- The horror movie recounts the tale of an exterminator dealing with rats.
A contemporary retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin saga drops this week, showcasing a distinguished cast across multiple streaming services. The chilling movie titled "The Piper" (original title in English) retells the account of Liz and her daughter Amy, settling in Hamelin, who start observing peculiar occurrences in the town connected to the enigmatic Pied Piper, as highlighted by the Hamelin Tourism Office.
Liz, portrayed by English actress Elizabeth Hurley ("Austin Powers"), decides to delve deeper into the unnerving phenomena. It appears to implicate the haunting Pied Piper, a character from an ancient myth, alleged to pursue individuals who have escaped justice for heinous deeds in the past. The movie, suitable for audiences aged 16 and above, also explores a disquieting family secret and a cryptic street magician, as per Filmdienst.de.
Filming in Hamelin and Hannover
In September and October 2020, director Anthony Waller filmed the movie in Hamelin, confirmed a spokesperson from the Hamelin Tourism Society. The main actors were absent, and locals from Hamelin stood in for them as doubles.
The production crew claimed that shooting exterior scenes at Hamelin's most stunning historical sites provided the film with an authentic Hamelin aesthetic. "Hamelin and its Pied Piper continue to enchant television crews to present the piper and his surroundings from various perspectives," the spokesperson said.
A subsequent session of exterior filming took place in Hannover, where the primary character visits a lab and a mental institution. Majority of the movie was filmed in Riga, Latvia. The film had its premier at a British film festival in October.
Mixed responses to the trailer
As of yet, no plans for a Hamelin cinema screening have been revealed. However, displaying the film as part of a special program in local cinemas still remains a possibility, according to the tourism society. The movie will be available on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Magenta TV from this Thursday.
The feedback to the German trailer, released exclusively on the Kinocheck platform 12 days ago, has been split so far. Some critics called the remake "absurd" or "stale junk," while others showed interest. "Given that I was born in Hamelin and lived there for 30 years, isn't it my responsibility to watch it?" one user questioned.
Story from the Brothers Grimm folklore
According to the Hamelin Marketing and Tourism Society, the most recognized version of the Pied Piper tale originates from the Brothers Grimm. In 1284, a man sporting a vibrant cloak enticed all the rats and mice of Hamelin to the Weser River with his flute, causing them to perish. Due to the residents' failure to pay him as promised, he kidnapped 130 children from Hamelin a few days later. The narrative is celebrated at various landmarks throughout the city.
The movie also features other animals appearing mysteriously in Hamelin, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the Пied Piper's enigmatic presence. As Amy explores the town, she encounters a wise old owl who shares cryptic clues about the Pied Piper's identity and motives.
