As a film student, and sort of a film prude it becomes difficult for me to find movies that really spark my interest. I've grown quite tired of the majority of Hollywood films and like to dip into the international buffet of movies once and awhile. This film truly reminded me why I love foreign films. In aspect of the screenplay, it was based off a book written in 1981 that was roughly based on someone's real life experiences with institutionalized violence. The movie has reviews that claim it to be "Fight Club in a boarding school." I couldn't disagree with that statement more. There may be a few resemblances, but this story can't possibly be compared to anything else. It has so many different plot lines that need to be examined by the view themselves. Between Erik and Pierre's friendship, Otto Silverhielm's true evil spirit, or a deep film-noir inspired look at Erik's motives behind his rash behaviors.The story aside, looking at this film purely as a film; it still stands out. The shot selection is purely superb and Mikael Hafstrom deserves to be recognized as an artist. One scene in particular stands out as Silverhielm humiliates Erik in the dining hall. As Erik leaves, and is being alienated from the school itself, there is a long tracking shot following him as he walks out of the dining hall. He is in perfect focus while everyone else in the scene is out of the depth of field. The viewer is taken along with Erik as he takes the uncomfortable and embarrassing walk out of dining hall. This visual language makes the film stand on its own, and allows one to understand what is going on whether or not they have the subtitles turned on.Overall the film is truly a beautiful work of art that reminds myself of why I came to love films in the first place. It is visually stunning and tugs at your heart strings while making you think about morality and motivations. In my book, it's a must see.

I think Evil (or Ondskan) has two major inaccuracies.One: the OZ, Efilmcritic.com quote on the USA DVD cover: "It's Fight Club in a boarding school." Hardly. Sure there's fighting, and one of the many torments the bullies came up with, is a late evening punching match, but comparing the Evil to Fight Club is like comparing Muppets Take Manhattan to Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.And two: the title itself. These young males at the said boarding school are bad and definitely bullies, but evil? Barely, that's how they were raised as was the consensus at the horrible school they attended. Maybe they didn't mean, those terrible punks, because at one point, the lead character, Erik (Wilson) is called "evil." Again, he's disturbed, angry, lashes out – all typical of most teens, especially beaten and battered kids, but evil? If there ever was a misdiagnosis, this would be it.Other than those two things, I thoroughly enjoyed this gem I happened to accidentally stumble upon as a $1.99 bargain bin used DVD at Blockbuster. Great acting with eye-candy to boot, a good story and revenge you could honestly support.Erik's beaten by his stepfather, probably nightly and when he takes out his anger, frustration and powerlessness on other kids at the schools he bounces from one to the next, eventually only one (boarding) school will take him. There is extreme order at this all-but militarily ran private school and it's run by the seniors. The elders/teachers/nurses, etc, look away as if not to be bothered with boys who's heads grow larger by the blows they give the young kids.Rebel Erik barely takes any of the abuse and is subjected to more. He befriends his nerdy roommate, Pierre (Lundstrom) who attempts to get Erik in line for the "normal" attacks from the older kids. Erik, rightfully so, will have none of that and acted a whole lot like if I were in his shoes. (Case in point, I wouldn't last 15 minutes in any boot camp. I would be either laughing or sneering at the higher ranking people above me. Yeah, that wouldn't go over well, hence the 15 minutes – if that, and you can imagine, neither did it for Erik.) Erik also falls for one of the female café workers – something strictly forbidden. Actually make that, even conversation with them is against the rules. In fact, though Erik doesn't appear to be setting to break all the "rules of tradition," he seems to be crossing them off the list as the movie progresses. He just finds, again, like I would, these rules aren't necessarily meant to be broken – they're just stupid.Actually giving these bullies above him some credit, when they couldn't (literally) shake Erik into line, they lash out against the ones he loves or favors, like friend Pierre. You truly feel (meaning, good acting on Wilson's part) Erik holding back as much as he can due to a promise he made to his mother to stay out of trouble, or being expelled. You'll see like the older cartoons, where the red starts from his feet and climbs until it's on his neck and eventually consumes him and steam comes out. You may not feel revenge is good, but here you'll root him on in the exciting conclusion.I would highly recommend this movie. Though it's not the most original, and it's predictable where it's headed, the acting, dialogue, the growth, and like I said, eye candy is worth the trip.

Ondskan reminded me of myself. It just took me back to my school days where I was naughty and got frequently directed by the teachers.I could relate with Erik in many parts of the movie. The film started at a slow pace but gradually picked up the heat. It is a brew of high end human emotions and and even more excellent direction. I cried When Pierre left the school and also I was amused when Erik tells Silverhielm that he isn't like and him and he will never kill him,. I think that scene itself speaks volumes about the movie.The music and camera work need special mention, there are some scenes in which an ordinary director would fail to deliver the goods by being normal, but in 'Ondskan' even some trivial scenes can frighten you and set your heart best two times faster. The actress who played Marje is sexy and she has the charm to keep you asking for more!The romance levels are quite low but they are good enough to increase the audience's love for the movie. I especially liked the scene in the end where the lawyer comes to talk with the headmaster towards the end. The letter which Marje writes to Erik is also touching and the way Eric reacts to it just wonderful.Ondskan has a few glitches here and there (like the ending scenes with the Sports teacher and stuff) but they are not strong enough to hamper the rating which I gave!. On the whole it is a good film with a good cast and great direction!. I don't understand why some Swede's didn't like this movie but for me it was simply SUPERB!Cheers!

This is a heart-wrenching movie that puts human conscience to the test. At some points of the movie, I thought of stopping it being unable to take it anymore. It makes me think how evil human behaviour can get and sets me thinking whether the events in the movie do happen in real life.What else can be more evil than a mother who does nothing to stop his son from being brutally abused pretending nothing has happened just to maintain her stupid marriage? What else can be more evil than the people who are supposed to be the most respected in society and occupy the moral high ground but indeed sanction the worst form of human abuse and torture pretending that they have seen nothing? I think it is a multi-dimensional movie, about human hypocrisy and parenting, with deeper messages beneath. After watching the movie, I am definitely convinced that the mother is the most evil of all the demons in this film who makes me puke. I am afraid the corollary of growing up in this kind of evil environment is the naturalisation of an innocent soul into yet another human evil, and that in real life there are not many people as firm and steadfast as Erik Ponti.