Amsterdamned: A Cult Classic For a Reason

Released back in 1988, this Dutch thriller is a wild ride that blends crime, horror, and action in a way that's both utterly unique and completely crazy. It's the brainchild of director Dick Maas, a guy who clearly has a flair for the offbeat and the macabre. This is the same guy who brought us The Lift (yeah, a killer elevator) and the gloriously over-the-top Flodder franchise. Maas is a master of genre-bending, and Amsterdamned is arguably his most ambitious and successful experiment yet.

A masked killer, clad in a diving suit, is stalking the canals of Amsterdam, leaving a trail of gruesomely murdered victims in his wake. Enter Dutch acting legend Huub Stapel as Detective Eric Visser, a hard-boiled cop trying to juggle a demanding job with raising his teenage daughter. He's got his own demons to battle, but when the body count starts rising, he's forced to dive (see what I did there?) headfirst into a case that's as murky as the canals themselves.

What makes Amsterdamned so special? Well, for starters, it's got a killer premise. Seriously, who doesn't love a good aquatic horror flick? But Maas doesn't just rely on the shock value of a killer lurking beneath the surface. He crafts a genuinely suspenseful and thrilling narrative, packed with twists, turns, and some truly memorable kills.

And the action? Let's just say this movie has a speedboat chase that puts most Hollywood blockbusters to shame. (And it still does if you look at the speedboat/motor chase in The Hitman's Bodyguard..) It's a white-knuckle sequence that left star Huub Stapel out of commission for a while after a stunt went wrong. That is some dedication!

But Amsterdamned is more than just a mindless action-horror hybrid. There's a layer of social commentary bubbling beneath the surface, touching on themes of environmental pollution and the darker undercurrents of Dutch society. And while the film doesn't shy away from some Euro-sleaze, it's also got a wicked sense of humor that keeps things from getting too grim.

And when the moviegods are willing: Amsterdamned is getting a sequel! That's right, Amsterdamned II is set to hit the canals in 2025, coinciding with Amsterdam's 750th anniversary. Huub Stapel is back on board to reprise his role as Detective Visser (and might get The Irishman treatment), and director Dick Maas has promised that the sequel will be even more "exciting, spectacular, and at times, blood-curdling" than the original.

So, there you have it. Amsterdamned is a cult classic for a reason. It's a movie that's as unique and captivating as the city it's set in. And with a sequel on the horizon, now is the perfect time to dive into this Dutch horror gem. You won't regret it. Just maybe avoid swimming in any canals for a while. You know, just when you thought it would be safe to go back into the canals...and all that.

And for good measure also the teaser of Amsterdamned II