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Like Hannibal Lecter with dentures, Antibodies lacks bite but still disturbs. When German cops capture prolific psychopath Engel (André Hennicke), rural Bavarian plod Michael (Wotan Wilke Möhring) is asked to interrogate him. Convinced Engel killed a local teen, Michael's looking for closure. What he finds are more questions than answers. Slick and sadistic, this German serial killer thriller delivers, although anyone who's seen and (that's everyone, then) will quickly experience déjà vu.

Beginning with a taut SWAT team smash 'n' grab on the psycho's lair, Antibodies' weighty running time soon burns out on adrenalin and switches into a psychological police procedural. Writer-director Alvart establishes his attention to character early, as deeply Catholic, farmer and part-time copper Michael is sucked into the big bad city world of his colleagues. It pays off, with Möhring's brooding performance anchoring the movie as the confessions and mind games move ever closer to his rural hometown.

"DREARY DIALOGUE AND INSIPID ROMANTIC LEADS"

Villain Engel is less convincing, a wiry Christian Bale-a-like who recalls his crimes in graphic, unsettling detail while pleasuring himself. It adds a certain frisson to the proceedings - at least until bargain basement nihilism cops out, replaced by Old Testament references that are about as subtle as having a Bible dropped on your bonce. Wannabe investigators in the audience who can't guess the twist (and maybe even the twist within a twist) in the first forty minutes should hand in their junior Sherlock Holmes badges in shame.