Based on the real life and death of East German intelligence officer Werner Teske, The Last Execution often flirts with the kind of compelling intrigue found in great espionage procedurals like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), but never quite hits the mark. While well-acted and written, The Last Execution suffers from a rather perfunctory presentation that dilutes what could be a truly gripping spy story. Director Franziska Stünkel wisely chooses to stay clear of the James Bond-styled antics normally associated with cinematic spydom, but The Last Execution is still meant to be a thriller. Unfortunately, it fails to thrill to its full potential.
However, if you, like me, are a sucker for Cold War era period pieces, The Last Execution still has much to offer. Stünkel excels at highlighting the drabness of her setting and the very real human cost of competitive spying and propaganda. In addition, from a historical standpoint, the recruitment and career of Werner Teske (who was the last man to receive the death penalty in East Germany, and is fictionalized in the film by Lars Eidinger) is an fascinating example of the kind of petty and vindictive intelligence gathering happening all over the world during the tumultuous 1970s and ‘80s. It’s a great story that falls just short of the expository and stylistic mark.
The Last Execution is having its International premiere at the 57th CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.
Originally published by ASHEVILLE MOVIES.
James is a writer, record collector, wrestling nerd, and tabletop gamer living with his family in Asheville, North Carolina. He is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the North Carolina Film Critics Association, and contributes to The Daily Orca, Razorcake Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Asheville Movies.