For sure one of the better entries in the long and qualitatively irregular series of Edgar Wallace krimi-adaptations, and this for two specific reasons. Number one: "The Strange Countess" does everything - and I do mean everything - to uphold the mystery. The plot isn't exceptionally great or convoluted, but since very few exploitations or clues are given until late in the final act, it remains a compelling movie to follow. Number two: being one of the older krimis, "The Strange Countess" also doesn't feature those daft attempts at inserting unnecessary slapstick comedy. Eddi Arent stars and, although his character is still the most annoying, he's not undermining the suspense or ruining the atmosphere for a change.
Miss Margaret Reedle, a nice 20-year-old girl without any enemies, suddenly becomes the target of several cowardly murder attempts and menacing phone calls in one day. Her stalker's identity isn't kept secret. It's good old Klaus Kinski, but why does he want to kill Margaret because he has never seen or spoken to her before? And, clearly, someone knows her life is in danger because Margaret suddenly has a private bodyguard (krimi-veteran Joachim Fuchsberger) following her around and preventing her from getting killed. When Margaret goes to work for the eccentric Countess Moron (what's in a name...) and live in her castle, the mystery only increases.
I will not reveal any further details of the plot. Again, not because the denouement or the twists are so amazing, but merely because the entire cast and crew work so hard to reveal so little, and I don't want to ruin that. The only need-to-know information is that "The Strange Countess" is a good mystery/thriller krimi, with a handful of unexpected suspense moments (the balcony sequence in particular) and a more than adequate cast (including Lil Dagover, who's been around since the silent German expressionist era, and starred in the ultimate horror masterpiece "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari").
