2025-07-23

Review: Das Boot (1981, Wolfgang Petersen)

German WWII submarine U-96 leaves port in France, to go hunting the Allies' cargo ships in the Atlantic. The fog of war also covers the sea - not everything goes according to plan, and especially the men's return to safe harbor becomes a journey through the depths of hell itself... 

This is a review of the 1997 "director's cut" release of "Das Boot" with a runtime of ~208 minutes. The full runtime of the original TV mini-series is ~308 minutes.

If this movie doesn't get to you, you're already dead. Never before, and never after, has the claustrophobic intensity, constant near-death situation, and emotional hardship of submarine warfare been captured on film as exciting, gripping, and moving, as in "Das Boot".

Based on the book of the same name, which was written by Lothar-Guenther Buchheim, who was the actual war reporter aboard the actual U-96, the movie is a wild ride through the up and downs (actually more downs) of war duty at sea.

It's very interesting that most people agree that "Das Boot" is an extremely realistic depiction of life on a German WWII submarine - while the film actually uses a good amount of artistic freedom, and some very artistic, near-surreal imagery. One example, that was explicitly mentioned by Buchheim, is the party scene featuring two oranges. According to him, this would never have happened in reality. Another one would be the breaking bolts - in reality, in a submarine, a single cracked bolt pretty much equals instant death. There are even more obvious examples, like the fake, fixed camera view of the boat's sail (tower), and many more.

But there is still a very high degree of realism in "Das Boot", higher than in any other submarine war movie. The accurate historical setting, the on-location filming at La Rochelle submarine bunker, the perfect recreation of the inside of U-96 featuring some spectacular near-first-person camera work, the thick atmosphere, with sweaty, unshaved faces, accurate dialogue, dumb jokes, and grinding work, and much more, and maybe most of all the actual, real story, as told by an actual eyewitness. 

Many scenes in "Das Boot" are artistic, stylized, but - with just one or two exceptions - still don't feel artificial or forced, because they still accurately illustrate the reality of the movie. "Das Boot" is extremely effective in that regard. We don't know how an old sea-dog Captain-Lieutenant (KaLeun) on harsh duty actually reacts, when suddenly presented with an excessive buffet of delicacies, but having him basically say nothing perfectly underlines the grim irony of the situation. We don't know how it feels when your submarine gets hit with depth charges, but flashing figures in the dark, screaming, pain, blood, and water all over the place certainly is an adequate interpretation.

Buchheim didn't like the movie. He was the actual man, aboard the actual boat. It's impossible to recreate the actual experience of being on board U-96 - but it's possible to find an emotional, and historically and physically correct translation of what it was like. Maybe "Das Boot" has a handful of flaws in accurate physical depiction, but historically it's authentic, and it hits the bullseye in every other regard. 

"Das Boot" perfectly, and very scarily, translates the sometimes silent, sometimes ear-shattering terror of undersea war, into movie format. It's not a documentary, but an artistic, condensed look at a war submarine patrol. The degree of realism is very high, it becomes easy to suspend all disbelief that might have been left - creating a highly intense movie experience.

What stands out among the many great aspects of "Das Boot", is the acting. Not only does director Wolfgang Petersen manage to portray pretty much the entire crew of the boat, giving more focus to some, but still not losing sight of the other members. Also, thanks to the individual acting performances, we actually do care for each single one of them. There is some over-dramatization, but by far most of the time it feels like we're seeing the actual, real persons. Juergen Prochnow plays the role of his life as the KaLeun, Klaus Wennemann sends chills down your spine as the chief engineer working himself almost to death, Erwin Leder as Johann "Das Gespenst" ("the ghost") makes you hold your breath, ... the list goes on, and even musician Herbert Groenemeyer, playing the war reporter on board, gives a surprisingly convincing and moving performance.

