Watch The Golden Glove

The Golden Glove is a dark and disturbing film that explores the mind of a serial killer, Fritz Honka, who lived and operated during the 1970s in Hamburg, Germany. The movie opens with a shot of the titular bar, The Golden Glove, which serves as the focal point for most of the action that takes place in the film. Its patrons are a group of downtrodden and desperate regulars, who come to drown their sorrows and forget their troubles in cheap booze and company. One of these patrons is Fritz Honka (Jonas Dassler), a middle-aged, balding man with a hunched posture who wears thick glasses and a scraggly mustache. Fritz is a loner, who frequents the bar often, and spends his time there lurking and watching the other customers.

Fritz is a deeply disturbed individual, haunted by traumas from his past and struggling with alcoholism. He lives in a run-down apartment, surrounded by filth and squalor. It is here that he commits his heinous crimes, luring unsuspecting women back to his apartment, where he brutally murders them and disposes of their bodies in gruesome ways.

The film does not shy away from the details of Fritz's crimes, depicting them in graphic and disturbing detail. The director, Fatih Akin, has been criticized for the level of violence and gore portrayed in the film, but it is important to note that such graphic content is necessary to understand the depravity of Fritz's crimes and the twisted workings of his mind.

Despite the brutality of the murders, the film is not a glorification of violence. Rather, it is a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking character study of a deeply disturbed man. Through Fritz's actions and motivations, we are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about society's treatment of the marginalized and vulnerable - the women Fritz preys upon are all struggling with poverty, addiction, and loneliness.

The film is anchored by an incredible, transformative performance by Jonas Dassler, who underwent extensive makeup and prosthetic work to play Fritz Honka. Dassler fully inhabits the role, imbuing it with a sense of pathos and tragedy that is both spellbinding and deeply disturbing. Throughout the film, we are given glimpses into Fritz's past, including his abusive upbringing and time spent in a mental institution. These flashbacks serve to add layers to his character, and though we do not condone his actions, we are able to understand the motivations behind them.

The supporting cast in the film is also impressive, particularly Katja Studt, who plays Gerda, a former lover of Fritz's who still holds a torch for him. Gerda serves as a foil to Fritz, highlighting the stark contrast between his inner turmoil and her own need for love and stability. Marc Hosemann also stands out in a brief but impactful role as the building superintendent, Reinhold, who becomes entangled in Fritz's crimes.

The cinematography in the film is exceptional, with Akin utilizing a gritty, almost documentary-style approach that immerses the viewer in the seedy world of The Golden Glove. The film's color palette is drab and muted, with an emphasis on earth tones and dimly lit interiors. This aesthetic perfectly serves the film's tone, creating a sense of unease and tension that builds throughout the runtime.

In conclusion, The Golden Glove is not a film for the faint of heart. It is a challenging and provocative piece of cinema that will leave a lasting impression on those who see it. While it is not a film that seeks to provide easy answers or moral lessons, it does offer a searing critique of a society that fails its most vulnerable members. Jonas Dassler's performance is a tour-de-force, and director Fatih Akin's unflinching approach to the material creates a wholly unique and unforgettable cinematic experience.

The Golden Glove is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 38.