Violent Shit
Director – Andreas Schnaas (Goblet of Gore, Don’t Wake the Dead)
Starring – Andreas Schnaas, Gabi Bazner, and Wolfgang Hinz (Zombie ’90: Extreme Pestilence)
Release Date – 1989
Rating – 1.5/5
Tagline – “Expect the worst”
As a collector I find myself often hunting for movies just because I saw other people sharing them in horror forums and groups especially once I hear how rare or hard to find they are. One film series I have been after for years is the German splatter films Violent Shit. I first saw someone mention this no budget abominations in the forums of Upcoming Horror Movies many years ago and since then I have been on the hunt. You can purchase these films in stand alone releases fairly cheap but I really wanted the box set. I found it a few times close to $100 on amazon and ebay and never pulled the trigger. I’m glad I didn’t. Synapse Films recently got hold of the four Violent Shit films, along with Zombie ’90: Extreme Pestilence, and released them in a brand new box set. I reached out to Synapse and they were kind enough to send them my way. Thanks guys.
**Spoiler Alert**The story for this one is very straight forward. We follow the deranged K. The Butcher Shitter (Schnaas) who escapes from the grasp if incompetent police officers and flees into the woods. He then embarks on a murderous rampage killing people with sheer brutality and imagination.**Spoiler Alert**
I was not expecting a brilliant horror film with top notch kills and an amazing cast. However, I was expecting something low grade full of fun deaths and campy characters. I wasn’t greeted with that. In fact, the film is pretty much a backyard horror film of the lower caliber. This isn’t a bad thing but this film lacked story or characters that the viewer could latch onto.
The acting in this one is some of the worst acting I have seen which makes perfect sense considering their on screen experience. For most, if not all, of the cast this is the first time they had been on a film set. They try their best to make their performances decent but their lack of experience is clearly evident.
The story for this one is straight out of the golden age of S.O.V. horror but without the redeeming qualities. We follow an unhinged man wielding a butcher’s cleaver as he kills and eats various people. Simple enough. Sadly, by the halfway mark we find ourselves bored out of our skulls wishing the film would break out of its repetitive loop. Also, the characters are extremely boring including the butcher. You would think that a film with no budget following a butcher running through the woods would have some funny moments or a character we would enjoy.
Finally, the film is overflowing with blood. The kills are brutal and very impressive. If I can say anything about the film its that the kills look great. The practical effects are great in some of the gags and not so great in others. For the budget the film brought some bloodshed. Overall, Violent Shit has plenty of gore and insane kills but that doesn’t carry the film that far. The movie is poorly put together and can’t keep the viewer from snoring.
Violent Shit II: Mother Hold My Hand
Director – Andreas Schnaas (Anthropophagous 2000, Don’t Wake the Dead)
Starring – Anke Prothmann, Andreas Schnaas, and Claudia von Bihl
Release Date – 1992
Rating – 2/5
I spoke with many horror fans over the years that has watched the Violent Shit series and they all told me that the movies got better as the series progressed. This is the complete opposite as to what typically happens with a film series or franchise.
The first film is usually a hit among the crowd prompting an immediate sequel with less imagination. From that point the series usually spirals out of control. Most fans say that Andreas Schnaas slowly grows with each film. After watching the first VS film I can confidently say that he had no option but to grow as a filmmaker or find himself without a job. Knowing that the films got better as we moved along I quickly tossed in part two.
**Spoiler Alert**The film picks up 20 some years after the first film. Karl the Butcher Shitter is now dead and his son, Karl Jr. has stepped up to fill his father’s homicidal boots. We then follow him as he works his way through the woods slaughtering anyone and everyone that steps in his woods.**Spoiler Alert**
Though Violent Shit II was a little better than the first film it was still a snoozfest. The film did not improve the acting or the story but the cinematography was somewhat better. Either way you slice it, it was still a rough watch.
The acting in this one is no better than the first film. The cast is eager to be on camera but puts little to no effort in at portraying a character. Andreas Schnaas tries to make his character enjoyable but it is more of what he gave us in part one which isn’t much.