Nice special effects, perfectly edited, an overall pacing that very nicely balances phases of calmness with phases of hefty, terrifying action, Klaus Doldinger's masterpiece sound score, with gentle tunes and variations of the epic, anthemic "Boot" theme - basically, "Das Boot" does everything right. As has been explained, it is a little bit on the over-epic side here and there - but only if you're comparing it to an actual real-time documentary. As a commercial film production, it's pretty much perfect. Realistic enough to adequately represent reality and even provide some education, artistic and dramatic to make it powerful, attractive, and digestible.

So are we rooting for the Nazis now? No, we aren't. "Das Boot" isn't about politics, it's about men, war, and death. It's immensely captivating, but also deeply saddening. It could've been a US submarine, a Japanese one, it could've been any war, at any time. Comradeship, fear, loss, and making sense of the insanity are timeless, universal themes. We are rooting for people, humanity.

Based on Lothar-Guenther Buchheim's book, Wolfgang Petersen has created the definitive submarine war movie. "Das Boot" is the mark by which all such films have been measured, for decades, and will be measured, for decades to come.

Verdict: Jawohl, Herr KaLeun! 9.5/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082096/


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Boot

Trailer video:

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Zombi 2 ("Zombie Flesh Eaters", 1979) 4K BluRay by Arrow Video

A couple of weeks ago, Arrow Video has published a trailer for a new 4K restoration of Lucio Fulci's zombie movie classic, to be released on July 28th 2025.

The trailer has some modern editing, and it reveals a lot about the movie, it's not just an enhanced version of the original trailer. (Which, to be fair, also reveals a lot about the movie.) 

In perfect 4K quality, all VHS tape nostalgia is gone, but it certainly looks fantastic, with an unprecedented amount of detail, and vivid, but still natural color grading. 

The upcoming BluRay release also contains several audio tracks (english / italian / original / remixed), interviews and commentary by members of the film crew and film critics, trailers and TV spots, the original screenplay titled "Nightmare Island", and other bonus material, plus a nice packaging with both original and new artwork, a poster, a booklet, and a set of still pictures. 

Watch Arrow Video's new 4K trailer for "Zombie Flesh Eaters" (2025-06-23):

Check out more details on Arrow Video's "Zombie Flesh Eaters" 4K BluRay release page:

https://www.arrowfilms.com/zombie-flesh-eaters-limited-edition-4k-uhd/16553796.html

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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080057/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombi_2










2025-06-14

Review: Salo, O Le 120 Giornate Di Sodoma (1975)

In 1944, at the little Italian town of Salo, capital of the fascist, Nazi-puppet Italian Social Republic (1943 - 1945), four civil, powerful men are gathering for an event of unspeakable debauchery. With chilling calmness, they proceed through their decadent celebration - while the brutal humming of bomber planes flying above shakes the rooftops...

"Salo, O Le 120..." is a fictional tale, a loose adaptation of Marquis de Sade's The 120 Days of Sodom (1785 / 1904), set in real, historic fascist Italy near the end of World War II. It's also among the most controversial films ever made. 

On the mere surface, not too much seems to be going on in "Salo", except for some sick meeting that plays out in increasingly uncomfortable ways. But stopping there is like judging the iceberg by its tip. 

Technically, it's a flawless production. It's visually elegant, in part due to the beautiful setting in an Italian mansion, and in part due to the analytic, sometimes intrusive camera work, that uses a lot of symmetry and perfect side-shots. The acting is nuanced, precise, and highly intense at times. The dialogue is disturbing, the actions performed are even more disturbing, and the high level of realism is, yes, very disturbing.

Key to unlocking "Salo" is understanding the situation: By the end of 1943, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was already imprisoned, and allied forces had entered Italian main land. In the movie, a group of rich, powerful people with inherent ties to the fascist republic are celebrating their own downfall. The bomber planes are literally above them, signalling the arrival of necessary, violent change. These people have nowhere to go, they know nothing else. Starting a new life is impossible, and would also mean questioning everything that led up to this point. Unable to let go, and trapped by who they are, there's nothing left but to uphold the facade, and go on and on and on, into ultimate darkness...

