Das jüngste Gericht (2008)

Thomas Dorn and his team of investigators are on the trail of a serial killer terrorizing Vienna. He is feared for his brutal methods of killing. Dorn, whose investigative methods often skirt the edge of legality, becomes increasingly absorbed in the case and suffers a psychological crisis. Monica Faber, who is conducting the case analysis, suspects a ritual killing, while their colleague Peters thinks it is a ritual murder in Islamist circles. Turkish-born police officer Fatih, however, disagrees, though he too makes little progress with his investigation. The team’s chief, Renz, also wants the case solved quickly before he retires. The investigation seems to be succeeding when the police lock up the presumed killer. However, he has to be released when another murder following the same pattern takes place. Dorn continues hunting for his killer, but the facts that could lead to a solution grow increasingly unclear. On top of the investigation, Dorn no longer has time for his family, which is growing further and further apart. His relationship with his 16-year-old son suffers in particular; after his parents’ divorce, the boy lives with his mother and stepfather. Over time, Dorn loses control of himself, and only Monica Faber and Renz remain by his side, as his family is now becoming increasingly entangled in the case as well. At the end of the first part, Dorn’s son also falls victim to the serial killer, whereupon Dorn discovers that all the ritual murders refer to the Ten Commandments. The second part of the film begins with Dorn’s son’s funeral. After the ceremony, Dorn goes with his ex-wife, who asks him to find and kill the murderer of their son. He goes to Mr. Eck, the owner of the comic shop where Oliver worked. Eck arouses suspicion. But Dorn suspects that Sacrifice is the killer. He tracks him down at a concert, where he is working as a DJ. The situation escalates, but just then Dorn’s colleagues arrive. Thomas and Monica go to Thomas’s apartment, where he reveals his past to her. As they grow closer, Peters becomes increasingly entangled in the case. He is having an affair with Monica, is married, and is breaking the commandment “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” When Monica goes to visit him after he tells her he is going to leave his wife, she finds him dead. Meanwhile, Dorn discovers a connection between the murders and his own family. His further investigations lead him to an old priestly boarding school, where a priest taught a group of ten men. Their identifying mark is a cross with a circle around it—Dorn’s father wore one, as did Eck. The ten pursued different careers and helped one another, but Dorn’s father made a career as a detective inspector, which he could not have done without the others’ help. He betrayed the priest when the latter became increasingly fanatical. He and Renz, who also belonged to the brotherhood, handed the priest over to the Vatican. The priest was banished to a Romanian monastery, which later burned down. He was thought to be dead, but the priest secretly returned to Vienna. Dorn finds the priest’s supposed grave and recognizes in a photograph the well-known comic-book artist Rudolph Conrad, who appeared briefly in the first part of the film, when he promised to read Dorn’s son’s manuscript. Dorn now searches for him, but the former brotherhood is also after him, intent on killing him and covering up all their connections. A showdown takes place in the abandoned boarding-school building: Conrad kills Renz and tries to force Dorn to kill him. Dorn refuses, and the priest commits suicide.