Rating summary

Movie		1.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.0

Nekromantik Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 23, 2017

Jörg Buttgereit's "Nekromantik" (1988) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of independent distributors Cult Epics. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailers; promotional materials; archival Q&A session with director Jörg Buttgereit; making of featurette; grindhouse version of the main feature; the entire original soundtrack; and more. In German, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The brave girl

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.

Cult Epics’ 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 1.31:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jörg Buttgereit's Nekromantik arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Culr Epics.

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 #1-21 are from the Restored Version.
Screencaptures # 23-33 are from the Grindhouse Version.

The Restored Version is sourced from the same master that Arrow Video accessed when they prepared the Region-B release that we reviewed here. Unsurprisingly, the same traces of various denoising corrections are present, and again the dynamic range appears to have been compromised. On the other hand, because the film was shot on Super 8 and with a very small budget, there are all sorts of other native limitations that have impacted depth and clarity. Frankly, despite the various scratches and debris that are visible on the Grindhouse Version, I think that it is actually preferable because it has a much more filmic dynamic range. Color saturation and contrast balance are more convincing on the Grindhouse Version as well, though it is difficult to tell exactly how accurate they are. All in all, I think that it is great that the two versions of the film are included on the disc so that people can choose the one they like better. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Nekromantik Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: German Dolby Digital 2.0 and German Dolby Digital 5.1. Optional English subtitles are provided for the Restored Version.

I did some direct comparisons with the Region-B release we reviewed in 2014 to see if there is a notable gap in quality between the lossy 2.0 track and the LPCM track and to be honest it is pretty difficult to tell if clarity or depth actually benefit from the lossless treatment. The new mix is very good, but on the other hand the original sound design is hardly impressive. Still, it would have been best if this release had a lossless track as well.

Nekromantik Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Grindhouse 35MM Version - the Grindhouse Version is presented in 1080p with an optional introduction by director Jörg Buttgereit, which was recorded in 2013. In English, not subtitled. (71 min).

• Q&A Session with Jörg Buttgereit - presented here is a filmed Q&A session with director Jörg Buttgereit in which he explains why he shot Nekromantik years ago, what he wanted to accomplish with it, and how the film earned its cult status. The session was filmed at The American Cinematheque in 2013. In English, not subtitled. (40 min, 1080p).

• 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 presented with a recorded commentary by Jorg Buttgereit, co-author Franz Rodenkirchen and David Kerekes. Also included is raw footage from the shooting of the the film. In English, not subtitled. (13 min, 480/60i).

• 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 imposed English subtitles. (10 min, 480/60i).

• Stills Gallery - a large collection of original production stills. (1080p).

• Short Film: 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, which was recorded in 2014. In German, with imposed English subtitles. (29 min, 1080p).

• Hot Love Premiere Footage - archival footage from the film's 1985 premiere at Sputnik Cinema in Berlin. In German and English. (4 min, 1080p).

• JB Trailers - five 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
  5. Hot Love

• Soundtrack - presented here is the the original soundtrack for the film.

Nekromantik Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Jörg Buttgereit's Nekromantik belongs in the same category where you will discover Karim Hussain's Subconscious Cruelty and the recent Mondo Weirdo release from Cult Epics. In other words, it is for folks that like to be challenged with truly 'difficult' films. I don't mind being pushed to the edge from time to time, but Nekromantik is definitely not my cup of tea. If you have been looking for a quality release of the film, I think that this Blu-ray release from Cult Epics' will make you quite happy.