Director Pier Paolo Pasolini was born in 1922, lived through World War II, was openly homosexual, marxist, and a couple of other things, and became an important intellectual figure of post-war Europe - he certainly had a word or two to say about Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and "the powers that be".

This movie was clearly born from a strong vision, and it has a message. Nothing in "Salo" is made for the quick effect, everything serves the big, sad, stomach-turning picture. The stunning quality of it, the superbly composed imagery, the cold, detached stylisation, the deliberate, delicate timing, the slow, elaborate, disturbing dialogue, the shocking dehumanisation, perversion and violence - the utter, devastating cynicism of it all just has to be obvious to the viewer, as much as the immediate visceral reaction.

This isn't nazisploitation. There's no doubt it's art, and it's on the good side of history. Yes, the cruelty is taken to extreme levels, and it fits the "golden age" time frame of Italian exploitation cinema - but "Salo" really has nothing in common with films like "La Bestia In Calore" (1977) or "L'Ultima Orgia Del III Reich" (1977). Not only is it a far (!) higher quality production, but also at no point does it enjoy or endorse the horrors it portrays. It's not voyeuristic, but painfully voyeuristic. It's not obtrusive, it's consciously indiscreet. It doesn't focus on the action, but on the motivation behind it, the perpetrators, every sad, sickening moment of their fading, fey existence. "Salo" isn't about individuals or story - it's about the psyche, about tolerance and empathy, or, the lack thereof, and how this translates into a system of dominance.

"Salo" might feel just slow on first contact, but as it progresses, the moderate, sometimes drawn-out pacing takes on a sadistic tone of its own, matching the content of the film. There's no turning away, it's an ugly, painful demise with a lot of collateral damage, all while an invisible, much bigger power is looming in the air... 

When "Salo" is through with you, you'll probably want (at least) a minute of silence. It wasn't made with entertainment value in mind - it's a political and humane statement. It has a flow, it is mesmerizing, and it's a real shocker, but this is actual heavy, profound stuff. If you needed a reminder why you want compassion, not dominance, empathy, not fascism, this movie is a very, very convincing one.

Pier Paolo Pasolini was abducted, tortured and killed in 1975, presumably by political far-right sympathizers. Efforts to fully solve the case are going on to the present day.

Verdict: Stunning. Numbing. 8.5/10

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073650/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sal%C3%B2,_or_the_120_Days_of_Sodom

Trailer video:

video source:
https://archive.org/details/salo-or-the-120-days-of-sodom-1975-trailer

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2025-05-30

Top 10 really old horror films you must watch (2/2)

"Old" still doesn't equal "boring": Part two of "Top 10 really old horror films you must watch". 

In no particular order, here are five more great old horror movies. In case you missed the first five recommendations of this list, here's part 1 of the article.

Der Student von Prag (1926)


The first cinematic incarnation of "The Student Of Prague", a story loosely based on Edgar Allen Poe's "William Wilson", was made in 1913. It's a very nice watch, with some great special effects and atmosphere, but it's a bit limited in its vocabulary. Fast forward 13 years, to this 1926 adaptation of the material, directed by Henrik Galeen: The fantastic element is toned down a little, more implied than actually shown - but every other aspect is scaled up to the max. The advancement in storytelling is nothing short of mindblowing. This "Student Of Prague" has a little bit of unexpected gore effects, some dizzying, dynamic action, fully developed Expressionism (the German kind) visuals, a rhythm alternating between lighthearted and grave, natural acting, and so on - everything you expect from an eerie, exciting, and much (much!) more recent, movie. Outstanding!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017438/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Student_of_Prague_(1926_film)

 

L'Inferno (1911) 


From the infancy of cinematic storytelling comes "L'Inferno", directed by Francesco Bertolini, Adolfo Padovan and Giuseppe De Liguoro. Cinema had been invented only about 15 years earlier, and its roots in stage play are clearly visible in the film. It's Italy's first full length feature production, it's a bit slow, but the longer you watch it, the creepier it becomes. Once you've gotten into the "zone", and begin to see "through" the old film stock, you can fully appreciate and admire the rich mise-en-scene, with lots of infernal decor and strong silent-era make-up and overacting. There are some special effects and montages that wouldn't be possible on stage, creating some bizarre imagery, and of course all of it is Dante Alighieri's "Inferno", meaning hell, from his "Divine Comedy", resulting in an interesting, moody, spooky watching experience.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0002130/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Inferno

Watch the full movie for free in "Streaming Kino"...


Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam (1920)

"directed by Paul Wegener and Carl Boese, is one of the archetypes of horror cinema. It's loosely based on the Jewish legend of the Golem, a clay statue, that is brought to life by sorcery. "The Golem" isn't the most experimental of German Expressionism films, but it's certainly expressionist enough, with the poster giving a surprisingly accurate hint at what you're about to see. It's a slicker version, more like a big scale fantasy epic, with lots of actors and large sets, and some powerful Golem action. The imagery is striking, and, from a modern viewer's perspective, might have some comic strip charm, the kind you'd see much later in movies by directors such as Sam Raimi, George A. Romero, or Peter Jackson.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0011237/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golem:_How_He_Came_into_the_World


The Bat (1926)

Not only in Europe, also across the pond in the US of A, a powerful cinematic language was evolving during the 1920s. "The Bat", directed by Roland West, takes a good hint from the German films of the time, but creates its own, streamlined aesthetic, more reminiscent of printed graphic design, or cutout art. It's a comedy, and a classic crime story with a super-villain, robbery and murder, and it's exceptionally moody, mystical, and beautiful. "The Bat" really is a fun experience, with brilliant use of darkness, light, and camera, nice chills, and the light-footed pacing of a good Hitchcock movie.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016629/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bat_(1926_film)


Alraune (1928)

Alraune 1928 poster

"Alraune" translates to "mandrake", but the English title of the movie is "A Daughter Of Destiny". This film doesn't scream in your face at all. (Well, it's silent.) Quite the opposite, the horror is all beneath the surface. It's in the audacity of challenging God, and what could go wrong if you play with fire. Written and directed by Henrik Galeen, based on the eponymous 1911 novel by Hanns Heinz Ewers , "Alraune" is a mesmerizing, enchanting tale of science, morale, and responsibility. The beauty and elegance of some of the imagery is unreal. The eroticism, without being even remotely comparable to today's standards, will make the male viewer, and probably also the female viewer, blush. "Alraune" is dramatic, smooth, and sultry, best watched with a glass of red wine at room temperature - but you don't play God for nothing, and it all leads to a bitter end...

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017621/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alraune_(1928_film)

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2025-05-29

Streaming Kino: Jack The Ripper (1988)

One of many adaptations of the "Jack the Ripper" material, this one stands out with great acting performances, suspense, and historical accuracy.

Michael Caine and Jane Seymour star in this two-part TV mini-series, turned into one 3-hour feature film. Do not despair at the runtime, you probably won't even notice the extra 90 minutes - it's a TV-friendly production, but still a very exciting ride. Some obvious effort went into creating a reasonably accurate picture of both the crimes, and the period. It's a captivating detective story, with flashes of horror, and some interesting character development.

Watch "Jack The Ripper" (1988):

video source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cnG9XlHfFQ

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2025-05-17

Streaming Kino: Assault On Precinct 13 (1976)

John Carpenter's first serious feature length movie, and a horror thriller classic.

With its nihilistic approach, violent action, and seriously creepy scenes of nightly onslaught, "Assault On Precinct 13" is a little too much horror to be just an ordinary thriller. Like a handful of other John Carpenter films, its based on an idea found in a Howard Hawks western movie, but it also takes a clue from George A. Romero's "Night Of The Living Dead" (1968). The result is an outstanding piece of eerie, terrifying atmosphere and suspense, that is easily on par with Carpenter's next movie, mega-hit "Halloween" (1978), if not superior.

