Scars of Xavier takes a close look at the broken life, both past and present, of a serial killer operating in Prague. We follow the titular fiend throughout his daily life, including his low-key at a car wash and his lonely wanderings around the city. This, more than anything, goes a long way towards humanizing him.
In many ways, this film recalls the likes of Maniac, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and even a bit of The Ugly. As deplorable as his actions are…and they are utterly heinous…he’s no slasher. This is not a film about an inhuman, unstoppable killer. The traumas that led him down his murderous path are laid out more and more clearly as the film goes on, although not as compellingly as the aforementioned three films.
Lead Marc Engel is captivating, however, and the film is handsomely crafted. It also has quit a few standout elements, from a wild opening credits sequences to a pulse-pounding score. Furthermore, two specific scenes have managed to burrow their way into my brain. The first is a murder played in reverse, turning an ugly, messy act into a thing of disturbing. The other is the final sequence of Xavier snapping, which brings to mind the aforementioned film The Ugly. While I wish the film had contained a few more such striking sequences, there’s enough to recommend within as is. If serial killer thrillers are your bag, this one might be right up your alley.
Scars of Xavier is a serial killer thriller. It is directed by Kai E. Bogatzki, from a screenplay by Marc Engel and Kai E. Bogatzki. The film is produced by Sascha S. Goldbach, Jorg Lindner, Kinkats Official, Daniele Rizzo, Kai E. Bogatzki, and Marc Engel. It stars Marc Engel as ‘Xavier’, Isabelle Aring as ‘Sandra’, Dirk Sonnenschein as ‘Petr’, Alexia von Wismar as ‘Karolina’, Constanze Wetzel as ‘Mother’, and Oliver Troska as ‘Dominik’.
