D-Tox - Im Auge der Angst

D-Tox could be split into three parts. At the beginning we have the classic hunt for a killer, this is followed by an existential drama where Sly unsuccessfully tries to wring some deeper emotions out of himself, and then comes a murder spree in a cramped space from which there is no escape, following the template "the killer is among us and guess who survives". Shot in widescreen format, D-Tox was originally supposed to be released in cinemas, but after disastrous test screenings, it was relegated to VHS. No wonder, given the leaky, hackneyed script and the visuals of a cheesy B-movie. (26.12.2002)

D-Tox - Im Auge der Angst ist ein Thriller, in dem A nicht mit B zusammenhängt und nach B D kommt. Es muss am Schnitt liegen. In so ein dummes Drehbuch hätte niemand 55 Millionen US-Dollar investiert. Der arme Sylvester Stallone, er hat sich so angestrengt… (12.02.2003)

I have to say that it’s certainly not the disaster I expected. Sure, with its cast, it’s undoubtedly among the biggest B-movies of the early 2000s, but Stallone managed to carry his role quite decently. The story was quite engaging, especially the opening scenes outside the asylum, where a few script decisions pleasantly surprised me. After that, it turns into a rather formulaic spectacle with all the typical flaws, and the twists are predictable minutes in advance. When they don’t work out, it’s mainly because the plot gets twisted in an incredibly crazy way by the end. Among the supporting characters, Robert Patrick was entertaining with his sharp-tongued remarks; his lines were spot-on. Otherwise, the ending was standard and could have been better executed. But for a filler on a lazy afternoon, it’s a decent choice that certainly won’t offend. For me, it’s 6/10. (01.05.2022)