NEKROMANTIK 2 (1991)
Label: Cult Epics
Region Code: A
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 103 Minutes
Audio: German Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital Mono
Video: Fullframe (1.33:1)
Cast: Monika M., Daktari Lorenz, Mark Reeder
Director: Jorg Buttgereit
This time the corpse thief is the pretty necrophiliac Monika (Monika M.), a cute young woman who is a gravedigger and who was drawn to Rob's after reading about his suicide in the local newspaper. She takes his corpse back to her apartment and sets about prepping him for some cadaver sex, his corpse is a dark marbled green and quite slimy, unfortunately the sex is not all it could have been and Monika is left unsatisfied by the experience, unfulfilled she can be seen vomiting into the toilet
As her relationship with Mark becomes more serious Monika comes to the difficult decision that she needs to get Rob's corpse out of her apartment, tearfully sawing him into pieces and disposing of the parts except for the head and penis, the latter of which Mark discovers in the fridge when he makes breakfast for Monika. He's not quite sure what the rotting and blackened appendage is or sure but you can tell he knows it's something awful, I thought for certain he might cook it - it's a film about necrophilia so to think it might go that direction is not out of the question.
The surprisingly sweet looking necrophile does attempt to carry on a normal relationship with her new found boyfriend Mark but there are bound to be problems when you're a necrophiliac. She belongs to a group of friends who seem to be fellow necrophiles, at the very least they're extremely morbid people whose idea of fun group activity is watching a video of seals being slaughtered and skinned. These strange proclivities do not sit well with poor Mark whom is already disturbed that Monika's demands he remain completely still during sex, he can definitely sense that the two might not be compatible.
As the doubts grow the pair begin to argue and the relationship starts to unravel a bit, but after a day alone at the beach Monika comes up with a solution that will set things right, which brings us to the super grisly climax of the film and one that does not disappoint in anyway. During make-up sex Monika straddles Mark and once he has been fully aroused she saws off his head in a grisly over-the-top scene, it's quite a shocker and it doesn't quit end there, it goes even further!
Buttgereit's Nekromantik films are essentially morbid love stories and the love story in Nekromantik 2 is amped up quite a bit but so too is the gore, though maybe not quite as morbid as the first, that three-way in the first film is hard to top. This time out there's much more of an art house aesthetic to the film too, with long languid shots and more creative shot composition, with a score that definitely accentuates the artier side of shock cinema. Anchoring the film is the very believable performance from Monika M. that is both tender and disturbing, she brings the character to life onscreen with minimal dialogue and a brave performance, if you consider simulated sex with a cadaver prop brave, some might just call it nuts.
The gore this time out does not disappoint, from the slime-covered, green marbled skin of Rob's cadaver to the brutal decapitation at the end this one will have your gag reflex working overtime when it's not tugging at your warped little heart strings you sickies. A much better made film than the first with some nice moments of black humor throughout that make the moments of gore just that much more disturbing, a pretty interesting slice of shock cinema and not for the fain of heart.
Blu-ray: The brand-new uncut and uncensored HD transfer from Cult Epics looks surprisingly good, framed in the original full frame aspect ratio is has a lot of grain as you might expect from 16mm but there's a surprising level of clarity and detail highlighting all the gruesome sights you crave to see, quite a bit more enjoyable than the first film on a visual level.
You have the choice of three German language audio options, Dolby Digital Mono, Stereo and a 5.1 Surround mix, as with the first film the score is strangely gorgeous and drives the film quite a bit, without this score the film would be measurably less interesting in my opinion, it's a perfect marriage.Optional English subtitles are provided.
Onto the extras we begin with a a brand-new introduction by director Jorge Buttgereit whom speaks about the film being banned and confiscated in Germany for many years. Then onto a 27-minute making of featurette narrated by Buttgereit in English with some fascinating behind-the-scenes video of the making of the corpses in the film including how they achieved the grisly finale, all of this accompanied by score from the film.
The audio commentary by Jorg Buttgerei, co-author Franz Rodenkirchen, and actors Monika M. and Mark Reeder is conducted in English and quite a good listen but might be hard to decipher with the thick accents, it's a fun listen with some good recollection of making the film. Also included are a short film by Buttgereit, a music video he directed, an isolated motion picture soundtrack, a live version of the soundtrack, trailers for five Buttgereit films, outtakes, a still gallery, and two limited edition artwork postcards featuring Monika M. and the artwork of Johnny Ryan.
