There is an element of style that takes over Lucien Förstner’s Bela Kiss: Prologue, the assumed first film of a continuing story based on the myth behind the titled Hungarian serial killer. While the special effects consume the atmosphere during a portion of the narrative, there is also some really good photography and editing that makes the German production feel larger than it actually is. Förstner unfortunately extends the film, hurting the pacing of the slow-churning tale, to an overlong 106 minutes. The pacing issue, along with a mediocre script, keeps “Bela Kiss” from exceeding expectations.
The film begins with a composed stock footage summary of the investigation into the crimes of the infamous Bela Kiss. The film quickly transitions into a diverging story about a group of bank robbers retreating to a hotel deep in the woods. While waiting for further orders from an unseen boss, the group partakes in the amenities of hotel run by the shadowy Ms. Jakubec (Julia Horvath). Julia (Kristina Klebe), the most thoughtful of the group, is suspicious of Ms. Jakubec and her fellow robbery team one of which is her boyfriend. Julia’s misgivings unknowingly lead her to the discovery of past secrets.
There is a nice introduction with this film, one that establishes the folklore of Bela Kiss in a mysterious and somewhat supernatural manner. The film is split from this point on, mixing in the past evolution of Bela Kiss amidst the current account of the five bank robbers and their relationship with each other and the hotel they are staying in. These two atmospheres are portrayed with different techniques, in particular the events of the past which are composed with a heavy amount of CGI altercations. The events of the present have a hazy gothic feel that isn’t utilized enough to make the setting feel menacing. The photography however is good and adds a strange perspective by making the hotel feel like a claustrophobic maze.
Unfortunately, the main problem with “Bela Kiss” exists with the storytelling, which is slow and not particularly inventive. The characters and their robbery situation are composed with a secretive attribute that is easily figured out. The character of Bela Kiss is forwarded through time in a method that undermines the story and feels like a setup for future films. These character issues aren’t helped by the length and pacing of the film, which is inconsistent and lingering. Amidst the problems is a familiar horror subgenre about a character that hasn’t been explored and the director should be accommodated for attempting to tell this film so ambitiously.
While “Bela Kiss: Prologue” may not transcend in the serial killer genre, there are glimpses of an interesting story underneath some distracting elements. The story of the homicidal Hungarian may continue, as the title suggests, which means there is always hope that the sequel will be better than the first.
Film Score: 2/5
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