MovieChat Forums > Spoorloos (1988) Discussion > 'To me, killing is not the most horrible...

'To me, killing is not the most horrible deed'


That may not be the exact quote, but Raymond said something along those lines. I had figured after that line that Raymond must have been holding Saskia captive somewhere, possibly physically and psychologically torturing her. Except then at the end we find out (presumably) that he locked her in a coffin 6 feet under where she died from lack of oxygen...so he did kill her...unless I'm missing something

reply

Maybe the following sheds light on his meaning. If you recall, the policeman observed that Raymond was wearing no seatbelt when stopped. Ray replied that he was claustrophobic and produced a medical exemption to that effect. To a claustrophobic, what could be worse than to be buried alive? Death would be a relief in that situation.

reply

You're not missing anything. He buried her alive and left her to die, and then did the same thing to Rex to show him what happened to his girlfriend.

reply

As someone else wrote Raymond fears claustrophobia and being buried alive in a coffin is, perhaps, his idea of hell. Yes the action results in his victim's deaths but his intent was to see if he was capable of the most evil action, in his view, to decide if he were evil or good. Well he managed it and so acknowledged his evilness.

I'm a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl

reply

If you recall, the policeman observed that Raymond was wearing no seatbelt when stopped. Ray replied that he was claustrophobic and produced a medical exemption to that effect. To a claustrophobic, what could be worse than to be buried alive? Death would be a relief in that situation.


Precisely. Not sure how anybody could miss that, if they were paying attention.

reply