Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

ScoobyMint Disappointment for a huge fan!

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

sunheadbowed 'The Treatment'/'De behandeling' is a very strong, unsettling film, and with the exception of Markus Schleinzer's 'Michael' of three years earlier, it may be the best film about paedophilia. There are some action/crime conventions in the film that we have seen countless times, but the bravery of the film-making and performances of the actors are so powerful that you forgive the familiar territory; and tragically, in this era it's just about impossible to make a film without compromise and cliché anyway.There is a palpable malignancy to this Belgian film that is very rarely pulled off well without turning into cartoon -- you feel like you need to take a shower after it concludes. It would make for an incredible double feature with 'Michael', because both films tackle the same 'untouchable' subject in different ways and, amazingly, both manage to pull it off, but of course, most people can't deal with one film about child molestation let alone two back-to-back.'Cruel' film-making tends to go one of two ways: cynical cowardice ('Saw', 'The Human Centipede') or intellectual bravery ('Salò', 'Michael', Haneke). 'The Treatment's uncomfortable viewing fits comfortably into the latter camp.

garycaunt This is a superb movie but watch with caution. The material content is really heavy and so realistic, it will haunt you. The acting is first class and the tension hangs tightly throughout the movie.The cops past and present blur into one big nightmare and his anger is always just below the surface. He is a decent man, a hard man but thankfully not in the Hollywood tradition. There is real pain here, seldom seen in a movie these days and the 'baddies' are uniquely drawn characters, no clichés and unlike anything I have seen elsewhere. It reminded me a little of Prisoners with Hugh Jackman which is itself and excellent film and has a similar plot line. Tossing a coin, I would chose The Treatment, despite a lower IMDb rating.

Tom Dooley Based on the novel by Carl Joos this is one of those crime thrillers that easily transcends the language barrier and sweeps you along with it; being mostly in Dutch with some French. It centres around Inspector Nick Cafmeyer (Geert Van Rampelberg of the excellent 'Broken Circle Breakdown') he is called to investigate a kidnapping where a mother, father and their son have been abducted and held prisoner. When the police arrive the kidnapper has gone taking the boy.Cafmeyer can not help but get personally involved as his own brother was kidnapped years before and has never been found. What transpires is a rip roaring roller coaster ride into the dark World of child abduction and does contain scenes that some will find upsetting.This is brilliantly acted, directed and shot. The make up is pretty good too and the whole thing comes in a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat till nigh on the last frame. Absolutely brilliant, brilliantly dark and totally recommended.

dragokin The Treatment tackles several topics, the main being child abuse. The gloomy weather of Belgium depicted on screen adds to the bleak atmosphere. The authors were obviously trying to rise up to the challenge of current Scandinavian crime thrillers and partially they've been successful.Overall, The Treatment is a good movie for audience with a strong stomach looking for a dark crime thriller. Given the themes it explores it never crosses the line of bad taste or sensationalism.However, roughly at the half of the movie, we've ran into several Hollywood clichés. There is a police officer with questionable mental stability who pursues cases alone, often following no rules or logic apart from his premonition. And the "main villain" looked and behaved as if he came out of a random movie about serial killers. As if European democracies allow you to do whatever you want within your own four walls and stockpile any possible substance, even gallons of urine, without anyone even noticing, let alone informing the authorities...