Kontroll

Set inside the claustrophobic world of Budapest's underground, Kontroll follows Bulcsú, a young man whose restless energy unsettles his crew of ticket inspectors. They work brutal night shifts, racing along the metallic arteries of the metro, chasing people who cheat fares and flirt with danger. As the team hunts with practiced routine, a shadowy serial killer begins to union the tunnels, turning the subway into a pressure cooker where every station becomes a clue. The film blends dark humor with menace as Bulcsú's longing for something beyond the rails collides with the gritty reality of workaday crime. Between the squeal of brakes and flicker of fluorescents, love and loyalty flicker in and out of the men’s unlikely togetherness and fear.

Directed by Nimród Antal and released in 2003, Kontroll is built from an original screenplay by Jim Adler. The film marks Antal's breakthrough in Hungarian cinema and helped bring tight genre storytelling to the fore, establishing him as rising talent.

Worldwide box office gross was about 1,277,800 dollars from a 500,000 budget, underscoring how a lean genre piece can travel beyond its origins. Its modest footprint in art house and festival circuits helped it reach wider audiences over time globally.

Kontroll helped put Hungarian genre cinema on the map and contributed to Nimród Antal's international profile, paving the way for later works in Hollywood. The film's underground tension and dry humor have left a mark in European thrillers, influencing later subway set thrillers and inspiring a wave of crime cinema.

Critics praised the film's brisk pace, stylish direction, and blend of crime grit with offbeat comedy. Themes include urban alienation, fate and choice under pressure, and the way closeness forms under danger, even when the work is monotone and male dominated. Its tone stays crisp even when the pace lulls.