In a Glass Cage

In this Spanish “cult” film, Gunter Meisner stars as Klaus, a Nazi doctor who sexually molested and tortured boys in a concentration camp during World War II, before escaping to Spain where he continued his pedophile atrocities without interruption. After a fit of conscience, Klaus attempted suicide, but failed, and is now confined to an iron lung, administered to by his long-suffering and bitter wife. Enter a handsome yet creepy young man named Angelo whom Klaus hires, over his wife's protests, as his nurse. Angelo's true identity and agenda will come as no surprise, and the ex-Nazi's imprisonment within the iron lung will guarantee he is the ultimate captive audience. Unfortunately, the manner in which Angelo exacts his revenge pushes bad taste to horrid extremes, as what could have been a riveting and harrowing psycho-drama devolves into an icky and tasteless exercise in vile exploitative violence. A pathetic and miserable film that aims for the lowest common denominator by trying to present cruelty to children as a means to justify cinematic chills, In a Glass Cage features a solid DVD transfer and a 10-minute interview with director Agustín Villaronga. Not recommended. (P. Hall)