Review for Nekromantik 2

‘Nekromantik’ was, if anything, more widely reviled that its predecessor (my review of Nekromantik here), grouped into the eighties ‘video nasty’ debate, despite being produced in the early nineties. Indeed, maverick Director Jörg Buttgereit should hardly have been surprised at the consternation the release of ‘Nekromantik 2’ caused. If he and his colleagues are to be believed, it seems that this was entirely their intent. Despite its shock element having been watered down by the prevalence of ultra-violence in many movies and TV shows today, there is no doubt that the film remains one that should be avoided by anyone offended by gratuitous violence, blood and, well, necrophilia which is, after all, the core subject of the film.

Thematically it’s pretty much more of the same, although on a bigger budget; bigger but by no means big. We’re still talking relatively amateurish, lo-fi movie-making here, though it was amusing to hear the surprisingly affable Buttergeit reflect on how the money from the first film enabled them to make this one in an all in an intensive two –week period rather than over weeks and months as budget would allow, as with the first film. They also moved up from scuzzy 8mm to full on 16mm although there was still little money available for much lighting and production value.
The film centres around Monika who isn’t like other young women. She shares her small flat with Rob, a recently disinterred corpse that serves as the object of her affections. But then she meets good-natured Mark, and soon finds herself torn between the prospect of a ‘normal’ life with a living, breathing partner and her overwhelming desire for her rotting bed-fellow. It’s a love story of sorts, but in truth that’s being a bit kind. This is more than a love story with a twist; this is a twisted love story.

Be prepared for some pretty shocking moments. Not only is there some relatively explicit simulated necrophilia, there are also scenes of beheading and other grotesques, like an exhumation of a rotting course. Similar to the first film, the tender piano and synth score seems at odds with the horrors on screen and this juxtaposition works extremely well, almost making us empathise with the lead before we remind ourselves of what we’re actually seeing. It’s a fun way of playing with Pavlov like triggers and to a large degree, is the making of the film.

On the downside, although this isn’t quite as grungy and low-rent as the first film, it’s pretty shoddy by normal film-making standards. Indeed, it’s difficult to understand why it’s getting such a lavish multi-disc box-set release from Arrow. Surely there must be far worthier contenders? I guess its notoriety, mixed with its value as a bootleg prior to an official release has made it a hot property. Just don’t mistake the lavish packaging and premium price as any reflection of the quality of the contents.

Having said that, this is a much higher quality presentation than the first ‘Nekromantik’. Picture quality is substantially better as it’s from a 16mm print as opposed to ‘home movie’ Super-8.
As this is an Arrow release, you also get a substantial set of special features. The ‘luxury’ edition comes with a Soundtrack CD though I haven’t seen or heard that so can’t comment on how good that is. You also get 5 exclusive ‘Polaroid’ postcards and a 100 page booklet, featuring new writing from Electric Sheep editor Virginie Sélavy, writer Kier-La Janisse and others, as well as a new translation of the article submitted to the German government as part of the Nekromantik 2 prosecution case, all illustrated with new artwork and original archive stills. Again, I haven’t seen either of these so I can’t comment.

Other special features are listed in full below. It’s strange that such grimly repulsive and deliberately offensive film should have been made by such a nice bunch of people. Buttergeit seems like a genuinely nice chap, Monika M is positively charming and Mark Reeder curiously down to earth in a thoroughly Northern English way, despite his semi neo-Nazi look. They all speak positively of the experience of making the film, despite its miniscule budget. By the time you’ve listened to the audio commentary and watched the ‘making of’ documentaries and all the interviews, you’ll really feel like you were there as part of the team. What’s never entirely clear is what drove Buttergeit to make such a film in the first place unless you believe it was just the desire to shock; a Germanic post-punk industrial goth sensibility. If you’re getting the set then I’d advise you to take the time to watch and listen to the special features so that you can make your own mind up.

•Audio commentary with Buttgereit, co-writer Franz Rodenkirchen and actors Monika M. and Mark Reeder

•Introduction to the film with Buttgereit, Reeder, Monika M. and producer Manfred Jelinski

•Masters of Life and Death a brand new documentary looking at the film s production and release history, featuring interviews with Buttgereit, Reeder, Monika M. and Jelinski

•City of the Loving Dead a walking tour of some of the original Berlin locations with Reeder and Jelinski

•Necropolis: Jörg Buttgereit s Berlin film scholar Dr. Marcus Stiglegger on the significance of the German capital as the backdrop for Nekromantik 2

•The Making of Nekromantik 2 vintage documentary viewable with two different audio tracks: an English track comprising audio interviews with Buttgereit, Rodenkirchen and Monika M., and a German track featuring radio interviews with Buttgereit and Rodenkirchen, with optional English subtitles

•Nekro Waltz: The Music of Nekromantik 2 Reeder discusses his work on the film's score

•Outtakes Reel

•Nekromantik 2 Livekonzert footage from the 20th anniversary Nekromantik 2 concert, with Monika M. and friends performing the live score

•Nekromantik 2 Livekonzert the complete 20-track audio recording of the concert [BD/DVD-ROM content]

•Two Buttgereit short films: Bloody Excess in the Leader s Bunker (Blutige Exzesse im Führerbunker, 1982) and A Moment of Silence at the Grave of Ed Gein (2012)

•Two Buttgereit-directed music videos: Rise Up by Die Krupps (1997), starring Monika M., and Die Frau in der Musik by Stereo Total (2007)

•Complete collection of Buttgereit feature film trailers

•Extensive image gallery

If you ‘enjoyed’ Nekromantik, then you may well be psychologically prepared for ‘Nekromantik 2’. If it’s on your wish-list and sounds like your sort of thing, then this must surely be the definitive edition.