User reviews

Going into movies as blind as possible, I often stumble on more misery than I bargain for. Since I had just seen The Snowtown Murders, I probably should have waited a bit longer on this movie. Given how similar they both are in tone and content, if you hated one, you should avoid the other, but if you liked one, definitely check out the other, just give it some breathing room for your own mental health.

Other films I'd put in this camp would be Hounds of Love and to lesser extent The Girl Next Door, though the later has more of a Hollywood sheen to the parts that don't wallow in depravity. The rest opt for a grimy realism that sinks you deeper into the filth of their content.

I often struggle with the merits of this genre though. On one hand, it is an achievement artistically. Between the acting and the authentic way everything is captured, they nail it. I'm fully immersed, I believe what's happening on screen, and I feel really bad about it. There are some interesting themes exploring issues of faith that stay sympathetic while leaning towards a bleak nihilistic outlook. They also pulled off one of the most disturbing scenes I've seen without an ounce of blood, so kudos there.

However, these films are often just this downward spiral of despair with no redemptive ark. As a viewer, you get just as pummeled as the characters, and I'm often left wondering why I do this to myself. I mean, I'm actively making the choice to never watch Slaughtered Vomit Dolls, so I've got to admit there is a line somewhere, I'm just not exactly sure where it is.

The slowly unwinding pace of this film can seduce one into a believing not much is happening, but from the outset there's a sinister feel to this film that becomes far more visceral, and disturbing. At times the violence was so calculating and casual it made me physically ill, and wanted to walk away from it. That said, the behavior of the parents, who fed into each others 'evil', reflected for me the explicit desire to dehumanize that which they hate. A feature so evident in the early 21st century. It's not from a genuine failure to reach and understand another's vulnerability, and Tore's is achingly portrayed in this film, painfully so, and the adults ever so casually seek to obliterate it. A day before I'd seen Reggie Yates doco on the experience of the LGBTI community in St Petersberg, and was truly frightened by the casual nature of the brutality, intimidation and violence of 'ordinary' Russians to gay people. The banality of evil indeed.

Definitely I never want to see it again, which I never before thought about a actually well made film by the way, and it feels odd giving this a heart rating but I think this is very well done and provokes the right emotions. It's an unforgiving movie that does not hold back at all. There were many scenes where I really needed to look away, which usually never ever happens for me. It's a film about what happens when you just completely believe in the goodness of humanity. It is harsh, but for sure true. You're gonna get stepped on and you're gonna get messed up. You obviously can't blindly live with some strangers and think, this will all be good, people are such beautiful creatures. No. Surely not. Apparently this is even based on a real story, which in this case makes it even more sad, but I'll need to research this later. How the main character got to that point in his life, slight spoilers ahead, is never explained which I think was a smart choice. Tore tanzt made me sick to my stomach to be honest. It is deeply disturbing and despairing, but it is also a film you should watch anyway. The performances are very good, especially the lead is incredibly great in such a tough role to play. Just be prepared to be in a terrible mood afterwards. I need a palate cleanser flick right now. This film is horrible, but simply looking away from the evil that is happening all around us isn't gonna do any good either.

I hate when movies say "based on true events" with no further reference. It sometimes comes off as a marketing ploy. Unless and until the movie provides the inspiration material, it's nothing more than pure fiction and nothing else. Now this completely voids the necessity to put that it's based on real events in the first place.

It's rare to find a film which manages to disturb and horrify without ever being exploitative or using cheap shock tactics like you'd see in the August Underground movies but Nothing Bad Can Happen manages to do exactly that. I came away from the film feeling drained and disturbed in a way that I haven't felt since Pascal Laugier's Martyrs which should certainly ring alarm bells if you can't handle upsetting subject matters in your films. Although Nothing Bad Can Happen is undoubtedly a superb piece of filmmaking, it's something I wouldn't recommend lightly due to explicit sequences involving abuse of all kinds and cruelty to animals.

The film follows the true events surrounding a young self-proclaimed 'Jesus freak' called Tore who happens to have some form of autism which makes him think and act very differently to others. Tore places all of his faith in Jesus Christ and is naively taken in by a truly evil family who take advantage of his absurdly good nature. It's a fascinating meditation on evil in society and the dangers of religion. Despite being a truly gruelling watch, Nothing Bad Can Happen never gratuitously relishes in the violence and is always focused on delivering a powerful message. The fact that these events are true makes the film all the more relevant and important.

