Dutch director Dick Maas clearly has a flair for entertainment. This serial killer film is lifted above the norm by a series of fantastic sequences; from creepy murder scenes to a hilariously over the top speed boat chase through the canals of Amsterdam, Amsterdamned is a delight to watch from start to finish. It goes without saying that this film takes place in Amsterdam, and it would appear that the film is something of a love letter to the great Dutch city. Amsterdam's streets make for an excellent horror location, while the canal shots are what really give the film its originality. Maas also gives us sequences in which the reputation of the city is discussed. Personally, I love the location shots of this film; having visited Amsterdam a couple of times myself, it's nice to recognise where the film is taking place. The plot is basically your run of the mill serial killer yarn, but it's lifted above the norm because of the fact that the murderer himself is water-based. Amsterdam's canals make for his home, as the murderous diver drags anyone who comes too close to the river to their doom. We follow the trail of murders and the police investigation into the crimes.

The film runs at around 105 minutes; a running time that would usually lead to me saying is too long for this sort of film. However, despite the fact that the film plays from what is a very basic plot, it never becomes boring. Dick Maas bombards the audience with stunning location shots, deliriously entertaining sequences and some very sinister moments of horror to ensure that Amsterdamned never becomes trite or dull - and besides, every time there's a danger of the film going downhill, our competent director is on hand with another grisly murder sequence! For a film that runs so freely, it's surprising that it's actually not all that messy. Maas blends several different styles together, but the plot always stays on course. The atmosphere is always foreboding as it is made clear that the murderer could strike at any time. I've got to say that I was a little disappointed by the end, however. After a brilliant 100 minutes, Maas sees fit to tack on an ending that feels very trite and overly used. However, the build up to this let down is fantastic and by the time it comes to the ending, it doesn't really matter how it ends because you've just witnessed what is one of the finest films ever to come out of the Netherlands. Personally, I loved every minute of this great film and really can't recommend it highly enough!

Dutch director Dick Maas started his career directing the videos for Golden Earring, including "Twilight Zone" and "When the Lady Smiles," which was controversial as it showed a man about to assault a nun. He moved into feature films, including the comedic Flodder and The Lift. He's also known for the American version of The Lift, which was called Down, and the absolutely deranged holiday movie Sint.

This film is at the crossroads of giallo and slasher, using the canals of Amsterdam instead of Venice to create a place where the killer can appear at seemingly any time and place to murder at will.

The film starts with a bravura scene of violence, as a prostitute is murdered and then her body, hung above a bridge, literally rains blood on to a boat full of tourists.

What keeps it from being giallo and pushes it toward slasher is the fact that its protagonist is not a stranger in a strange land, but instead Eric Visser, a detective struggling to be a single father while solving cases around Holland's capital.

And what pushes it even further into slasher territory is the film's propensity to deliver on the gore, from decapitated heads to bloody kills. The antagonist is so brutal that one of the witnesses refers to him as a monster that came out of the water.

That said, where it does flirt with the giallo are the sheer number of red herrings that this movie throws at you, which makes sense, as Holland's fishing industry continually lands plenty of them from the nutrient-rich coastal waters of the North Sea.

If you've seen Dick Maas' previous horror outing - THE LIFT - then you pretty much know what to expect with this kooky crime thriller mixing police investigation with slasher overtones. There's a certain basic artistry in some of the more outlandish scenes - probably the most memorable scene comes when a tour boat, full of gossiping passengers and unruly children runs into a corpse swinging from the bridge; typically, this would be a brief shock scene quickly cutting away to an autopsy or something. But not here - instead, Maas follows the boat through the tunnel as the corpse slides along the glass roof, leaving a trail of blood and gristle behind it. It's an audacious, inventive and highly imaginative moment in what otherwise amounts to a fairly typical thriller.

The ingredients here are ordinary and the film has something for everyone : sex and gore (tame),romance, action, stunts, and a lone hero, a rogue cop whose obscure methods find him at odds with his superiors. The cop in question is played by Maas' favourite leading man Huub Stapel, after he did so well in THE LIFT. Stapel fits into the role of "maverick cop" pretty well here and looks the part with his unshaven face and tired leather jacket. As for the supporting actors and actresses... well, nobody really shines in their role but nobody is wooden either. The dialogue is a little difficult to comprehend sometimes due to the culture gap and the heavy accents on display, but all round it's a good effort on everybody's behalf.

Fans would be wise to check this film out as it's a unique contribution which really draws out the best scenery in Holland. Basically, it's just so different what with the setting and different lifestyles that watching becomes a way of learning about the Dutch. Personally, I myself find the long canals of Amsterdam very interesting to look out and the film really makes use of them in some tense chase moments. The best part of the film is a prolonged speedboat chase which packs in a ton of stunts and could easy fit into a James Bond film without looking out of place - it's that polished.

You're kept guessing as to the identity of the killer throughout and there are plenty of clues and red herrings to chew on. The only thing I think let this film down was the ending, which makes you feel sorry for the killer and gives him a personality - realistic, yes, and a good twist, but not that exciting. Basically, if the idea of a killer stalking the canals of Amsterdam in the wetsuit being chased by policemen who follows his bubbles sounds like your sort of thing, then get this film as that's exactly what it's about and it doesn't disappoint - it may not be a brilliant film, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and was kept interested all the way until the end anyway. Oh yes, and clever title, too.