Directed by:
Paul HaratherCinematography:
Fabian EderCast:
Christiane Hörbiger, Jan Niklas, Udo Kier, Simon Schwarz, Margarete Tiesel, Wolfgang Michael, Klaus Ofczarek, Mathias Kahler, Gen Seto, Peter Faerber (more)Plots(1)
An aging hausfrau finds hobby-murder an intoxicating sport in The Praying Mantis, an expertly played black comedy that´s beautifully lensed in widescreen and casts an ironic eye on Austria´s parochial mindset. Mantis recalls some adaptations of German novelist Ingrid Noll´s dark comedies featuring murderous women, especially Rainer Kaufmann´s The Pharmacist. Christiane Höerbiger is terrific as Trixi, a still-trim grandmother who escapes her dull home life with Siggi (Klaus Ofczarek), a model airplane enthusiast. You know the pic is not going to be your average middle-class drama when she´s spotted one day by Karli (Peter Faerber), a sleazy friend of her husband´s, and she calmly gives him oral sex to ensure he´ll keep her secret. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)
(more)Cast
Jörg Stelling
Best movies:
Les Hommes de Sa Majesté (2001)
Sigrid Marquardt
German Empire
Ursula Koban
Austria
Robert Sadil
Best movies:
The Crown Prince (2006) (TV movie)
Mein Kampf (2009)
Hans Dieter Knebel
Germany
Best movies:
Before the Fall (2004)
Peter Hugo
Best movies:
Yankee Zulu (1993)
European Vacation (1985)
Love Can Seriously Damage Your Health (1996)