In a Glass Cage (1989)

In the tradition of art house thrillers such as INSOMNIA, starring Stellan Skarsgard, and THE VANISHING, starring Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, comes this chilling drama by acclaimed Spanish director Agustin Villaronga. Klaus (Gunter Meisner), a Nazi doctor who used his position as a means to molest young boys, escapes to Spain after the war and returns to his depraved ways. Driven mad by his inability to control his pedophilic urges, Klaus tries to kill himself, but fails and ends up completely incapacitated in an iron lung. Young, attractive Angelo (David Sust) seems like a savior when he arrives to become Klaus' nurse, but he soon reveals an ulterior motive. Angleo has found diaries in which Klaus details his horrible crimes, and the twisted symbiosis that develops between patient and caretaker once again spurs Klaus' desires and leads to a string of gruesome child murders.

In addition to strong performances by the primary characters, the film features Marisa Paredes, who regularly appears in the films of Pedro Almodovar. The highly disturbing topics of Nazi war crimes, pedophilia, and torture create a way Villaronga to deal with issues of power and self-concept, as Angelo's identity and desires blends with Klaus and his past, and the strong visuals that incorporate many long shots add to the suspense and sheer terror.