Country doctors and the Black Forest are equally clichéd: some always good, others always gloomy. The latter is no different in the SWR thriller "Höllgrund". But the doctor's flawless image is crumbling.
Baden-Baden (dpa / lsw) - "What does a young person like you do in such a dump?" The mere presence of the new country doctor Fabian makes him look suspicious in this Black Forest village. His answer sometimes: "Find a little peace." And he gets advice: "People here don't trust a doctor who doesn't go to mass." But no matter how charming Fabian may be, it quickly becomes clear that he is involved in a series of murders.
Südwestrundfunk (SWR) has shot an eight-part series: "Höllgrund" can be seen in the ARD media center from Friday (September 16). SWR television will only show four of the approximately 30-minute episodes of Marc O. Seng's Black Forest thriller on October 31 and November 1 - to coincide with Halloween - from 8:15 p.m.
In the tranquil town, the number of deaths seems mysterious. "Three of those in the photo died in the last week," says village police officer Tanja. "It's no coincidence." She quickly suspects that something is not right and goes on a search against the resistance of the other villagers. Her answer to the question of whether it's not sometimes better to let the past be, is: "I think it's better to get to the bottom of things." Does the young investigator uncover a dark secret?
As uncanny as the whole thing is - scenes with corpses, people like dead pigs on a hook and an inferno of flames - some clichéd images from the Black Forest foggy idyll are just as picturesque. Interpersonal emotions of the passionate kind are also not neglected - and sometimes get in the way of the investigation.
According to the broadcaster, the thriller is intended to "debunk the well-known clichés of German serial country doctors". August Wittgenstein and Lou Strenger play the leading roles. With Heiner Lauterbach, Nicki von Tempelhoff and Ulrike C. Tscharre, among others, "Höllgrund" also has well-known faces in the supporting roles. The fact that Lauterbach's character actually dies in episode one does not matter - in line with the concept.