First-time director Katrin Gebbe shows astonishing confidence behind the camera. Despite the ugly subject matter, the images always try to find beauty and light through the bleakness. There's a hypnotic sense of realism to the whole film which reminded me of Justin Kurzel's equally uncompromising Snowtown. The acting from the unknown cast is similarly impressive, particularly breakout star Julius Feldmeier in the lead who manages to make Tore an engaging and sympathetic main character. Sascha Alexander Gersak also feels toe-curlingly real as the malevolent patriarch determined to break Tore's Holy spirit.

You could easily mistake Nothing Bad Can Happen as being the lost film in Lars Von Trier's 'Golden Hearts Trilogy' which correspondingly follows mentally-challenged protagonists as they battle through life's brutal hardships. It's just as tough to watch as seeing Emily Watson getting stoned by feral kids or Bjork dancing through life despite desperately trying to raise enough money for her son's operation. It'll be too much for some people and it does get worse as the film progresses but the reason I watch films is to be moved and provoked by some sort of emotional response. Nothing Bad Can Happen does this in spade loads.

This is a haunting piece of work which will bury itself under your skin and stay there long after the credits roll. It's a torturous watch at times but it carries an important message which is extremely relevant to society today. The pacing is very slow at the beginning but it's also immersive and character-focused meaning that it's easy to engage with. There was not one moment where I was bored or distracted in its 110 minute running time. It's a heart-breaking watch which will shake you to your core. A stunning debut but proceed with caution.

Maybe I was looking for something horrific along the lines of, say, Martyrs or A Serbian Film. After all, that's what I'd gleaned from the occasional reviews on reddit and elsewhere. What the film, though, is slow. Achingly slow.

The acting is strong throughout and the writing itself wasn't that bad but could've definitely benefited from some editing. Maybe there an uncut version somewhere? Probably doesn't matter. A second viewing is unwarranted and needless, anyway.

I do feel bad for the main character who was blinded by his undying faith. Why was he homeless to begin with? It doesn't say. I don't, and can't, fault him for his belief; it is what it is. I just wish he'd had the sense to make a better choice.

I was shocked to discover this is the debut feature for Katrin Gebbe. 'Nothing Bad Can Happen' is such a sure footed and skillful piece I was expecting a much more experienced director to walk onto stage when I saw the film at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Like any good film should, it drew larger themes from very simple scenarios and characters. The probing, but compassionate investigation of faith, trust and the insidious nature of violence kept me riveted. Though the main characters life would be hard for most people to relate to their own experience, his gentleness and his drive to be included in the world makes him quite universal.

Be warned, though the violence in the film is shown quite discretely, the psychological aspect of it is very confronting. That being said I wouldn't want to put anyone off seeing it, there isn't any kind of gratuitous reveling in any of the violence and all necessary for the plot.

Gebbe has masterfully constructed a film that illustrates how the horrors of the world stem from the banal jealousies and power plays that we all participate in. Her sensitivity to the dynamics of exploitation and how we treat the vulnerable in society is moving without resorting to sentiment or condescension.

I highly recommend this film and wait with anticipation with what Gebbe will come up with next.

I'm not even going to write a whole long review about this movie because I actually never want to think about it ever again. I've seen some messed up, vile and downright abhorrent films in my 40 years on this Earth, but this is the first time a movie has ever made me sick to my stomach. The entire last 30 minutes had my stomach in such a vicious knot, I actually considered turning the film off, and I really wish I would have.

Movies like Martyrs, Inside, and the like are difficult films to get through, but their over the top violence keeps them grounded. This film portrays the type of monsters that live among regular people, who wear their clothes and play their games. THIS is what true horror is; showing the vile nature of the degenerates that live in our neighborhoods.

I will never EVER watch this movie again, and anyone who is considering it, don't. It's a magnificently made film that no one should ever see. It will literally make you look at humanity differently.

People like this exist and live among us. God help us all.

If this is a True story, or based from one, can someone please tell me why the lead character kept on living with his adoptive "family" after getting abused in more ways Than one. It is already masochism in My honest opinion. Some people would probably say that the Christian sincerely thinks that it is God's Mission and "test" for him to endure such abuses and that is why he kept on living with them. I call BS on that. Since he is a bible reader/believer, he should know that nowhere in Holy book does it prescribe to willingly take abuse in such a context. Especially when you can leave freely and go on your own. Heck he doesn't even really go out of his way to preach the Gospel to them so how can really justify his repeated decision to endure such abuses?

