Watch Borgman

Borgman is a Dutch psychological-thriller directed by Alex van Warmerdam, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013. The film follows the actions and consequences of a mysterious homeless man named Camiel Borgman (Jan Bijvoet) and his attempts to infiltrate and manipulate the lives of a wealthy family. The film opens with Borgman hiding in a forest, trying to evade a group of armed men who are chasing him. It's unclear what Borgman's crime is, but he's able to shake off his attackers and reaches an elite suburban neighborhood where he meets Marina (Hadewych Minis), a bored housewife who is fascinated by his appearance and demeanor. Marina sees Borgman as an exotic and intriguing enigma, so she helps him by giving him shelter in a hidden room under her house.

Borgman’s presence triggers a series of strange events. Marina's husband, Richard (Jeroen Perceval), is initially hostile to Borgman but later warms up to him after Borgman manages to heal Richard's skin condition. Borgman ingratiates himself into the family, forming a relationship with Marina's children; Isolde, Rebecca and Leo. He infiltrates the nanny's and housekeeper's life, turning them against their employers, and even seduces Richard's mistress.

As the story progresses, the audience is shown that Borgman is not a simple homeless man, but rather some sort of supernatural creature with dark arcane powers. He has an army of conspirators from his past who appear willing to do whatever he asks. They complete the household’s transformation from a well-to-do scenario, into an eerie and opaque reality.

Borgman’s actual intentions and motivations remain wholly unclear, allowing him to act with impunity through the downfall of the family. He controls everything and everyone, to the point where his influence goes beyond the family's house and transcends to other people he meets. What is he trying to accomplish? What is he hoping to achieve by manipulating this family? These questions keep the movie engaging and keep you on the edge of your seat.

The plot of the movie is mysterious, bizarre, and complex, with many individual scenes that require the audience to understand and interpret. The director leaves many details open to interpretation, avoiding classic horror clichés in favor of a pure psychological thriller that highlights the actors’ skills.

Jan Bijvoet gives a particularly excellent performance as Borgman, a strange and enigmatic figure whose motives and goals are never fully understood, leaving room for speculation about his true purpose. Hadewych Minis as Marina and Jeroen Perceval as Richard have also brilliantly played their roles: a lonely housewife who finds a purpose and a rich man who is at once vulnerable and menacing.

The backdrop of the film is stunning, providing a brilliant contrast: the neighborhood is pristine, the lawns are perfectly manicured, and the house is big, luxurious, and sterile. This perfect suburban landscape turns into a dark and unsettling place as Borgman’s machinations begin to take effect. The film is visually stunning, the sound is haunting, and the music is effective and impactful.

In conclusion, Borgman is a slow-burn thriller that rewards those with patience to see it through. The film seems to be an abstract commentary on class, power, and the corruption that wealth can bring, but at the same time leaves much up to interpretation, making it an excellent candidate for those who enjoy dissecting the nuances of complex characters and plotlines. The movie pushes all the important buttons of psychological horror without anything of the usual blood, gore or jump scares. Finally, Borgman has managed to be a terrifying thriller without resorting to the usual formula.

Borgman is a 2014 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 58 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 66.