The Devils Bath Portable Instant
Directed by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz ( Goodnight Mommy ), this film is a haunting historical psychodrama set in 1750. It explores a "dark footnote" in European history involving deeply religious women driven to extreme acts.
This dark chapter of history was unearthed by UC Davis historian , who discovered hundreds of such cases. Her research became the foundation for The Devil's Bath , a film by Austrian directing duo Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, known for their psychological horror films Goodnight Mommy and The Lodge .
The weight of the film sits entirely on the shoulders of (who also created the film’s haunting score). She delivers a quiet, raw performance that portrays the slow disintegration of a mind under constant pressure. Her portrayal of Agnes is both relatable and profoundly sad, forcing viewers to feel the weight of her societal entrapment. 4. Religion, Superstition, and Misogyny
The Devil’s Bath does not exist in isolation. It is one of the crowning jewels of Wai-O-Tapu (Māori for "Sacred Waters"), an area shaped by thousands of years of volcanic activity. The region sits on the Taupō Volcanic Zone, a highly active geothermal belt that stretches across the North Island.
The movie follows , a deeply religious woman who marries her beloved, Wolf, in 1750 Upper Austria. the devils bath
The most striking feature of New Zealand's Devil's Bath is its surreal, almost glowing chartreuse-green color. The intensity and exact hue of the water change daily depending on the weather conditions, sunlight, and underground volcanic activity.
When these underground minerals rise to the surface and mix with the pool's highly acidic water, they create a heavy sediment. Sulfur is naturally yellow, while iron compounds can take on a deep greenish-black or yellow-brown tint.
The film forces the audience to bear witness to the terrifying, isolating experience of profound depression, where the world seems designed to break the spirit. 4. Visual Style and Acting
The final image of the film is not Agnes’s death but a return to the millhouse. Her husband and mother-in-law sit at the same table, eating the same bread, the same fire sputtering. A new young woman (presumably a new bride) enters, carrying water. The cycle begins again. The title card notes that in the region, over 300 women were executed for “mercy killing” of children under similar circumstances in the 18th century. Directed by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz (
Initial reactions highlight the film as a somber, deeply unsettling, and cerebral experience. It is not for viewers looking for monsters or jump scares.
(specifically "melancholy") used in the 17th and 18th centuries [26, 27]. It is also the title of a 2024 Austrian folk horror/drama film directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, which explores this "dark chapter" of European history [2, 12, 28].
Formatted at $32.50 NZD via the Wai-O-Tapu Complex .
When you hear the phrase “The Devil’s Bath,” your mind might conjure many images: a supernatural horror film, a neon-green volcanic pool in New Zealand, a medieval torture device, or perhaps a forgotten metaphor for deep despair. The truth is, the devil’s bath means different things in different contexts—each one as fascinating and unsettling as the last. Her research became the foundation for The Devil's
“A masterpiece of folk horror and historical empathy. Franz and Fiala have made a film that feels less like a story and more like an exhumation.” — Jessica Kiang, Variety
They would commit a capital crime, most often the murder of a child, turn themselves in, and willingly accept a death sentence by execution. In the condemned cell, they would confess their sins to a priest, receive absolution, and face their death at the hands of the executioner. In their minds, this act—a "bath" taken in the devil's realm—allowed them to end their suffering while ensuring the salvation of their soul.
Early morning to avoid massive crowds and secure views of the nearby Lady Knox Geyser. 2. The Devil's Bath (2024 Film): Historical Psychodrama