It's only skin deep: "Tattoo"

Being a huge fan of the darly inventive "Se7en" (sorry, force of habit) I approached the 2002 film "Tattoo" somewhat hesitantly. When things are described as "the best since...." or "for lovers of...." there's a high chance of it being bait to make an average film be more than it actually is.

Still, when the DVD is re-released for £5.99 (albeit without extras as such) there comes a time to bite the bullet, slap the money down and hope for the best. Sometimes you wish you'd had a little more faith and done the buying thing sooner. Luckily, this was one of them.



Firstly, sometimes subtitles put people off a movie but in a case like this they're a positive plus point. Being a German movie (which it is) the language suits the subject matter in the same way that the band Rammstein get a harder edge to their vocals. Nothing fits the seedy underbelly like that hard sound of the language. Not an indication on the country, more on the phonetics. Either way, within about 5 minutes you cease to even notice. Good films are like that.



Secondly, let's get the similarities out of the way. It's not flashy - rather the sort of thing you'd call gritty or urban or just plain dark. It rains a lot in frequent parts of the film too. It's heavy, pounding rain and it adds a wonderfully oppressive mood to the tone of things.

Goodness knows that's something that needs no help, as this gives the aforementioned reference point a very good run for it's money in terms of building a mood, holding it and taking you along downhill with it. Whether you like it or not. I'd be very surprised if anybody could fail to be hooked after even the first scene. There are enough surprises and plot twists - though fortunately nothing unbelieveable - that if the mood doesn't get you then the story will.



You will like it though, as long as you don't expect kittens, sunshine or anything resembling a positive emotion. If, however, you fancy obsession, revenge and the collision of where these meet art on skin then dive in. One thing you'll never do is look at a tattoo the same way again.

If you do then just be thankful you're looking at it while it's still attached........