Review of Nekromantik (1988) by Diane H — 16 Jan 2011

Nekromantik is a German low budget film directed by Jorg Buttgereit. It created scandals when released and gained it a bad reputation due to the films subject of necrophilia.

The film is often called "Corpse Fu**ing Art" by certain film critics.

THIS IS FULL OF PLOT SPOILERS, SO I'LL TRY NOT TO TELL TOO MUCH.

Plot: Robert works for a corpse removal service. One day after a beer drinking man in lederhosen accidentally shoots a man and drops the corpse in a ditch; Robert is at the site to clean up the mess. Robert decides to steal the corpse and take it home as a gift to his girlfriend Betty.

Betty and Robert take the corpse to bed and proceed to saw off a broom handle and attach it to the corpse as a penis. They gently slip on a condom for lubrication and have a ménage a trios.

Robert is having problems at work and is suffering from depression.

To make matters worse Betty leaves Robert a note: "I'm sorry Robert, but I can't see a future in our relationship and need to move on. By the way, I'm taking our new friend with me.".

Yepp, you heard me, she dumps him for the corpse, packing her bags, leaving poor Robert all on his own, abandoned with his collection of organs and genitals preserved in formaldehyde filled jars.

Robert masturbates himself to death, stabbing himself in the stomach as he ejaculates blood. Robert is buried and a mysterious woman exhumes Robert's corpse.

Yes folks, Nekromantik is what it is of a weird film, but it does have a certain charm to it. Nekromantik's director was part of the Berlin punk scene in the early 80's and the film has the look. It was filmed in both super 8 and 16 mm, giving it the rough and murky quality the film requires.

The film was partly financed by the German beer brewery SKULL BEER The logo can be seen a couple of times during the film. Director Jorg was given 1000 cans of the product if he'd show the logo in the film, so the catering problem and costs were solved: Beer.

The film has a very nice music score by Hermann Kopp and Daktari Lorenz. The classical piano music accompanies the outrageous scenes of necrophilia, giving the whole guilty pleasure the mood of an Art House film.

Nekromantik is also very funny at times and doesn't take itself too serious. I won't give the good bits away.

When Nekromantik was to be screened here in Norway at a film club called "Himmel og Helvete" (Heaven and Hell), the print was seized by the authorities and the film club promoter had to go to court. It was all over the media and created quite a stink.

I took matter into my own hands and went home with a cab to get my personal VHS. At once I managed to whip together a private screening at my local hangout bar. The place was packed by the disappointed film club members. I consider myself a humanitarian out for justice with a heart.

The special effects vary. The corpse looks convincing as it rots throughout the film, but Roberts erect penis is laughable and a bit too exaggerated.

The film spawned a sequel that takes off right where this one ended. It's naturally called Nekromantik 2. The production values are superior and is a better made film in my opinion. I have to get these films on disc some day. They are fun to watch even though most viewers will be repulsed.

When the print was seized and the screening stopped, the whole charade turned into a Q & A with the director. I got really upset as a lot of people were giving him lip about a film they hadn't even seen. I asked him how he felt about that, and he thanked me for asking. He simply answered that the reactions of the stupid people creating such a big deal, were just as bad as the censorship boards. Ignorance.

I asked Jorg if he could send me a Nekromantik T shirt, and it arrived in the mail the following week. I never sent him the cash and still feel really bad about that.

He later went on to work on the film KILLER CONDOM. Jorg now mainly directs documentaries.

The Nekromantik films are avaliable on DVD and can be easily found if you Google them.

By no means a turn on film, even though there are sickos out there. You have been warned.