Rating summary

Movie		1.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		3.0

Nekromantik Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 7, 2014

Jörg Buttgereit's "Nekromantik" (1988) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video. The supplemental feature on the disc include original trailers; audio commentary with the German director; short films; newly produced featurette; exclusive filmed Q&A session moderated by Calum Waddell; making of featurette; archival footage from the film's premiere; and a lot more. The release also arrives with a 27-track CD featuring the complete "Nekromantik" soundtrack plus rare tracks from the short film "Hot Love", as well as exclusive perfect-bound 100-page book featuring a new writings on the film and archival interview with real-life necrophiliac Karen Greenlee, all illustrated with new artwork and original archive stills. In German, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The couple

The story is very simple. A young man (Bernd Daktari Lorenz) who makes ends meet by body-bagging roadkill remains steals a corpse and brings it home. His girlfriend (Beatrice Manowski) then helps him clean up the corpse and the three routinely engage in bizarre sexual activities. For a while the man and his girlfriend seem very happy, but then the man loses his job and his girlfriend announces that she has had enough of him. She moves out and takes their 'mutual friend' with her.

The man becomes seriously depressed. Initially he decides to stay home until he recovers, but the pain he feels is unbearable. He ends up in a sleazy movie theater where he watches a film about a mass murderer. Later on he picks up a prostitute, makes love to her and kills her. When he eventually returns home, his condition worsens.

This low-budget film directed by German filmmaker Jorg Buttgereit has earned quite a reputation during the years. I am afraid it is absolutely justified -- it is very disturbing without actually having anything meaningful to say about the condition of its protagonist.

There are other films that deal with the same subject Nekromantik does. Arguably the best amongst them is Lynne Stopkewich’s Kissed, about a young woman who works in a funeral home and becomes a necrophiliac. In this film, however, the subject is approached in a notably mature fashion, which allows one to seriously think about the woman’s condition. That’s all the film does -- it does not push any buttons and it certainly does not attempt to shock.

Buttgereit’s film does exactly the opposite, which is why it does not work. In fact, it is done so poorly and so cheaply -- and I am not referring to the obviously fake and very cheap corpse and the various body parts seen throughout the film -- that almost immediately it becomes obvious that all Buttgereit was trying to do is get noticed with it. It is an old trick -- create some controversy and get noticed. (For those not convinced that this is the case, see the short video introduction on this release where Buttgereit openly admits that he is still amazed that people take his work seriously).

The film's strongest asset is its soundtrack. Minimalistic synthesizer themes are used to enhance the 'drama' in different sequences, though admittedly like the visuals the music is also too simplistic.

Previously unavailable on the UK home video market, at least not legally, Nekromantik recently received an 18 certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.

Arrow Video’s upcoming Blu-ray release of Nekromantik features two fully uncut versions of the film: A newly Restored Version and "Grindhouse Version". The transfer for the latter was done from the only existing 35mm print of the film, which contains original burned-in/printed English subtitles. On this version no picture or audio restoration work has been done so that it accurately replicates the film’s theatrical look.

Nekromantik Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.31:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jörg Buttgereit's Nekromantik arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video.

There are two versions of the film included on this release. The Restored Version uses a new transfer which has been approved by the German director, while the Grindhouse Version uses a new transfer struck from the only existing 35mm print of the film. On the Grindhouse Version no restoration work has been performed and as a result there are white burned-in/printed English subtitles on it.

Please note that the screencaptures included with our review appear in the following order:

Screencaptures #1-11 are from the Restored Version
Screencaptures # 13-25 are from the Grindhouse Version.

On the Restored Version there are light to moderate traces of various denoising corrections. During well-lit close-ups detail is satisfactory, but there are parts of the film where depth clearly suffers (see screencapture #11). Because the film was shot on Super 8 there are obvious native limitations that also contribute to the overall flatness, but the digital work could have been managed better (see screencaptures #3 and 4). The Grindhouse Version actually has a much more pleasing organic appearance. Yes, there are numerous scratches, some cuts, debris, dirt, and some transition and stability issues, but grain is present throughout the entire film and image depth is actually a lot better (compare screencaptures #2 and 25, screencaptures #7 and 18, and screencaptures #1 and 24). Even color saturation and contrast balance are more convincing on the Grindhouse Version. Obviously, some viewers may consider the burnt-in subtitles to be problematic -- the translation is actually very good -- but despite the source imperfections mentioned above I personally prefer the raw and more organic appearance of the Grindhosue Version. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Nekromantik Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: German LPCM 1.0 and German LPCM 2.0/Stereo on the Restored Version and German Dolby Digital 1.0 on the Grindhouse Version. For the record, Arrow Video have provided optional English subtitles for the Restored Version. There white burned-in/printed English subtitles on the Grindhouse Version.

I viewed the Restored Version with the Mono track and later on did different comparisons with the Stereo track. It is very easy to tell that the audio has been restored. The music is crisp, well rounded, stable, and free of background hiss. Obviously, dynamic intensity is very limited, but considering the nature of the project this is hardly surprising. The Stereo track opens up the film slightly better in select areas, but the difference isn't overly impressive. The mono track on the Girndhouse Version is unrestored. There are various minor dynamic fluctuations, quite a bit of background hiss, and various pops.

