Directed by:
Paul HaratherCinematography:
Fabian EderCast:
Christiane Hörbiger, Jan Niklas, Udo Kier, Simon Schwarz, Margarete Tiesel, Wolfgang Michael, Klaus Ofczarek, Mathias Kahler, Gen Seto, Peter Faerber (more)Plots(1)
An aging hausfrau finds hobby-murder an intoxicating sport in The Praying Mantis, an expertly played black comedy that´s beautifully lensed in widescreen and casts an ironic eye on Austria´s parochial mindset. Mantis recalls some adaptations of German novelist Ingrid Noll´s dark comedies featuring murderous women, especially Rainer Kaufmann´s The Pharmacist. Christiane Höerbiger is terrific as Trixi, a still-trim grandmother who escapes her dull home life with Siggi (Klaus Ofczarek), a model airplane enthusiast. You know the pic is not going to be your average middle-class drama when she´s spotted one day by Karli (Peter Faerber), a sleazy friend of her husband´s, and she calmly gives him oral sex to ensure he´ll keep her secret. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)
(more)Cast
![Christiane Hörbiger](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274072_659fb4.jpg)
Christiane Hörbiger
Austria
Best movies:
Tafelspitz (1994)
Stiller Abschied (2013) (TV movie)
Secret Hope (2015) (TV movie)
![Jan Niklas](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/490/161490011_715108.jpg)
Jan Niklas
Germany
Best movies:
Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001) (TV movie)
The Life of Verdi (1982) (series)
Ansichten eines Clowns (1976)
![Udo Kier](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/269/269466_9b30ec.jpg)
Udo Kier
German Empire
Best movies:
The Kingdom (1994) (series)
Narcissus and Psyche (1980)
Breaking the Waves (1996)
![Simon Schwarz](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/167/537/167537122_lu0ahd.jpg)
Simon Schwarz
Austria
Best movies:
North Face (2008)
Come Sweet Death (2000)
Protector (2009)
![Margarete Tiesel](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/167/257/167257337_68dd78.jpg)
Margarete Tiesel
Austria
Best movies:
The Collini Case (2019)
The Golden Glove (2019)
Paradise: Love (2012)
![Wolfgang Michael](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/449/159449547_c5ba38.jpg)
Wolfgang Michael
West Germany
Best movies:
A Hidden Life (2019)
I Was at Home, But (2019)
My Sister's Good Fortune (1995)
![Klaus Ofczarek](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/590/159590985_361ef9.jpg)
Klaus Ofczarek
Austria
Best movies:
North Face (2008)
Tehran Taboo (2017)
God´s mighty servant (2011) (TV movie)
![Mathias Kahler](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/358/160358591_6c41eb.jpg)
Mathias Kahler
Austria
Best movies:
Bride of the Wind (2001)
Ein Hund kam in die Küche (2002) (TV movie)
![Gen Seto](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/204/163204872_aa5b9c.jpg)
Gen Seto
Best movies:
The Best Offer (2013)
Antares (2004)
All the Queen's Men (2001)
![Peter Faerber](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/501/166501497_ff710c.jpg)
Peter Faerber
Austria
Best movies:
North Face (2008)
Uprising (2001) (TV movie)
Der Clan - Die Geschichte der Familie Wagner (2013) (TV movie)
![Hakon Hirzenberger](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/725/168725015_qrfz9r.jpg)
Hakon Hirzenberger
Austria
Best movies:
Hotel (2004)
Günter Großmann
Austria
Best movies:
Tatort (1970) (series)
![Gerhard Ernst](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/167/257/167257340_a58ae1.jpg)
Gerhard Ernst
Austria
Best movies:
Come Sweet Death (2000)
Margarete Steiff (2005) (TV movie)
Tatort (1970) (series)
Rudolf Melichar
German Empire
Best movies:
Holocaust (1978) (series)
The Piano Teacher (2001)
Fantômas (1980) (series)
Peter Karolyi
Best movies:
Tatort (1970) (series)
Tanja Petrovsky
Austria
Best movies:
Models (1999)
Hagazussa: A Heathen's Curse (2017)
Paul Kreshka
Best movies:
Gebürtig (2002)
Catherine the Great (1996) (TV movie)
Hidden Reserves (2016)
![Julia von Sell](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/557/161557226_b6235a.jpg)
Julia von Sell
Best movies:
Gestern waren wir Fremde (2013) (TV movie)
Alois Frank
Austria
Ilene Kreshka
Best movies:
My Best Enemy (2011)
The Ring (1996) (TV movie)
I Spy Returns (1994) (TV movie)