Year: 2003
Runtime: 107 mins
Language: Hungarian
Director: Nimród Antal
In the underground world of the Budapest Metro, ticket inspector Bulcsú and his crew patrol the trains, confronting fare evaders and a chilling serial killer who stalks the tunnels. Amid high‑speed chases along the tracks, personal loyalties and a budding romance surface, revealing the human side of the night shift.
Get a spoiler-free look at Kontroll (2003) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the perpetual dim of Budapest’s underground, the metro becomes a city of its own—metal corridors humming with the rhythm of late‑night trains, stations that double as makeshift dwellings, and a quiet bureaucracy that keeps the tunnels moving. The world is confined yet expansive, a place where the ordinary clatter of wheels masks an undercurrent of anonymity, fatigue, and fleeting connections. Shadows stretch along the platforms, and the air is thick with the scent of steam and the unspoken stories of commuters who never see the sunrise.
Bulcsú is a ticket inspector who has made the subterranean his permanent home, drifting between platforms and the occasional brief respite on a bench. He is surrounded by a rag‑tag crew: the seasoned veteran Professzor, the disheveled but earnest Lecsó, the nervous, sleep‑prone Muki, and the eager, if somewhat clueless, newcomer Tibi. Their interactions are a blend of camaraderie and weary competition, each night a test of endurance and a chance to assert their place in a realm that both respects and resents them.
A rivalry with Gonzó, the model employee who pushes the limits of discipline with daring challenges, adds a pulse of adrenaline to the routine. Meanwhile, a brief, almost surreal encounter with Zsófi, a girl in a bear suit who carries an unexpected warmth, hints at the fragile humanity that can surface amid the steel and concrete. Beneath the daily patrols, an unsettling presence lingers—a silent threat that haunts the tunnels and keeps the inspectors on edge, reminding everyone that the darkness holds more than just echoes.
The film’s tone is measured and observational, letting the tension simmer while moments of quiet connection shine through. It explores loyalty under pressure, the monotony and mystery of night shifts, and the stubborn perseverance of those who find a strange kinship in the hidden veins beneath the city.
Last Updated: October 23, 2025 at 16:13
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.
Thrillers set in cramped, subterranean worlds where danger feels inescapable.If you liked the tense, subterranean atmosphere of Kontroll, explore more movies like it. These films are set in confined urban underworlds, where the grimy, oppressive setting fuels a constant sense of danger and psychological unease, perfect for fans of high-stakes thrillers.
Stories in this thread often feature characters operating in or trapped by an urban underground. The narrative leverages the confined setting to create unavoidable conflicts, whether it's a cat-and-mouse chase, a survival scenario, or a descent into a dark subculture, where escape to the surface is a recurring thematic goal.
Movies are grouped here for their shared reliance on a cramped, subterranean setting to generate a unique form of tension. They share a grimy, atmospheric visual style and a feeling of being trapped, making the urban landscape a central source of the thriller's power.
Stories where absurd jobs meet dark humor and heavy emotional stakes.For viewers who enjoyed the mix of crude humor and heavy drama in Kontroll's subway setting. These movies like Kontroll feature eccentric crews in high-stress jobs, using dark comedy to explore themes of alienation, found family, and survival in a surreal professional world.
The narrative pattern focuses on a group of characters bound by a strange or stressful profession. Their shared experience creates a 'found family' dynamic, where dark humor serves as a coping mechanism for the grim realities of their work. The story often oscillates between satirical jabs at the system and deeper explorations of personal crisis and loyalty.
These films are united by their unique tonal blend: they are not purely comedies or dramas. They use the specific microcosm of a workplace to generate a mix of crude humor, surreal satire, and genuine human pathos, creating a bittersweet and often unsettling vibe.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Kontroll 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 Kontroll is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Kontroll, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
Track the full timeline of Kontroll with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Kontroll. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Kontroll: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Kontroll that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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