Nekromantik Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction - director Jörg Buttgereit introduces the new restoration of Nekromantik. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Nekromantik "Grindhouse Version" - see the video section of our review.

• JB Short Films - presented here are two short films from Jörg Buttgereit.
  
  1. Hot Love (1985). A young man meets a girl in a club and falls in love with her. The two spend some time together, but eventually he discovers that she is seeing someone else (a violent thug played by Jörg Buttgereit). The film can be seen with an optional audio commentary, in English, by Jörg Buttgereit. In German, with optional English subtitles. (29 min).
  
  2. Hot Love Premiere Footage - archival footage from the film's 1985 premiere at Sputnik Cinema in Berlin. In German, with optional English subtitles. (4 min).
  
  3. Horror Heaven (1984). A compilation of short horror spoofs. The film can be seen with an optional audio commentary, in English, by Jörg Buttgereit. In German, with optional English subtitles. (24min).
  
  4. Horror Heaven Outtakes. In German, with optional English subtitles. (5 min).

• JB Music Videos -
  
  1. Shock Therapy - "I Can't Let Go" (4 min).
  2. Half Girl - "Lemmy, I'm a Feminist" (4 min).

• JB Trailers - four restored trailers. In German, with optional English subtitles. (8 min).
  
  1. Nekromantik
  2. Der Todesking/The Death King
  3. Nekromantik 2
  4. Schramm/Schramm: Into the Mind of a Serial Killer

• In Conversation with The Death King - in this exclusive new video interview, Jörg Buttgereit discusses the production history of Nekromantik and mixed reactions the film drew from audiences and critics. The interview was conducted by Arrow Video's Ewan Cant on August 25th, 2014 in London. In English, not subtitled. (23 min).

• The Nekromantik Legacy - this new documentary focuses on the film's controversial history (and specifically its history in the UK, where until recently it was impossible to see uncut legally) and cult status. Included in the documentary are new interviews with Marc Morris (Nucleus Films), Virginue Selavy (editor, Electric Sheep Magazine), Justin Harries (Filmbar70), Patricia MacCormack (professor of continental philosophy, Anglia Ruskin University), and film historian David Flint, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (40 min).

• Jorg Buttgereit Q&A - presented here is a Q&A session with the German director, which was filmed after the screening of Horror Heaven and Nekromantik at Glasgow's Centre for Contemporary Arts on August 26, 2014. The Q&A was moderated by Calum Waddell. Courtesy of High Rise Productions. In English, not subtitled. (46 min).

• The Making of Nekromantik - presented here is a vintage featurette which was used in the 1992 documentary Corpse Fucking Art. It has been newly transferred in HD and is viewable with two different audio tracks. The English track is an audio commentary with Jorg Buttgereit, co-author Franz Rodenkirchen and David Kerekes. The German track is essentially a collection of archival audio interviews from 1988 with the German director, co-author Franz Rodenkirchen, and actor/filmmaker Manfred O. Jelinski. Included in the featurette is plenty of raw footage from the shooting of the the film. (13 min).

• Nekromantik Featurette - in this archival featurette, Jorg Buttgereit and Manfred O. Jelinski recall how Nekromantik came to exist. There are also a some interesting comments about some rather controversial screenings of the film. The featurette was produced for the 10th anniversay German VHS release in 1997. In German, with optional English subtitles. (10 min).

• Nekromantik Premiere - presented here is archival footage from the film's original premiere at Sputnik Cinema in Berlin in 1988. The footage was shot and edited by Nekromantik director of photography Uwe Bohrer. In German, with optional English subtitles. (3 min).

• Image Gallery - large image gallery with behind-the-scenes stills and rare promotional materials, as well as the German-language Nekromantik der Komik, from Berlin comic artist Fil, reproduced in its entity.

• Commentary - audio commentary with Jörg Buttgereit and co-writer Franz Rodenkirchen.

• Soundtrack - 27-track CD featuring the complete Nekromantik soundtrack composed and performed by star Daktari Lorenz and musicians John Boy Walton and Hermann Kopp, plus rare tracks from Hot Love.

• 100-page Book - Romance is Dead - exclusive perfect-bound book featuring a new article on Nekromantik from critic Graham Rae, alongside pieces from writers David Kerekes (Sex Murder Art: The Films of Jörg Buttgereit), Kier-La Janisse (House of Psychotic Women), Linnie Blake (The Wounds of Nations) and an archive interview with real-life necrophile Karen Greenlee, all illustrated with new artwork and original archive stills.

• Packaging - limited edition packaging featuring new artwork by Gilles Vranckx.

• Certificate - individually-numbered certificate (#1-3,000).

• Postcards - set of 5 Exclusive Limited Edition Nekromantik "polaroid" postcards.

Nekromantik Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you have already seen Jörg Buttgereit's Nekromantik and have been patiently waiting for someone to release it on Blu-ray so that you can add it to your collection, you should place your order for this limited edition set now as it has absolutely everything a fan of the film could possibly ask for. In fact, I don't know if Arrow Video have sent one of these sets to the German director, but if he already has one I can guarantee you that he is probably quite overwhelmed by the lavish treatment his film has received in the United Kingdom. If you have only read about Nekromantik and wish to see it, my advice to you is to find a way to rent it first. Excluding Karim Hussain's Subconscious Cruelty, I can't think of another more appropriate film to label "not safe to blind buy".