If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

"Der unheimliche Mönch" or "The Sinister Monk" is a German movie from 1965, so it is already over 50 years old. The director is Harald Reinl and he made this one before moving on to Winnetou when Vohrer continued with the Edgar Wallace franchise. This one here is among the earlier German Edgar Wallace film from roughly half a century ago and it also shows because this one is still in black-and-white. Also it has lots of suspense, but the horror aspects from the latter films are missing completely. However, monks (especially with whips) were a famous thing apparently in these films and I must say this one here is not worse than the one about the monk that they made a couple years later in color. Honestly, the antagonist (=title character) is not as foolish in this older version. But unluckily, the story isn't more interesting either and I dare say both films are pretty underwhelming. The comedy aspect is also still missing in this older film here. The most known cast members here are certainly Karin Dor and Ilse Steppat (still a while before her appearance in a James Bond film and untimely death). But sadly, this duo is not good enough either to make this a rewarding watch. I give it a thumbs-down and I am actually glad it only runs for slightly over 80 minutes. Not recommended.

When an old man dies just after making his will, the attorney carrying the will is killed in a car crash and the will is stolen. The will then shows up just before the estate is to be divided. The vultures of the family then scheme to prevent the rightful heir from taking possession of the estate, but a dark monk like figure begins to bump people off. Good Edgar Wallace adaptation is done in by in appropriate Hammond organ music which cuts across the proceedings. The music simply destroys any sense of mood and dread each time its heard. Who's idea was it to use it? It's a shame because this is one of the better later Wallace films. Worth a look if you can discount the music (and a couple of moments –the final death- that are just plain silly)

This is a solid middle-period entry in the long-running German "Krimi" series, based on the ingenious thrillers of Edgar Wallace. In this case, the film-makers were taking the plot seriously and not trying (much) to dazzle the viewer with the nifty cinematic trickery and vivid violence that would become the hallmark of the series. Fortunately, the plot is a strong one, involving the usual murderous infighting over an inheritance, a girls' boarding school, and the wonderfully avenging titular character who breaks necks with the visually impressive snap of his whip. The style fits best into the Eurospy genre of the 60s, which was director Reinl's forte. Besides the monk, there is a weird caretaker who keeps pigeons and who casts creepy facial masks of people at the school, which turn into death masks after the inevitable murder of their models (shades of "I Bury the Living"). A poisoned water pistol serves as one girl's defense from prospective attackers. Karin Dor, the director's statuesque wife, resembles Barbara Steele in the lead role, and series favourite Eddie Arent, normally the effective comic relief, has a quite unexpected role to play here. More effort than usual is spent establishing the Thames-side background, though the German origin is unmistakable. Best of all is the wild lounge score by retro-hip composer Peter Thomas, with chimes and cascading organ swells (à la Vic Mizzy of "Munsters" fame) to highlight the monk's appearances. A lurid-colour sequel, "The Monk With The Whip", is much more campy and flamboyant, in keeping with the later efforts in the series directed by Alfred Vohrer.

This 34 year old german movie probably is not a timeless piece of art, yet it still is very entertaining. Check out the music, too!!!Among the Wallace movie series during the 60s this is one of the best entries.