where she throws him from. She immediately turns herself in to authorities who make her death a display and reminder for those who turn their backs on God and Life. Her decapitated head and body are set in a cage at a mural for all to see with a paper warning of her crimes. This all takes place in the first 8 minutes of the film – afterwards, we go to a story afterwards about a woman named Agnes.

Agnes is marrying her new husband, Wolf, and he surprises her with a house he bought for them. It’s rustic and dark, but has a loft upstairs for farmstock and a beautiful stove. But as the days go on, all she wants is a baby to be happy. But Wolf doesn’t seem interested, despite promising her that he is. What unfolds is a long 2 hour journey through depression and crippling despair that never lets up. Especially since she is so devoted to her faith that she can’t even fathom the idea of committing suicide to escape her troubles.

This movie is brutal. It feels like Lars Von Triar’s ‘Melancholia’ & ‘ANtichrist’ mixed with Robert Eggers’ ‘The VVitch’. The baby death at the start of the picture foreshadows how dark this film is willing to go – but it’s not meant to be shocking for shock’s sake. It’s actually based off old trial documents from Austrian history, which does culminate in a series of title cards that unfold immediately before the credits begin, that really delivers the final low-blow to the audience – reminding us that this is based off documented truths that happened on numerous occasions.

As bleak as the film is, the cinematography and set production is on a whole other level. It is absolutely gorgeous and has authenticity that you really can’t fake. Almost feeling like it was filmed within a Pioneer Village of sorts, everything from the stone houses, to the horse carts, to the fishing hole most people work at – you can practically smell the bog and taste the water. Each shot is setup like a Victorian painting with layers of mountains and forests as far as the eye can see in all directions. The acting is incredibly realistic and the story puts the viewer in a state of awe, where even I struggled to suggest what I might do differently if I was the woman stuck in this situation.

This movie is very heavy on the heart, easy on the eyes, and weary on the soul. You enter the film as one person and emerge from the other side as another. There’s a real reason why the Austrian film board has decided to re-release this film into theaters in the next few months and has made it it’s singular pick to enter into the Academy Awards “For Your Consideration” categories.

4.5/5
“The Devil’s Bath” is currently streaming on Shudder.

‘Til Next Time,
Mike Cleopatra