Diagonaldi Very well executed

Mabel Munoz Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

Mehdi Hoffman There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Yazmin Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

blanche-2 "Torment" from 1944 is a Swedish film directed by Alf Sjoberg with a screenplay by Ingmar Bergman. Bergman also directed the last scenes, which were put in later when the producer rejected the original ending.Jan-Erik Widgren (Alf Kjellin) is a young student under the thumb of a sadistic Latin teacher, known by all the students as Caligula. Everyone is afraid of him. Interesting that this is based on some of Bergman's own experiences, as he hated school and hated the institution of school.Jan-Erik believes that one day he will meet a chaste woman with whom to share his life, though his friend tells him it's impossible, all girls are tramps.He starts talking with a pretty young woman (Mai Zetterling) who works in a nearby store. That night he sees her drunk on her way home, and he helps her. They have an affair, but she has another lover - she fears him and she's apparently afraid to leave him because of that fear. He's also a terrible bully.Meanwhile, graduation is drawing near, and as Jan-Erik has his affair and tries to study, his chances for graduation aren't looking all that good. Then something happens that nearly destroys him.Very good film, exquisitely photographed in black and white. Also, there is not a ton of dialogue. It almost could be a silent. I found the last scene absolutely beautiful. I remember the star, Alf Kjellin, as an older character actor on shows like "Mission Impossible." Here he is very striking, tall with high cheekbones and an angular face. Mai Zetterling, who is only about 19 and very pretty in this film, is excellent as the tormented woman. She had a good career doing stage work in her native Sweden and then making films in Sweden, Britain, and America. When she turned to directing, her films were sexually liberated and were met with some controversy. She had big affairs with Tyrone Power and Herbert Lom. Her biography is fascinating. Both give strong performances. Stig Jarrel as Caligula was a very versatile, fine actor, and here he plays a real demon. He's frightening, like a snake poised to strike. His last scene is extremely powerful. This film is definitely worth seeing, even though it's not perfect and not a masterpiece. Still, it's effective, with some strong images.

Jay Harris As many of you may know I like to give some points of history on some of the films I first viewed when I was younger.HETS ( aka TORMENT) was made in 1944; back then non-English speaking films were not released in the USA,until a few years passed: HETS was released in 1947, I saw it then in a small theatre on 42 nd street. I caught the 9 AM showing, the movie house was right across the street from the Employment Agency I went to first, The admission price was only $ .18 cents (price before noon)I was 19 years old & a tale of a cruel High School teacher & the torments he gave to his young students appealed to me.. (another side note) I had thought there might be a caning or spanking scene,I was disappointed then, that there were none.Now its 62 years later & I have just seen this film.As we all know it is Ingmar Bergman's first screenplay. Without a doubtit shows some of the greatness that was to come.Alf Sjoberg directed,(he was one of Swedens best theatre & film directors.I am not one of Mr.Berman's biggest fans, I do appreciate his artistry in fashioning a good screenplay & fine films.My major objection is that he seems to see only the dark side of life, there was always some sadness in his films.In HETS the movie ends sadly. To me life is not always sad & gloomy,I always seem to find some joy in living, & like my films to be the same. There are some tales that do have sadness in them, an occasional sad drama is fine.The acting is exceptionally good. Sig Jarrel is excellent as the sadistic teacher, Alf Kjellin (he was a leading player in many Englis & Hollywood films & TV up to his death about 10 yrs ago.Mai Zetterling an star of many films & Television for many years, is the tragic young heroine.one beef I do have & that is also with many films portraying students many seem to look older than they are supposed to be.One more problem.There are scenes towards the ending where they complain HOW hot it is, If so, how come a few seemed to be dressed in heavy winter clothes, One adult puts on an overcoat & scarf over his suit &^ a sweater.Aside from that this is a very good film & those that are Bergman devotees this is a must see,Ratings ***1/2 (out of 4)92 points (out of 100) IMDb 8 (out of 10)

bandw Jan-Erik Widgren, near graduation at a Swedish secondary school, is at particular odds with his sadistic Latin teacher whom the students have nickname "Caligula" (in honor of the reputedly cruel and sexually perverse Roman emperor). Maybe not everyone has had a teacher who is as strict a disciplinarian as Caligula, but most likely they have had a teacher provoke an emotional reaction similar to Jan-Erik's. If the classroom scenes don't make you break out in a cold sweat, they are likely to give you nightmares. At fist I thought the classroom scenes were too long, but they are essential in establishing Caligula's personality and the relationship between him and Jan-Erik. The dark shadow that Caligula casts over the proceedings is tempered somewhat by the rather benevolent personality of the older Headmaster; one of the best scenes in the movie has the Headmaster giving Caligula a crushingly frank personality appraisal.Jan-Erik has more of the temperament of an artist than that of a Latin scholar and he has his hands full in trying to deal with Caligula, but he also gets involved with a woman of questionable moral character who complicates his life. Additionally he is in conflict with his upper-class parents who have expectations of him that he does not satisfy. He is a tormented man. But, as you would expect from a Bergman screenplay, serious emotional complexities ensue as the plot develops. You come to understand that everyone in the film is living with their own personal torment-- Jan-Erik, his parents, his woman friend, and the school's headmaster. In a final ironic touch we see that it is Caligula who is the most tormented of all, he understands that he is an ass but he cannot help himself.While Bergman did not direct this it would surprise no one if he had. The seeds of his future growth are clearly evident, not just in his screenplay, but in the filming. The high-contrast black-and-white is striking and the unusual camera angles add to the effect. Director Sjöberg has taken a page out of Fritz Lang's book.The music I found to be intrusive and overly manipulative in the style of many Hollywood movies of the 40s and 50s.

davidirwin Hugely enjoyable drama. The tension builds inexorably in Jan-Erik's battle with Caligula the dictatorial Latin master. One begins to swoon when the heat finally breaks and the storm rolls in. Watch for (now stock) lighting and shadow effects.