Blu-ray Review: NEKROMANTIK

NEKROMANTIK
Written & Directed by Jörg Buttgereit
Distributed by Cult Epics / CAV Distributing

  Most hardcore horror fans are pretty familiar with the NEKROMANTIK films.  They have long been out of print and a treasure for DVD collectors to get their hands on.  Well now everyone can get their hands on a copy thanks to Cult Epics which has recently released this landmark film on a new Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray!

For those unfamiliar with the film, here is the basic plot synopsis from the Cult Epics website:

Nekromantik tells the story of Rob (Daktari Lorenz) who works at a street-cleaning Agency, and visits roadside accidents to clean up the scene. Incidentally Rob collects the body parts and shares them with his girlfriend Betty (Beatrice M.) When Rob presents a complete corpse taken out of a swamp, their undying love reaches its peak, but soon after Betty gets a more liking towards the corpse and leaves Rob, which takes him to the sick end of his destruction.

  I hate to admit it, but I can't help but like this movie.  While the a movie about necrophilia shouldn't be something I like, I tend to like any film these days that can truly shock me.   I had never seen this film before this new release.  I can't imagine what audiences thought back in the 80's when this film was first released. It is still shocking today as it was back then, and that to me is a good thing.  I love a movie that can actually effect me to where  I am still thinking about it days after watching it.  This film did that.    While the story and subject matter is very gross, there is some truly amazing gore in this film, including a woman cut in half after a car accident which still looked way too real to me! 

  Also on this new release is one of Jorg Buttgereit's early short films, HOT LOVE.  This 40 minute short film is an awesome addition to this release.  This is a gore filled romp in the same vein as NEKROMANTIK.  Here is the plot synopsis of HOT LOVE from the director's personal website:

Daktari Lorenz falls in eternal, blissfull love with Marion (Marion Koob) at a party. He is in heaven... but soon she dumps him and moves in with a tall, blond new lover (Jörg Buttgereit himself). Daktari vows bitter revenge. He rapes the girl thus creating a monster baby that will show Marion what “Present Me with Your Heart” literally means. Dark, brooding and violent, this movie, made in 1985, set the tone for NEKROMANTIK.

NEKROMANTIK is available now from Cult Epics in a 2-Disc Special Edition DVD or on Blu-ray, and contains the following special features:

• New Director’s approved HD transfer (taken from the original Super 8mm negative)
• New Grindhouse HD version (taken from the Theatrical 35mm print)
• Introduction by Jorg Buttgereit (2013)
• Q&A with Jorg Buttgereit at the American Cinematheque (2013)
• Never Before released short film Hot Love (1985) in HD
• Hot Love Audio Commentary & Featurette
• Audio Commentary by Jorg Buttgereit and co-author Franz Rodenkirchen
• The Making of Nekromantik
• Nekromantik Featurette
• Still Photo Gallery
• JB Trailers
• Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

DVD Review: NECROPHILE PASSION

NECROPHILE PASSION
Written & Directed by  Tom Heidenberg
Distributed by Black Lava Entertainment

  I recently watched another very shocking movie, this one dealing with one of the most taboo subjects there is, Necrophilia.  The film is called NECROPHILE PASSION and it is as gross and disturbing as you think it would be.  This is not a topic we see much in horror films, in fact, the only other films I can think on with this topic as their main story line are the German NEKROMANTIK films from the late 80's /early 90s.  Most studios and filmmakers these days would dare not make a new movie about this subject, but Black Lava Entertainment is apparently not your normal film company!  This is a company known for distributing films that are ground breaking and barrier breaking, with no subject too sensitive to cover.   

  Here is the plot of NECROPHILE PASSION from the Black Lava Entertainment website:

   After having been left by his girlfriend, who treated him like shit, a young man finds a female body in a nearby woods. His conscience tells him to call the police, but a sinister urge commands him to take the corpse home with him. After having done so, his dark desires go rampant and he molests the corpse various times. His life is in shambles and only the love to the woman's dead body gives him the strength to continue. However, he has not yet tied up all the loose ends with his girlfriend and it is time for him to finally get his revenge. Who will triumph in this diabolical love triangle? Man, woman or corpse?

