Director – Jorg Buttgereit (Nekromantik, Der Todesking)
Starring – Florian Koerner von Gustorf (Nekromantik 2), Monika M. (Nekromantik 2), and Micha Brendel
Release Date – 1993
Rating – 4/5
Blu Release – 4.5/5
Tagline – “Today I’m dirty…but tomorrow I’ll just be dirt”
German born director Jorg Buttgereit has more than made a name for himself among the horror community. His films are legendary. Though I don’t care for a few of his films I still have to give the man credit. He knows how to leave a lasting impression. His film Nekromantik is a film I have heard about for years. Fans fucking love it. Jorg took on a topic that most would never dare and the result was history. That film spawned a sequel which is just as liked among horror fans as the first film. Jorg did not stop there.
He released an anthology film of sorts titled Der Todesking which followed several individuals who then died in various ways. Personally, I am not a fan of the Nekromantik films but Der Todeskingwas very entertaining. Recently Cult Epics released another Jorg Buttgereit film on blu. That film was Schramm and looked like one of the better Jorg films. I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a review copy my way. Thanks guys!
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows Lothar Schramm (Gustorf) who lives alone. He is an avid jogger and is constantly pushing himself. He also has a deep, dark sexual obsession with killing and mutilation. He has sick fantasies and carries them out on unsuspecting victims. He often kills his male victims quick as possible and then lives out sexual desires with the women.
Sometimes he will kill them before he fucks them while other times he will sedate them and just masturbate on their unconscious body before he murders them. When he can’t murder someone to fulfill his sexual desires he turns to self-mutilation. We follow Lothar through his daily routine and end with him laying in his own blood as his life slips away.**Spoiler Alert**
I’ve always felt that Jorg Buttgereit was a filmmaker and not a storyteller. His films were mostly made to shock with very little story. Nekromantik 1 and 2 was proof of that. The film centered around fucking a corpse. Nothing profound to these films but they were groundbreaking. HoweverDer Todesking does take us away from that and gives us some story. Sure, its an anthology that keeps repeating itself but it was nice to see something truly depraved follow a story regardless of how simple it was. Schramm was a departure from all this and actually gave us a story to follow that was honestly not that shocking considering the other films from the same mind.
The acting in this one is not the best. If you have seen the other Jorg films then you know the acting is not top notch and this one is the same. The acting is consistent from scene to scene but the experience was just not there to make the characters believable.
The story for this one is a very intense character piece that shows how dark and sick the human psyche can be. The story is very simple but it is able to pull the viewer in with anticipation.
Finally, those of you looking for blood will find it here. The kills are not that amazing but the blood comes freely in this one. Some decent practical effects and some unique kills would have set this one over the top. Overall, Schramm is one demented horror film. It is easily one of the best serial killer horror films that I have seen and Cult Epics really did an amazing job on this release. Check it out immediately.
Special Features:
HD Transfer
Director’s Introduction
Commentary
Making of Schramm
Photo Gallery
Short Films
Soundtrack
