It's good to live in a world where a sequel to 'Nekromantik' was made, released, and critically acclaimed. Only three years after the first film, director Jorg Buttgereit went back behind the camera and made 'Nekromantik 2' for his loyal cult audience. Actually, the German authorities seized the movie a few days after it was released, but luckily for Buttgereit and us, they did not confiscate the original negative of the film, hence now we have an excellent Blu-ray from Cult Epics in glorious high definition.
Some people might look at this sequel much like how they viewed the first film, which is a sadistic film that depicts deplorable violence and sex acts so depraved that it would make the seasoned cinephile blush. Others like myself, view the original film and 'Nekromantik 2' as a work of art that is expertly crafted to show a woman and man's search for love and sexual satisfaction. Sure, they go about it in a much different way than we're used to seeing, and in this case, we follow a woman who engages in sex with corpses, but there is so much more to the larger picture than just having sex with the dead.
Buttgereit wants to show us the simplistic nature of a human trying to find love and not be lonely, and how sometimes that might be more of a struggle than not. But don't worry, for all you gore hounds who are just interested in seeing the gruesome, slimy parts, there are plenty of moments to satisfy your sick appetite. 'Nekromantik 2' gives us a recap in full of the climactic scene from the first film in black and white. Soon after, a woman named Monika is seeing digging up Rob's corpse (from the first film) and bringing it back to her apartment. There, she undresses the black and moldy corpse as she tries to have an orgasm. To my disappointment and to Monika's, she is unable to achieve the ultimate feeling.
Monika then decides to start looking for love in the living. Unfortunately, that role goes to Mark who makes his living by dubbing voices in pornographic films. Monika and Mark seem to be the loving couple that could be in any romantic comedy as they see movies and go to the park together. However, Mark is unaware of Monika's unnatural need for the dead until he sees a few images in her apartment and walks in on Monika and a few friends, watching some truly disturbing shows on television.
Despite all of this, Mark is like Monika in a way. He's just a lonely person looking for love, so he stays with her. That is until the climactic scene of the film that is guaranteed to shock you. Buttgereit definitely does not shy away from any of the blood and guts by any means, but 'Nekromantik 2' is not all about the gore. There are some long extended scenes of Mark and Monica just being a couple in it's most simplistic and natural way. Though one is more distant than the other, both are trying to find their better half in life, and Buttgereit reveals each emotion and action with a calm and collected view as if to tell us that's it's okay to choose this lifestyle.
More often than not these days, horror directors tend to only rely on the gore aspect and only want an action scene that follows into another action scene. Luckily for us, Buttgereit gives us a bit more tone, melodrama, style, and grit and that's why 'Nekromantik 2' will outlive the others.
Some people might look at this sequel much like how they viewed the first film, which is a sadistic film that depicts deplorable violence and sex acts so depraved that it would make the seasoned cinephile blush. Others like myself, view the original film and 'Nekromantik 2' as a work of art that is expertly crafted to show a woman and man's search for love and sexual satisfaction. Sure, they go about it in a much different way than we're used to seeing, and in this case, we follow a woman who engages in sex with corpses, but there is so much more to the larger picture than just having sex with the dead.
Buttgereit wants to show us the simplistic nature of a human trying to find love and not be lonely, and how sometimes that might be more of a struggle than not. But don't worry, for all you gore hounds who are just interested in seeing the gruesome, slimy parts, there are plenty of moments to satisfy your sick appetite. 'Nekromantik 2' gives us a recap in full of the climactic scene from the first film in black and white. Soon after, a woman named Monika is seeing digging up Rob's corpse (from the first film) and bringing it back to her apartment. There, she undresses the black and moldy corpse as she tries to have an orgasm. To my disappointment and to Monika's, she is unable to achieve the ultimate feeling.
Monika then decides to start looking for love in the living. Unfortunately, that role goes to Mark who makes his living by dubbing voices in pornographic films. Monika and Mark seem to be the loving couple that could be in any romantic comedy as they see movies and go to the park together. However, Mark is unaware of Monika's unnatural need for the dead until he sees a few images in her apartment and walks in on Monika and a few friends, watching some truly disturbing shows on television.
Despite all of this, Mark is like Monika in a way. He's just a lonely person looking for love, so he stays with her. That is until the climactic scene of the film that is guaranteed to shock you. Buttgereit definitely does not shy away from any of the blood and guts by any means, but 'Nekromantik 2' is not all about the gore. There are some long extended scenes of Mark and Monica just being a couple in it's most simplistic and natural way. Though one is more distant than the other, both are trying to find their better half in life, and Buttgereit reveals each emotion and action with a calm and collected view as if to tell us that's it's okay to choose this lifestyle.
More often than not these days, horror directors tend to only rely on the gore aspect and only want an action scene that follows into another action scene. Luckily for us, Buttgereit gives us a bit more tone, melodrama, style, and grit and that's why 'Nekromantik 2' will outlive the others.