I don’t suppose I would’ve enjoyed living in Romania during World War II. Still, there is something about an unassuming village that serves as the backdrop of a mysterious fortress that attracts a posse of Nazis. They don’t know what they’re getting into or what terror awaits them for that matter, but that doesn’t deter them from guarding the keep. I wonder what their Führer would’ve thought of that. I’m sure that would’ve made for an interesting sidebar. Nonetheless, the Nazis spend a lot of time sitting around and discussing the ins and outs of the keep, which is by no means an eventful state of affairs; however, the entity that Lutz and Anton awaken doesn’t hesitate to knock off a few soldiers. So much for keeping an eye on a fortress that very few would set foot in.

There is no shortage of atmosphere. It is as prevalent as it is striking, plus it emanates from the screen as Molasar eats the Nazis for breakfast. There’s plenty of that to go around, although the kills aren’t likely to turn any heads. Oh well. At least Dr. Cuza’s interactions with the demon go to show that he knows what he’s dealing with. I think that’s conveyed well, and I think the good versus evil conflict has its appeal even if it isn’t particularly spicy. Perhaps a scene or two shedding light on the breadth of Molasar’s powers would’ve been a nice touch. There’s no doubt that he’s a threat, but on the other hand, there’s very little oomph.

I can’t go without mentioning the visuals. They’re dreamy, and on top of that, they have an aura about them that never wears thin. All the more reason to feast your eyes on the misty scenery and make yourself at home in the keep. It may not be the comfiest place on Earth, but it’s shot well, and its vastness can’t be denied. I can see it sticking with me for these reasons. I don’t know if I would go so far as to say the setting is a character, but it has character. If you can get behind that, chances are you’ll embrace the eeriness as it fills the screen.

I didn’t know what to expect from The Keep. I’m glad I gave it a spin, though, and I thought it was intriguing even though I found it lacking in some respects. It’s by no means a gem as far as genre films go, but if you’re curious about it, you may as well give it a chance.