What an amazing achievement in cinema. A must watch for those without a feint heart. The sacrificial lamb for the meek and cornered.

The real life story on which the writer/director, Katrin Gebbe, "based" her script on involves a mentally handicapped 29 yo man, Thies Fischer, who was exploited for money while being humiliated and finally tortured to death by a couple, Werner and Manuela H.

The real-life event is believable while this movie distorted script is not, by a long shot. Even a really naive young religious person would not behave this way. The choice made by the writer to substitute a mental handicap for a strong faith (perhaps , in doing so, revealing of her own perception of faith) is mind blogging since it totally disserves the whole narrative by considerably decreasing it credibility. Moreover, the financial exploitation that characterizes the primary motive of the real case murderer becomes an insignificant details and is replaced by purely sadistic tendencies. Advising the viewers that the story is "based" on a true event is therefore dishonest, at best. "Remotely inspired by", maybe, but not "based on".

Acting, production and camera work throughout the movie are outstanding, but, in my view, this can't make up for the fact that the script lacks credibility and that this false claim just stands out as a marketing ploy to exploit a very sad event.

Very realistic ,dark and gritty film .I could see this happening in real life!I enjoyed it although it is quite a harrowing film .

This is one pile of steaming hot garbage , which goes on and on without any strong story or screenplay. The actors are boring,they look dumb on screen and act even worse. It's lengthy and makes no sense.

Not even one moment in the movie is worth mentioning. I don't know how it's rated 7 here, I think it's from the over intellectual people. I am not one of them I am a simple movie watcher, who likes , horror, thrill, blood and gore with a good story.

I started watching it hoping God would save the young man but as the cruelty continued; I couldn't handle it. I gave it an 8 based on quality of the movie and the strength of the young man. The fact it was based on true events broke my heart.

It is amazing how people don't change ! It's about evil and perversion and the Germans are at the best in their comport. One of the scene where the mother helps the father to feed by force Tore, it says something about education, mentality and obedience (blind one !). The most important point of this movie is the collaboration of the adults among themselves, except the daughter which is still young enough to believe in good !I think that this movie is an accusation to German society and its education. It reminds me about an excellent documentary on the Wehrmacht filming crew posted in 1943-44 in Ghetto Warsaw to film Jewish population including the mikveh (ritual immersion in Judaism, the Jewish ritual cleaning bath) with naked women. When asked by the director if it was difficult to film there,the German cameraman replied: Yes, very difficult we didn't have enough light !....

I think that 'Nothing Bad Can Happen' is a simple, feelgood movie, which doesn't try to be anything else.

It is hard to strike the right balance between Horror and Romantic Comedy , Julius Feldmeier is a far better comedian when he stops trying and realizes that he is far funnier being himself rather than over-the top characters and this allows his supporting cast to be goofy.

My Husband is a huge fan of German Horror movies, and loved this even more than 'Angst'(1983). 'Nothing Bad Can Happen ' appeals to the those waiting to feel that way about someone and those of us who feel that way right now about someone.

The 'knockers' of this flick would be those that can only relate to the victim or have no heart at all!

So if you can relate to the pain of loving and being loved (by anyone!), this film will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. Great to watch with the whole family!!

Just had to add...Growing up as a teenager who was held prisoner and raped repeatedly in a basement dungeon for years probably helped my endearment to this movie.. and my apologies to anyone who can't recognize sarcasm when they read it.

NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN takes us along with teenage "Jesus Freak", Tore (Julius Feldmeier), who is taken in by a family who aren't what they, at first, appear to be. By contrast, Tore is a genuine, gentle soul who truly believes that God is watching over him. Unfortunately, Benno (Sascha Alexander Gersak) seems driven to prove him wrong.

The best way to describe this film would be quietly disturbing. While there are a few jolts along the way, most of it is peaceful and calm, lulling you into a sense of safety, before drop-kicking you in the guts.

What is astonishing about this movie is that no matter how deeply degrading, even mind-destroying the situation becomes, it somehow ends in an unexpected place. In spite of it being utterly tragic. Tore is an unforgettable character, the only small ray of light in a dark, dismal scenario. Ultimately, this story manages to be more Christian than other, more preachy films. This is because it sticks to grim reality, showing the cost of faith through Tore's willingness to take it beyond all limits...