Synopsis
Set during World War II, a German army garrison is sent to guard a mountain pass in a village in Romania's Carpathian mountains and sets up barracks in an ancient stone fortress. Two of the soldiers unwittingly release a mysterious entity that kills or corrupts those within its influence, drawing the attention of a Gestapo commander, a Jewish scholar, and a mysterious traveller.
Key facts
Cast
Scott Glenn, Alberta Watson, Jürgen Prochnow, Robert Prosky, Gabriel Byrne, Ian McKellen, William Morgan Sheppard, Royston Tickner
Original language
English
First release
December 16, 1983 (Belgium)
Production companies
Paramount Pictures
Home video distributors
Paramount Home Video (United States)
Based on
The Keep
Setting
Romania
Crew
Screenplay
Michael Mann
Producer
Gene Kirkwood, Hawk Koch
Cinematography
Alex Thomson
Editing
Dov Hoenig
Music
Christopher Franke, Edgar Froese, Johannes Schmölling
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Hallucinations Collectives 2026 - Cabinet De Curiosites
- Abertoir Horror Festival 2025 - Features
- Hallucinations Collectives 2025 - Cabinet De Curiosites
- Romford Horror Festival 2023
Titles
| Original title | The Keep | |
| Alternate title | La Forteresse noire |
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | Paramount Home Video (cat. no. 1563) | 1984, United States, slipcase |
| VHS | Paramount Home Video (cat. no. 1563) | 1989, United States, slipcase |
Soundtracks
| CD | The Keep - Tangerine Dream, Christopher Franke, Edgar Froese (1993) | 13 releases, 1993-2020: Blue Moon Records, Come Out Of The Safe Records, Orange Records, TDI Music (+2 more) |
| CD | The Keep (2013) | 1 release, 2013: Silicate Musique |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Belgium | December 16, 1983 |
| Theatrical | Canada | December 16, 1983 |
| Theatrical | Italy | December 16, 1983 |
| Theatrical | United States | December 16, 1983 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | February 16, 1984 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | May 4, 1984 |
| Theatrical | Japan | July 14, 1984 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 18 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Home video VHS | United States | 1984 1563 |
| Home video | Germany | May 1, 1985 |
| Home video VHS | United States | 1989 1563 |
Full credits
| Director | Michael Mann |
| Cast | Scott Glenn (Glaeken Trismegestus), Alberta Watson (Eva Cuza), Jürgen Prochnow (Captain Klaus Woermann), Robert Prosky (Father Mihail Fonescu), Gabriel Byrne (Major Kaempffer), Ian McKellen (Dr. Theodore Cuza), William Morgan Sheppard (Alexandru), Royston Tickner (Tomescu), Michael Carter (Radu Molasar), John Vine (Lutz), Wolf Kahler (S.S. Adjutant), Jona Jones (Otto), Rosalie Crutchley (Josefa), Frederick Warder (Border Guard 1), Bruce Payne (Border Guard 2), David Cardy (Alexandru's Son), John Eastham (Alexandru's Second Son), Philip Bloomfield (Josefa's Son), Yashaw Adem (Carlos), Stephen Whittaker (S.S. Kommando), Ian Ruskin (S.S. Kommando), Stephen Jenn (S.S. Kommando), Benedick Blythe (S.S. Kommando), Robin Langford (S.S. Kommando), Renny Krupinski (Wehrmacht Soldier), Peter Guinness (Wehrmacht Soldier), Sean Baker (Wehrmacht Soldier), Timothy Block (Wehrmacht Soldier), Owain Griffiths (Wehrmacht Soldier (uncredited)), Ralph G. Morse (Wehrmacht Soldier (uncredited)), Doug Robinson (Guard (uncredited)), Peter Ross-Murray (Nazi Soldier (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Michael Mann |
| Producer | Gene Kirkwood, Hawk Koch |
| Executive producer | Colin M. Brewer |
| Cinematography | Alex Thomson |
| Editing | Dov Hoenig |
| Music | Christopher Franke, Edgar Froese, Johannes Schmölling |
| Production design | John Box |
| Visual effects | Robin Browne, Wally Veevers |
| Costumes | Anthony Mendleson |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
