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[Peter Neal]

When it comes to horror movies, Germany is most famous for three things amongst genre fans:

1) The classics from the era of silent movies ("Nosferatu" etc)

2) Draconic censorship of horror movies masked as "youth protection" and still in practise in the 21.st century

3) Ultra gory and taboo breaking "underground" horror movies, mostly home made, by directors such as Jörg Buttgereit, Olaf Ittenbach and Andreas Schnaas.

But I was kind of curious if you've tasted from the few fruits the "Scream" craze of the late 90's has also brought to the German movie industry:

Did anybody of you watch one of the flicks below?

The "Anatomy" movies with Franka Potente of "Run, Lola, Run" fame?

http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=film&fid=535

http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=film&fid=31244

Apparently, there's been a US remake in 2007 I've never heard of before : "Pathology"

http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=film&fid=135966

Or the cheap "I know what you did in the last Urban Legend" kind of "Flashback: Mörderische Ferien", populated mostly by German soap stars? This one is a very loose adaption of a screenplay by Jimmy Sangster

http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=film&fid=922

Or the stylish if empty headed "Swimming Pool", lensed in English with a more or less international cast.?
I think Kim Newman reviewed this one in EMPIRE if I recall correctly...

http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=film&fid=9751

I'd be most interested in your thought on the German idea of "mainstream horror", but I'll reserve my own comments for a while, because I want you enter those flicks unprejudiced.

[demented_uk]

Don't forget the Edgar Wallace Krimis!

[Peter Neal]

Yeah, but it's the "Krimi" word which makes me sometimes forget them in this context. But you're right. Some of them are thickly filled with our idea of "Spooky English atmosphere"

[Jonny]

'Pathology' is being trailered in UK cinemas at the moent, due out soon. I remember seeing 'Anatomy' back at the first Frighfest event in London 2000. Enjoyed it quite a lot.

[demented_uk]

Yeah, but it's the "Krimi" word which makes me sometimes forget them in this context. But you're right. Some of them are thickly filled with our idea of "Spooky English atmosphere" Roll Eyes

Without a doubt, especially some of the later offerings.

[Peter Neal]

I totally forgot to mention that "Flashback" has Euro genre fave Elke Sommer in a supporting role - reasonably aged, but it's her original voice for a change.

@demented uk: Have you seen "Der Hund von Blackwood Castle"? You'll LOVE it!   

[Stephen Grimes]

I've got Alfred Vohrer's COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS which i really like,love that red hooded guy with the whip :'(
Also the amazing CASTLE OF THE WALKING DEAD by Harald Reinl,those scenes of them travelling through the 'forest of bodies' is fantastic.Got the German EMS disc which looks lovely and has some nice extras,the packaging stands out as well.

[Peter Neal]

Yes! Very moody pic, Stephen!  Also a good example of the "subtle" approach many of these flicks took stylistically. I miss German TV over here in Helsinki, otherwise I could still stumble over some of these gems on a monthly basis.

I thought I add a link to some stills of clipped bits from "Flashback", which was only shown totally uncut on "Pay TV" :

http://www.schnittberichte.com/schnittbericht.php?ID=825

I'm awaiting the latest German slasher's arrival on DVD, which got named quite suitably "Slasher"

http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=film&fid=112369

[demented_uk]

I've got Alfred Vohrer's COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS which i really like,love that red hooded guy with the whip Cry

COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS is great, one of my favourite Krimis.  THE SINISTER MONK is also a good one featuring a similar character - a monk with a whip  .  Have you seen any others Stephen? 

@demented uk: Have you seen "Der Hund von Blackwood Castle"? You'll LOVE it!

Actually Peter that is one krimi that I don't think I have.  I will have to double check my Edgar Wallace box sets and see.

[Peter Neal]

"Der Hund von Blackwood Castle" can be found in the "Edgar Wallace Edtion Box Nr. 7" or as a single disc release from "Kinowelt".

[Stephen Grimes]

 Have you seen any others Stephen? 

No that's it i'm afraid,got COLLEGE GIRL MURDERS from Tony Clarke's shop in London who told me it was a must see.

[spannick]

incredibly, FLASHBACK was only shown "unrated" on German Pay TV! the FSK-18 Version is the same as a US-R-Rated Version - all Violence toned down...

and sadly enough, far too Movies which are really great are not available with English-Options, right? obviously i never had to bother about that issue... or are the Wallace-Classics available in English Options? i have no idea, but recommend them all if you can access them. great stuff, especially if seend on the remastered DVDs.

[Peter Neal]

I thought I'd revive an old thread, because the following stab at "German Mainstream Horror" might be of interest to the good folks at LoveLockAndLoud, too.

Here's my review that I orignally posted at ABUK:

Slasher

If your movie viewing choices are always based on the "Three Big S" (Storytelling/Style/Suspense), you can stop reading right here.
If you have a heart for both- slasher movies AND German low budget horrror- though, you're in for a minor treat.
Strangely enough, while the slasher genre as such is a very "American" breed, which even the Italians in their hey days only sparsely visited, the Germans have given it a try every now and then after the initial national success of the "Scream"/(Danish) "Nightwatch" inspired "Anatomy" with "Run, Lola, Run"'s Franka Potente in the lead.
Sadly, thne most prominent German slashers- "Flashback" and "Swimming Pool"- are fairly average entries at best, compromised by half hearted tries to adapt the slick "Scream" formula for supposed German viewing habits.
"Slasher" though, which even had a very limited theatrical run in its home country, does profit a lot from its budgetary restrictions, so the makers don't even get a chance to go all "teen horror" on us.
Instead we're treated to one of the "purest" movies the slasher genre has seen in a good while, horny early-twentysomethings, a camp side setting, masked killer, graphic murders and a reasonable amount of "semi-sleaze" included.
As a bonus, you get a hint at some Andreas Schnaas-like nastiness, but thankfully, we're not treated to the deepest shores of sexism the German underground usually provides, this time around.
Surely, the acting is functional at best, the DV look doesn't spice up the visual quality either and the "Surprise" revelation worked even better in Franco's "Bloody Moon" (which I was reminded of every now and then while watching this!), but if you like your slashers focussing on the genre's "essentials", you'll enjoy this nonetheless.
Thankfully, the German DVD DOES contain English subtitles for a change, so I'll post a link to amazon.de.

For slasher fanatics

***

Amazon link


BTW: What happened to the "Anatomy" remake "Pathology"?

Did it get a theatrical run in the UK, because I most certainly didn't hear a whisper here far up in Scandinavia.....