Fight for Your Life

Undoubtedly the clunkiest variation on Joseph Hayes’ *The Desperate Hours* (novel 1954, play 1955). The basic premise is identical: a group of escaped convicts breaks into a family’s home and takes them hostage. The key difference lies in the ethnic makeup of the groups: in Hayes’ version, everyone is white—whereas here, the Turner family (who are preachers!) is Black, the racist leader of the intruders is a redneck named Kane (!), and his henchmen, Ling and Chino, are of Asian and Hispanic descent, respectively. Yes, the symbolism here is heavy-handed; the philosophizing is done with a sledgehammer. (Olaf Möller)

Strict age restriction: 18+ only.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No admission after the screening has started.

With an introduction by Christoph Huber (curator at the Austrian Film Museum).