What is this film? Part horror, part mystery, part coming of age, think "David Lynch makes an ET-reboot targeted at high schoolers".
This wide spectrum of genres gives the film a nice flow, because it allows the director to mold the story in any way that he pleases. The viewer is kept on the edge of the seat, while the story is taking turn after turn.
Still, a little more focus would have been beneficial. Take, for example, the bold claim I found on the back of the DVD: "The ultimate Berlin-movie of this generation". Whoever sits down to watch "Der Nachtmahr" with this expectation is bound to be disappointed. To be fair, it features some very impressive scenes of raves and clubs but this is simply a back drop, to draw this to the foreground is merely a marketing move.
Same goes for the mystery elements. There is enough material to break the wall between reality and fiction but if you are looking for dark, mind-bending mystery, there is other places to look.
I, as a viewer, brushed aside the mystery, the raving, the strobe effects and under all the rubble, found the beautiful story of Tina and "her" nightmare. Whatever it is, she is bound to it; the more people are trying to drive it out, the stronger their bond becomes; until it becomes clear that, while ugly and inapt for posh Berlin suburbia, it is a peaceful companion that Tina learnes to love and live with.
Surrounded by people pushing her around for the sake of "mental health" and fitting into suburbian society, a teenager emancipates into a young adult with a healthy attitude towards the darker sides of life...
This might not be a good promotional slogan but viewing "Der Nachtmahr", this is what I will remember.
