It’s still sometimes nice to be reminded of how much value a talented ham like Kier can be, like when he wiggles his shoulders as Herzog teases Polsky about Kastenbrunner’s sex appeal. ... the rest of the joke could stand a little workshopping.

One could call this a squandered opportunity, but then one would also have to ask, “To do what, exactly?

The film at once wrings this premise for whimsical absurdism and slow-burn suspense, on each side vulgarizing the memory of the Holocaust.

Incredibly charismatic, prolific, recently deceased German actor Udo Kier delivers another slyly delightful performances.