The story for this one is more of the same with a few minor differences. We still follow a homicidal maniac running through the woods killing people but the only real difference is that the killer is the son of the killer in the first film. Doesn’t make it feel like that much of a difference considering the same guy played both killers. The story is virtually the same with the only difference being the kills.
Finally, the film boasts some pretty impressive kills similar to what we see in the first film. The kills are over the top and very gruesome with some great practical effects for the most part. Some of the gags felt cheap and rushed but for the most part they were very impressive. Overall, Violent Shit II: Mother Hold My Hand is another let down. The film has no story and the acting is horrible. The only saving grace, once again, is the kills but that doesn’t carry the film that far.
Violent Shit III: Infantry of Doom
Director – Andreas Schnaas (Goblet of Gore, Demonium)
Starring – Andreas Schnaas, Marc Trinkhaus (Game Over, Unrated: The Movie), Steve Aquilina (Violent Shit, Violent Shit: The Movie)
Release Date – 1999
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “The army of the dead shall devour the living…”
The show must go on! After watching the first two films in the Violent Shit series I did not have much hope for the remainder of the series. The first two films were great with the gore but did not deliver much in the way of story and acting. I love gore but a film of just gore with no other redeeming qualities is boring as fuck. I kept the notion that the series got better as it moved along at the front of my mind and ventured into the third film, Violent Shit III: Infantry of Doom. I feel like a great opportunity was missed by not naming the film Violent Shit III: Infantry of Shit but I don’t get paid to make those kind of decisions.
**Spoiler Alert**
The film picks up many years after Violent Shit and Violent Shit II. We follow Karl and Karl Jr, who are now inhabitants of an island where they rule a death cult. Their followers wear the metal masks that they both made famous and kill anyone that comes ashore their death island. When three men mistakenly visit the island they are captured and then released with some of the men that are excommunicated. They band together to find Karl, Karl Jr., and their followers.**Spoiler Alert**
I was not expecting to like Violent Shit III. I honestly wasn’t. However, the film was not as I expected and actually had a story we could follow. It was a very simple story but it was still fun regardless of how you slice it.
The acting in this one is a huge improvement over the first two films but is still far from perfect. The cast is able to conjure up some pretty solid characters including Schnaas who was unable to do so in the previous two films. The acting is a huge improvement and I would think that this is because Schnaas put more time into actually directing the cast instead of letting them run wild.
The story for this one is not one I was expecting after watching the other two films. This story is a lot broader in scope. We have an evil mastermind who is now training his followers to kill in brutal and savage ways. This brings a bigger element to the story that the first film lacked. It still had a slow pace and some of the scenes were a pain to finish but the overall story was leagues better than the first. I really enjoyed the cult aspect of it which really made Karl seem like he was more of an evil character than the first two films portrayed.
Finally, this film would not be in the Violent Shit series if it did not deliver on the blood and gore. The kills are not direct and brutal as the first two films but they still deliver on the blood and gore. Sadly, the effects are nowhere near as good as the first two films either. Overall, Violent Shit III: Infantry of Doom took a step up in regards to acting and storyline but did step back in regards to the kills and special effects. The end product is definitely worth the watch and should be checked out.
Violent Shit 4.0: Karl the Butcher vs. Axe
Director(s) – Timo Rose (Lord of the Undead, Barricade) and Andreas Schnaas (Violent Shit, Violent Shit II)
Starring – Andreas Schnaas, Timo Rose, and Magdalena Kalley (Necronos, La Petite Mort)
Release Date – 2010}
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Karl is back”
My Andreas Schnaas movie marathon has finally came to an end. Synapse Films recently released the Violent Shit films in one box set. For on price you can get all four Violent Shit films and as an added bonus Synapse has included Schnaas 1991 zombie splatter film Zombie ’90: Extreme Pestilence. Late 80s and early 90s zombie flicks were my thing growing up so I was curious to see how it plays out. Was it going to be like the first two Violent Shit films and lack story but deliver the gore or was it going to be story driven with gore? Only time would tell!
