[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

[]Michael Mann first came to the movie going public's attention with THIEF AKA VIOLENT STREETS.He then suprprised and shocked the critics that had applauded that film by turning to the ghastly genre that is the horror film.The KEEP pretty much bombed when first released in theatres and appeared the following year courtesy of CIC video.Since then,(apart from a Ltd Ed.VHS release from HMV)it has strangely failed to appear on DVD.Over the years,THE KEEP has built a massive cult following and due to the director's massive success,it's unavailability on the digital disc format,only seems to add to the 'mysticism' of the movie.
Mann based his cult oddity on a novel written by F.Paul Wilson,which sees a battalion of Nazi's(Led by Jurgen Prochnow) trooping towards a monolith of a fortress high in the Carpathian mountains.The fortress was built not to keep something out,but something in.This the Nazi's find to their cost when they accidentally unleash the ancient evil imprisoned within,and heads literally roll.
Enter a young Gabriel Byrne,playing a rather stereotypical SS Commondant.Byrne is appointed to find what has been slaughtering the soldiers and enlists the services of concentration camp prisoner and proffessor, Dr Cuza,(played by Ian McKellen).
The story at this point jumps to Greece,where a man with strange eyes(Scott Glenn) is setting off for Transylvania for a showdown with the Nazis and the murderous force.....
I won't go any further for the uninitiated.......
THE KEEP is a product of the eighties for sure with it's Tangerine Dream score and dry ice 'rock video' look.Many have knocked it for these reasons along with some of it's plotholes and (in some opinions) it's naff creature.(Which definetly a nod to 'DER GOLEM'.)
Anyone who looks back upon the eighties retro look with fondness will absolutely love the film.I know I do.I also recall paying a fortune for the long,out of print CIC video,and on first viewing,thought I had been well and truly scammed.However,on subsequent viewings,the film grew on me immensely.It remains one of my all time favourites now.
Paramount own the rights for this one,and why it hasn't recieved a glorious shiny special collector's edition is an absolute travesty.The film would undoubtedly sell well for Paramount.It's just a pity they don't sub-lease their films to companies like Shameless or Arrow,who would no doubt do the film justice.The DVDR version I own will,I suppose have to suffice for now......

What's all your opinions on this cult classic?