  I remember being totally disgusted years ago when I watched the NEKROMANTIK dvds.  This film does a remarkable job of shocking the viewer just as the NEKROMANTIK movies did years ago.  It's hard to say this film is good, as the subject matter is so hard to watch and deal with.  The  movie is very well made, though, almost to an artistic degree at various points in the film.   The acting is great and with a 52 minute run time, the movie is paced very well and doesn't drag on like some films do when they feel they have to stretch the movie out to 80 or 90 minutes.

  This film was obviously made to shock and disturb people, and with that being the case, the filmmakers succeeded on every level.   If you are a fan of shock cinema, this is one you will want to check out for sure!

  Black Lava Entertainment is an Austrian based DVD company,  but this DVD played fine in my player, so their DVD's must be region free. 

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer  (**WARNING** NSFW trailer)
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD  (click on the SHOP tab)

Cult classic NEKROMANTIK is coming to Blu-ray!

 
  In 1987, German director Jörg Buttgereit  created a film that is a true cult classic to horror fans.  The film was NEKROMANTIK and is about a very taboo subject.   Here is the plot of the film from it's ibdb page to tell you what I mean:

  A street sweeper who cleans up after grisly accidents brings home a full corpse for him and his wife to enjoy sexually, but is dismayed to see that his wife prefers the corpse over him.

  There you go...pretty vile and disgusting stuff.  All the more reason that horror fans like this movie.  I have never seen this film, as it has been long out of print on DVD.  You don't see this one for sale very often, as the DVD has become quite a collectors item.  I have seen copies of the DVD sell for up to $80 on ebay and amazon.com. 

  Well, if you haven't been able to see the film, you soon will have a chance. It was just announced that distribution company Cult Epics will release a 2014 Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray of NEKROMANTIK!  I will let you know once I hear an official release date.   Watch the trailer and let me know what you think.  Be advised, this trailer is NOT SAFE FOR WORK.  The trailer contains lots of gore and nudity.  Watch at your own risk!

  If you have seen NEKROMANTIK, leave a comment and let me know what you think about this film.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer  **WARNING** Trailer contains nudity and gore

Check out the crazy trailer for the upcoming film, THANATOMORPHOSE

  Have you heard of the film, THANATOMORPHOSE?   Can you pronounce the title?  I can't! But I watched the trailer and this film looks revolting and nasty, so obviously I am dying to see it!!  I hadn't heard a thing about this film, but I ran across an article about it while browsing one of my favorite horror sites, Dreadcentral.com.  Here is the description of the film from the dreadcentral.com article:

A Cronenbergian smorgasbord of rancid flesh and sexual gratification, Thanatomorphose, by Canadian director Eric Falardeau, picks up where Nekromantic left off. “Discovering several bruises on her body after a night of rough sex, a young woman is shocked as, rather than heal itself, her body begins rotting from the inside out. She faces a terrifying and gory descent into a living death, as her putrefying body begins to literally ‘fall off the bone’.”
A strange and claustrophobic tale of sexuality, horror and bodily fluids, Thanatomorphose will not only make you wince, but is strangely uplifting in its take on mortality. The title means the physical signs of a body’s decomposition, caused by death.

The website doesn't list a date for a U.S. release yet, but hopefully it will be sooner than later!  Hopefully I can get my hands on a DVD soon and do a full review of the film here on the 4H website.  Do yourself a favor and go watch this trailer now!  BUT...be advised, this trailer is NOT SAFE FOR WORK -- it includes crazy gore and nudity.  Enjoy!

CLICK HERE to ready the full article at dreadcentral.com and watch the nasty trailer!

CLICK HERE to visit the film's official website