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows Karl the Butcher (Schnaas) who has been in hell for 25 years when he is released to kill a new serial killer that is making a name for himself. The world has become a wasteland and survivors have formed factions to fight other gangs to survive while the serial killer Axe and his sister roam the land trying to survive. When Karl finally meets Axe he realizes that he is not an adversary but a family member. When the gangs throughout the land learn that Karl and Axe have teamed up they put their differences aside combat them both.**Spoiler Alert**
Wow. Honestly, this is all I have to say about what I just witnessed. This film is unlike the previous three films in the series. In fact, if Rose and Schnaas could have made this movie be a stand along film without using the Violent Shit title. The film was a huge departure from the three films previously.
The acting in this one is one of the best acting in the whole series. The cast had some memorable characters to work with and they did a great job bringing those characters to life. Don’t get me wrong. The acting is great but there is plenty of room for improvement.
The story for this one was not what I was expecting it. It blends together Violent Shit with Mad Max which I am all for. The introduction of the wasteland and violent gang activity meeting Karl the Butcher as he is released from Hell is fantastic. The film rarely has a dull moment but it does have several unnecessary scenes. If the editing was a little tighter the film’s story would flow a hell of a lot better.
Finally, this one is full of over the top kills. These kills mostly use decent practical effects but a few were ruined with the use of CGI and visual effects. The series has done a tremendous job at boasting impressive practical effects only to tarnish their legacy in the best film of series with cheap CGI. Overall, Violent Shit 4.0 is a must. If you watch any film in the series make it 4.0. You will not be let down.
Zombie ’90: Extreme Pestilence
Director – Andreas Schnaas (Goblet of Gore, Unrated: The Movie)
Starring – Matthias Kerl (Violent Shit III: Infantry of Doom), Ralf Hess, and Mathias Abbes
Release Date – 1991
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “The ultimate gore-film”
My Andreas Schnaas movie marathon has finally came to an end. Synapse Films recently released the Violent Shit films in one box set. For on price you can get all four Violent Shit films and as an added bonus Synapse has included Schnaas 1991 zombie splatter film Zombie ’90: Extreme Pestilence. Late 80s and early 90s zombie flicks were my thing growing up so I was curious to see how it plays out. Was it going to be like the first two Violent Shit films and lack story but deliver the gore or was it going to be story driven with gore? Only time would tell!
**Spoiler alert**The film follows two scientists who are investigating a zombie epidemic when a dangerous chemical is accidentally released to the public. When they get overrun at their lab they relocate to a private, more secure lab in hopes of finding a cure but the closer they get to answers they closer they get to their end.**Spoiler Alert**
I grew up watching zombie movies. Romero’s classic Dead Trilogy were my go to zombie flicks along with The Dead Next Door, Meat Market, Return of the Living Dead, and The Midnight Hour. Aside from the Romero films I typically enjoyed the no budget zombie flicks with cheesy effects, clichéd one liners, and horrible dialogue. I didn’t just enjoy…I thrived on it. Zombie ’90 looked like it would be one of those films that I enjoyed growing up.
The acting in this one is pretty bad but the dubbing more than made up for it. The cast looked like they were just going through the motions with no real attempt at character development or acting. However, the addition of the funny dialogue that does not match the actors made this one pretty damn funny in the same way The Dead Next Door is so enjoyable. If the cast actually knew what they were doing the film wouldn’t have been as good as it is.
The story for this one is not that original but it does have a good pace set and some memorable moments. The story is much like the ones before it following a military or science experiment that has laid waste to the living. Nothing new or original. What made it fun was the kills and the off the wall dialogue.
Finally, this one is full of bloody on screen kills that make zombie films so much fun. The kills are actually pretty damn entertaining though they are nothing new. The effects for these are pretty fun as well. Budget constricted what they were able to do but they were still able to pull off some quality gore. Overall, Zombie ’90: Extreme Pestilence is a satisfying zombie film that lacks budget but has a ton of heart. Fans of Meat Market and Dead Next Door need to watch this.
