Angst

Angst

Year: 1983

Runtime: 75 mins

Language: German

Director: Gerald Kargl

ThrillerHorrorCrimeHorror

Based on a true story. A killer is released from prison and breaks into a remote home to kill a woman, her handicapped son and her pretty daughter.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Angst (1983) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Angst (1983), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

An unnamed serial killer, the Psychopath, is released from prison with a cold, unsettling eagerness to see fear in his victims. His day begins in a diner, where he lingers near two girls at the counter, tempted to strike but unable to act openly in public. Later, in a tense taxi ride, he imagines killing the female driver, yet he must flee when the driver grows suspicious and stops the car.

As he escapes, he stumbles upon a house and encounters a mentally impaired Son in a wheelchair who mistakes the killer for his father. Soon, the Mother and Daughter arrive at the scene, and the killer hides himself away. The confrontation erupts quickly: he attacks, taping the [Daughter] to a doorknob and strangling the [Mother]. He then ties up the mother and drags the son to the upstairs bathroom, where he drowns him in the bathtub.

Returning downstairs, the killer finds the mother either dead or nearing death. The daughter pleads for medicine to save her mother, and the killer grudgingly complies, hoping to spare her death long enough to fulfill his grim plan. His attempts to revive her fail, and in a fit of rage he pushes the wheelchair-bound mother into a wall. He discovers the daughter attempting to escape and pursues her relentlessly. He stabs her to death, drinks her blood, and vomits on her—the blood acting as an emetic.

The killer wakes up the next morning on the daughter’s body, partially undressed and stained with blood. He decides to leave in the family’s car, taking the bodies with him in the trunk and planning to show them to his next victims to frighten them, even bringing the family’s dog along in the passenger seat. He rear-ends another car during the frantic escape, and several witnesses observe the chaos.

He returns to the diner—the same patrons from earlier are there again—and, as he feeds the dog, the police apprehend him after requesting his registration. He opens the trunk of the car for the officers to see the ghastly scene, reveling in the fear it provokes in the onlookers. The film closes with a voice-over medical record declaring that the killer was driven by a sadistic tendency rooted in an unstable childhood.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:49

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies from a killer's perspective like Angst

Movies that adopt the unsettling, detached perspective of a remorseless killer.If you found the detached, clinical viewpoint of the psychopath in Angst uniquely disturbing, this thread gathers similar movies that explore violence from the inside out. Find other films that use a killer's POV to create a sense of profound unease and moral void, for viewers seeking this specific, chilling narrative approach.

unsettlingcolddisturbingclinicalmercilesspsychological

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread are typically linear and straightforward, focusing on a single violent incident or series of acts. They follow the killer's journey methodically, emphasizing their motivations, rituals, and emotional detachment over external plot complexity or police procedural elements.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared commitment to a specific point-of-view: that of the perpetrator. This creates a coherently cold, merciless, and psychologically intense viewing experience, prioritizing a deep dive into the mechanics of brutality over conventional thriller pacing or hero arcs.

Grim true crime movies with extreme violence like Angst

Stories based on real crimes that depict violence with stark, graphic realism.For viewers who appreciated the raw, stomach-churning realism of the violence in Angst, this list features similar films inspired by true crime. Discover movies that share a commitment to unflinching, graphic portrayals of brutality within a bleak and hopeless narrative framework, offering no catharsis.

brutalgrimdisturbingunsettlinghopelessrelentlessvisceral

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is often simple and direct, focusing on the brutal event itself. There is a deliberate absence of traditional heroics or satisfying resolution; the journey is one of witnessing atrocity, leading to a bleak ending that reinforces the senselessness and horror of the real-life inspiration.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their high-intensity, graphic violence rooted in true stories, a consistently dark tone, and a bleak emotional outcome. They prioritize creating an atmosphere of pure dread and delivering a heavy, emotionally draining experience grounded in real-world horror.

Unlock the Full Story of Angst

Don't stop at just watching — explore Angst in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Angst is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Angst Timeline

Track the full timeline of Angst with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Angst Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Angst

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Angst

Angst Spoiler-Free Summary

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Angst Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Angst

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