Watch "Assault On Precinct 13" (1976):

video source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fbyNrdngx4

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2025-05-13

Top 10 really old horror films you must watch (1/2)

"Old" doesn't equal "boring". If you think it does, you're missing out on some of the best horror movies ever. 

Movies that not only have become iconic over time, for their historical value and contribution to cinema, but are timelessly scary and exciting. 

In no particular order, here are five (=part one, link to part 2 at end of article) out of ten really old horror films you must watch:

Nosferatu - Eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

When speaking about horror films, "Nosferatu" has a bit of singular place in history. It's basically in the lineage of "Dracula", but changes to some elements of the story (e.g. name) put it into a different context. And director Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau managed to create some striking imagery that is unmatched to this day. Combined, "Nosferatu" is the Dracula that defies Dracula. A universe, such as Dracula's, with countless variations on the myth, was never created for "Nosferatu". It's just this singular, otherworldly nightmare put on film, that is unparalleled in its sinister aesthetic quality. The full original title translates to "A Symphony Of Horror", which is an accurate description of the movie. This Dracula doesn't beguile or enchant - he just stares into your soul, and wants to eat it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013442/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosferatu (with streaming movie!)

If you like to watch "Nosferatu" make sure it's a long (>90min) version (e.g. the one on the Wikipedia page).

 

Häxan (1922)

In this quite unique production, directed by Benjamin Christensen, we get an analytic approach to the alleged phenomenon of witchcraft - "Häxan" is the Swedish word for "witches". Being a somewhat scientific document, there isn't much of a story, it just goes through some chapters exploring the material, and giving some commentary. Material, in this case, being a reference to folklore, and "Häxan" being the most expensive Swedish film production at the time. Add one to one - it's to witchcraft movies what "Saving Private Ryan" is to WWII movies. Did you ever want to see the actual devil, the one you were scared of as a very little kid? In "Häxan" you do - and then some.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0013257/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A4xan (with streaming movie!)

 

Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920)

Horror cinema wouldn't be the same without Dr. Caligari's infamous cabinet. Generations of filmmakers have looked at this movie as a guideline, and source of inspiration. It is basically the seed of the "psycho thriller", thus "slasher", genre, and a template for the modern script writer as well as the cinematographer. Also it's the most expressionist of German Expressionism films, almost completely dropping the ties with physical reality in its visual design. The psyche is everything, and everything is the psyche, in this creepy, pivotal masterpiece, directed by Robert Wiene.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0010323/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cabinet_of_Dr._Caligari (with streaming movie!)

 

Faust: Eine deutsche Volkssage (1926)

Another F. W. Murnau directed milestone of fantastic cinema, a drama of biblical proportions, and a stunning display of visual cinematic virtuosity. This adaptation of the classic Wolfgang von Goethe material is the "Star Wars" and "Lord of the Rings" of German Expressionism cinema. It opens with the Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse, riding through the misty clouds, looking... terrifying! And this is just the first minute of the movie. Rooted in religion and folklore, with overwhelming expressionist shapes of black and white, masterful use of composition, superimposition, and other effects, "Faust" is an array of beautiful, epic, nightmarish imagery that is guaranteed to crawl under your skin. "Faust", without a doubt, ranks among the top achievements in cinema history, and will forever do so.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016847/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faust_(1926_film) (with streaming movie!)


Kurutta Ichipeji ("A Page of Madness", 1926)

Japanese experimental psycho horror film "A Page of Madness", directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa, is interesting, beautiful, and disturbing, all at once. Naturally, it has similarities with other productions of the time, but there's also a very distinct element to. The bizarre, stylized imagery, and the sometimes dizzying, unsettling editing is unique to Japanese cinema, and is still seen today in everything from "Tetsuo" (1989) to "Ringu" (1998) and beyond. "A Page Of Madness" is a groundbreaking, mesmerizing visualization of a mind falling apart at the borders between reality and imagination.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0017048/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Page_of_Madness (with streaming movie!)

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