The Blu-ray release from Cult Epics is limited edition of 5000 and features a slipcover with the same artwork as the disc sleeve so get it before it's fetching those ridiculously high priced online.
Special Features:
- New Director’s Approved HD transfer (taken from the original 16mm negative)
- New Introduction by Jorg Buttgereit (2014) (2 Mins)
- Audio Commentary by Jorg Buttgerei, co-author Franz Rodenkirchen, and actors Monika M. and Mark Reeder
- The Making of Nekromantik 2 (27 Mins)
- Still Photo Gallery (13 Mins)
- Outtakes (11 Mins)
- Trailer: Nekromantik (2 Mins), Nekromantik 2 (1 Min), Todesking ( 2 Mins), Schramm (2 Mins), Hot Love (1 Min)
- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (57 Mins)
- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2011) Live (47 Mins)
- 20th Anniversary Live Concert performed by Monika M. and Friends - Video (2011) (12 Mins)
- A Moment of Silence At the Grave of Ed Gein, Short film by Jorg Buttgereit (2012) (2 Mins)
- Half Girl – Lemmy, I’m A Feminist, Music video by Jorg Buttgereit (2014) (3 Mins)
- Includes Nekromantik 2 Collectible Artwork by Johnny Ryan
- Nekrophilia photo of Monika M.
Verdict: One of the most warped love stories of all time presented in satisfying and grisly HD from Cult Epics with a sweet transfer, decent sound and packed with neat extras. This is a high recommend for fans of shock cinema who don't mind a somewhat touching love story with some arthouse pretensions.
You have the choice of three German language audio options, Dolby Digital Mono, Stereo and a 5.1 Surround mix, as with the first film the score is strangely gorgeous and drives the film quite a bit, without this score the film would be measurably less interesting in my opinion, it's a perfect marriage.Optional English subtitles are provided.
Onto the extras we begin with a a brand-new introduction by director Jorge Buttgereit whom speaks about the film being banned and confiscated in Germany for many years. Then onto a 27-minute making of featurette narrated by Buttgereit in English with some fascinating behind-the-scenes video of the making of the corpses in the film including how they achieved the grisly finale, all of this accompanied by score from the film.
The audio commentary by Jorg Buttgerei, co-author Franz Rodenkirchen, and actors Monika M. and Mark Reeder is conducted in English and quite a good listen but might be hard to decipher with the thick accents, it's a fun listen with some good recollection of making the film. Also included are a short film by Buttgereit, a music video he directed, an isolated motion picture soundtrack, a live version of the soundtrack, trailers for five Buttgereit films, outtakes, a still gallery, and two limited edition artwork postcards featuring Monika M. and the artwork of Johnny Ryan.
The Blu-ray release from Cult Epics is limited edition of 5000 and features a slipcover with the same artwork as the disc sleeve so get it before it's fetching those ridiculously high priced online.
Special Features:
- New Director’s Approved HD transfer (taken from the original 16mm negative)
- New Introduction by Jorg Buttgereit (2014) (2 Mins)
- Audio Commentary by Jorg Buttgerei, co-author Franz Rodenkirchen, and actors Monika M. and Mark Reeder
- The Making of Nekromantik 2 (27 Mins)
- Still Photo Gallery (13 Mins)
- Outtakes (11 Mins)
- Trailer: Nekromantik (2 Mins), Nekromantik 2 (1 Min), Todesking ( 2 Mins), Schramm (2 Mins), Hot Love (1 Min)
- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (57 Mins)
- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2011) Live (47 Mins)
- 20th Anniversary Live Concert performed by Monika M. and Friends - Video (2011) (12 Mins)
- A Moment of Silence At the Grave of Ed Gein, Short film by Jorg Buttgereit (2012) (2 Mins)
- Half Girl – Lemmy, I’m A Feminist, Music video by Jorg Buttgereit (2014) (3 Mins)
- Includes Nekromantik 2 Collectible Artwork by Johnny Ryan
- Nekrophilia photo of Monika M.
Verdict: One of the most warped love stories of all time presented in satisfying and grisly HD from Cult Epics with a sweet transfer, decent sound and packed with neat extras. This is a high recommend for fans of shock cinema who don't mind a somewhat touching love story with some arthouse pretensions.
