The Testament of Dr. Mabuse

In a Berlin asylum, THE TESTAMENT OF DR. MABUSE unfolds its uncanny power: the once brilliant criminal mastermind Dr. Mabuse sits apathetically in his cell, but apparently continues to control a network of criminals behind assassinations, forgeries and arson attacks. Asylum director, Dr. Baum, has long fallen under Mabuse’s spell, zealously carrying out his murderous plans. Meanwhile, the police groping in the dark ignore the asylum’s warnings and the threat escalates into a terror plot of unprecedented scale. Only a former gang member brings momentum to the case, triggering a race against time. Considered a stylistic classic, the film is also recognised today as a distinctly anti-fascist statement. Its dark warning against totalitarian mechanisms feels eerily prophetic and has left an indelible mark on the history of cinema.

Image © Deutsche Kinemathek