One thing that I can state about Mikael Håfström is that he indeed likes to make spectator feel agonized, and this movie is another proof of it. In many scenes, like the cigarette one, I felt like punching director and writers for being so condescending with the problems Erik and Pierre were facing. I mean, why don't Erik just use his supposed strength to defend both of them? In one (final) point he does that, but whilst it doesn't happen, spectator feels like that. The story itself isn't that original; we've all seen a bunch of movies involving young men studying in unorthodox schools, even thought each one has its own peculiarities. For some moments, I saw no reason why the story was being told; it didn't feel that interesting for a 113 minutes picture. However, the ending almost make up for it. I could understand why Erik was so self-contained: he had to be that way in his home, probably in his whole life. Summing it up, I don't think that "Ondskan" is a masterpiece or a hidden gem, but it is a respectable work from a good Swedish director. "Funny Games" is a lot better, I assure you!

actually i would like to give 7 1/2 rating.i just saw this movie on television.it grabbed me from the beginning so i thought i d write something.the film is very well directed,it makes you live in the dorm with the guys,it has enormous power and has a claustrophobic atmosphere.and the idea of freedom and being respected as a human being and being left alone is in much need through out the movie.although some people saw this movie as a bully movie it is so much more.the whole attitude of the hero Eric,and his efforts to do the right thing,and be better than the "evil" classmates,make for the real excitement.the idea is not to wait when the hero is going to explode like Rambo and kick their butts.but how he is going to sustain his dignity and honor,which is the real victory not only against the bullies but against the ideology of the whole institution.it is a movie of hope.and it goes beyond that.it tries to teach us how to be strong and find ways to have our life the way we want it to be. and that power sometimes have a lot of faces.sometimes power does not belong to the people who try to control your life.real power is intelligence,but also you must be strong to give a good fight when they come for a challenge.and it has nothing to do about making an example for the others,as the film does not show that the other classmates finally recognised a hero in him.no.it rather has to do about getting the job done and move on.and keep the good things because this is were real quality exists.his friend is an example of intelligence and courage but unfortunately without the power to sustain.now it is true that in the end you really want our hero to give a good lesson to the bad guy,which is not what the movie is about,but ,hell..,it is a human need.but as i said he prefers to scare him,and move on.as for the ending,i have not read the book,i read what someone said that the book writes.it s exactly as it is shown.well the stepfather is not frozen,he just stares,i think the movie wants us to make our own decision.but "frozen" i think means that he did not touch him,as the stepfather was so scared,he just took his things and left.i will say one thing kind of negative about our hero.he seems to be real powerful and control his crazy demons,and only lets them out in good judgement.but is he going to always have a good judgement?a person who is able to be so strong and suffer all these punches in the face ,and keep the revenge in a good place ,isn 't someone that you are kind of scared of? i think that the character is very well written,and makes us think that the are always to sides to every story..should we want that kind of power?or maybe should we be like his friend who is bright,with courage but more "civilized"?there is a moment when the hero takes all this beating without sweating and his friend say to him "who are you anyway"..

This is an exploration of physical abuse and its effects, and as such, rather unpleasant and brutal, not to mention occasionally disgusting(with that said, I wouldn't call it gratuitous). Averting your eyes here and there are likely to be the only times you look away from the screen. I haven't read the book, but it sounds like this includes as much as it could, and is a solid adaptation. With it being the most read novel in Sweden, I wouldn't rule out trying to find a translated version. It sounds as if it is a truly personal and intimate work by Gillou, and the entirety is based upon his own experiences. Erik Ponti is a trouble-maker, and after being prevented from finishing his education in the public schools, he has to go to an elitist boarding school. There he finds that they've established a firm hierarchy, a microcosm, a miniature-society where the elder students have little to no limitation of their authority, and they discipline the younger ones... in the name of upholding the rules, of course. If you have no concept of what something like that is like, this may shock you to the point where you will wind up not caring for the film. I can also imagine some refusing to believe that what this shows has occurred; I won't claim that those who do not speak highly of this are necessarily in denial, though I would urge anyone to soul-search and make sure that their reaction is not colored by that. This is very much a psychological portrayal, and the characters are credible. I would say that they aren't all fleshed out, and that there are one-note ones among them. Think of it this way; it is extremely difficult to forgive those who have directly harmed you, even if you, in theory, understand the causality behind it, and disagree with the term "evil". Jan probably succumbed to that in composing this, as ironic as that is. This builds and maintains thick tension. The acting is amazing for all concerned. There is humor in this, and it can be clever. The conclusion is immensely satisfying; one can hope that it did happen like that in real life, and will, whenever possible. There is a lot of graphic, bloody violence, plenty of disturbing content, a bit of strong language and brief sexuality. The DVD contains a commentary track by the director and writer(in Swedish and un-subbed, so I can't comment on it), an excellent and thoroughly interesting 35 min. interview with author, clips of which is used in the quite informative 24 min. behind the scenes featurette(you can really tell that they all understood the script), three deleted scenes with the option of hearing Håfström, all of these well worth watching, and a trailer for this and ones for two Danish movies. I recommend this to... everyone, really; especially anyone who has had anything similar happen to them; perhaps if you have at all been beaten. 8/10

ONDSKAN is a film which leaves the viewer in a very conflicted position. Is this a film about the inherent immorality of violence, or is it an examination of the valid uses for violence? Erik has been expelled from a Swedish public school for fighting, and is sent to a posh boarding school. The school's staff encourages the upperclassmen to maintain order and discipline, and they take things too far--way too far. Public beatings, which border on torture, are meted out for small transgressions. The only way to escape the seniors' wrath is to "fit in, and don't make waves". Eric is able to successfully complete his year in this outrageous excuse for an institution, first by viciously meting out his own brand of bloody violence, and then, by employing the legal system. All of the violent scenes in the film are presented in reverential detail. If the message is that violence is bad, how can the particulars of the violent behavior be depicted in such loving, sadomasochistic detail? The only scene of violence that we do not see is when Erik violently confronts his evil step-father. However, in a tightly controlled monologue, he painstakingly details exactly what he is about to do, and it ain't that pretty at all. ONDSKAN is beautifully shot, the plot is engaging, and the actors are convincing. However, the message is twisted. Have we just watched a film about violence as a manifestation of Evil, or is the message that extreme violence may be used for the greater good? Or, if the ends are noble enough, can they truly justify the means?