Tattoo (2002)

68% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(1,336 ratings)

A dark and gruesome thriller reminiscent of David Fincher's Seven, this freshman effort from German director Robert Schwentke finds an unmotivated young detective roped into helping a seasoned veteran solve a case in which people are literally skinned for their tattoos and brutally murdered.… More A dark and gruesome thriller reminiscent of David Fincher's Seven, this freshman effort from German director Robert Schwentke finds an unmotivated young detective roped into helping a seasoned veteran solve a case in which people are literally skinned for their tattoos and brutally murdered. Schrader (August Diehl) is a lazy, hard-partying cop who barely passed his academy training, only to settle in for an undemanding desk job upon graduation. His bid for the easy life is soon spoiled when Chief Inspector Minks (Christian Redl) blackmails him into working for homicide after catching him in possession of drugs at an illegal nightclub. Soon discovering a group of underground art enthusiasts who covet a series of 12 tattoos detailed by a mysterious and since-deceased Japanese artist, the duo subsequently discovers a heretofore-unknown 13th tattoo by the artist adorning the body of beautiful Maya (Nadeshda Brennicke). As Schrader enters into a dangerous and heated affair with Maya, the case tumbles headlong into a tense climax when the group discovers that their collection is incomplete. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Robert Schwentke
Written By: Robert Schwentke
Genres: Drama, Horror, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Nov 15, 2002 Limited
Studio: American Vitagraph

Critic Reviews

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Stylish and engaging despite its over-reliance on the conventions of the thriller genre.
Janice Page, Boston Globe
The premise of this film might be halfway original, but the execution is wholly derivative.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
An engrossing and original police procedural of bleak, steel-gray images and high style.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
For all its oversights, absurdities and unconnected dots, Tattoo succeeds in getting under your skin.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
A very stylish variation on The Silence of the Lambs and Seven.
Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter
Schwentke's solid cast and a visual talent for nailing the unsavory, noir-soaked milieu compensate for some of the more gratuitous eccentricities.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's all as pointless as body modification.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Dark and interesting, the film looks very good and has an intriguing enough plot that we stay connected to it.
Jamie Russell, BBC
Without the benefit of an equally manipulative script, Schwentke's attempts to appal us eventually just bore.
Eric Campos, Film Threat
It looks great, has an excellent cast and is effectively creepy at first. But try as it does, it just winds up falling into the lame generic Hollywood homicide thriller mold.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
A stylish, involving, unremittingly grim and, it must be stated, almost wholly derivative hodge-podge of hard-boiled American crime thrillers. The surfeit mood catches and holds your attention, sometimes in spite of yourself.
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Daily News
Tattoo has the same buddy-cop dynamic as the David Fincher film and, likewise, is preoccupied with beautiful lighting, rain machines and grotesque mutilations. It's watchable but it never quite rises above being a mannered knockoff.
John Patterson, L.A. Weekly
A nasty, intelligent and complex thriller.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
An assured piece of genre filmmaking that delivers the goods so stylishly it hardly matters that they aren't fresh.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

Really good film, be warned it is sub-titles but the story is great.
Jens S

German thriller about a serial killer collecting the skins of his tattooed victims. Pretty bloody and gloomy and trying a little too hard to be the german "Se7en", while not always being completely logical. But rather well done and pretty exciting nonetheless.

Cast

See full cast

Tattoo (2002)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

Jens S

Cast