DEATH IS JUST THE BEGINNING
Nekromantik is the one-of-a-kind shock classic from cult director Jörg Buttgereit, weaving the tale of Rob Schmadtke (Daktari Lorenz), a young man who finds himself competing for the affections of his girlfriend with a putrefying cadaver.
An employee of Joe’s Streetcleaning Agency, a company which cleans up after grisly accidents, Rob takes advantage of his profession to indulge in his chosen hobby – the collection of body parts. Then, one day Rob, brings home an entire decomposing corpse, much to the delight of girlfriend Betty. There follows a twisted love triangle, resulting in some of the most shocking scenes ever committed to celluloid.
Nearly 30 years after its original release, Arrow Video is proud to present this classic of underground horror cinema – finally classified for UK release in its fully unexpurgated form.
CONTENTS
- High Definition Bluray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of three Buttgereit films: Nekromantik (1987), Hot Love (1985) [29 mins] and J.B.’s Horror Heaven (1984) [23 mins]
- Optional English subtitles for all three films
- Nekromantik audio commentary with Jörg Buttgereit and co-writer Franz Rodenkirchen
- Hot Love audio commentary with Buttgereit
- Horror Heaven audio commentary with Buttgereit
- Director’s Introduction to Nekromantik
- Alternative “Grindhouse” version of Nekromantik, transferred from the only existing 35mm print [Blu-ray only]
- In Conversation with The Death King – a brand-new 2014 interview with Buttgereit Morbid Fascination: The Nekromantik Legacy – a brand-new 2014 documentary looking at the impact of the film on the horror scene both in the UK and abroad, featuring interviews with genre critic Alan Jones, Marc Morris, producer of Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Parts 1 & 2 and Buttgereit biographer David Kerekes
- Q&A with Jörg Buttgereit recorded at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (2014)
- The Making of Nekromantik – A vintage featurette including behind the scenes footage, viewable with two different audio tracks: an English commentary featuring Buttgereit, co-author Franz Rodenkirchen and David Kerekes, and a German-language audio track featuring radio interviews with Buttgereit, Rodenkirchen and producer Manfred Jelinski, viewable with optional English subtitles
- Nekromantik Featurette – A look back at the film’s production, featuring interviews with Buttgereit and Jelinski, produced for the film’s 10 year anniversary German VHS release
- Nekromantik Premiere – short featurette comprised of footage from the film’s premiere in Berlin, January 1988
- “Das Letzte” – short featurette comprising footage from the 1985 premiere of Hot Love
- Two Buttgereit-directed music videos: ‘I Can’t Let Go’ by Shock Therapy (1995) and ‘Lemmy I’m a Feminist’ by Half Girl (2013)
- Complete collection of Buttgereit film trailers: Nekromantik, Der Todesking, Nekromantik 2, Schramm
- Extensive image gallery including behind-the-scenes stills, rare promotional material and the German-language Nekromantik der Komik, from Berlin comic artist Fil, reproduced in its entirety
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Godmachine
THE RETURN OF THE LOVING DEAD
Monika isn’t like other young women. She shares her small flat with Rob, a recently disinterred corpse which serves as the object of her affections. But then she meets good-natured Mark, and soon finds herself torn between the prospect of a ‘normal’ life with a living, breathing partner and her overwhelming desire for her rotting bed-fellow.
Once prosecuted in its native Germany for “glorifying violence”, Jörg Buttgereit’s follow-up to his ground-breaking Nekromantik is just as shocking as its reputation would suggest. But it’s also a profoundly moving (if decidedly twisted) love story, and a thought provoking meditation on the nature of life and death.
- High Definition transfer approved by director Jörg Buttgereit
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
- Original Stereo 2.0 audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
- Optional English subtitles
- Audio commentary with Buttgereit, co-writer Franz Rodenkirchen and actors Monika M. and Mark Reeder
- Introduction to the film with Buttgereit, Reeder, Monika M. and producer Manfred Jelinski
- Masters of Life and Death – a brand new documentary looking at the film’s production and release history, featuring interviews with Buttgereit, Reeder, Monika M. and Jelinski
- City of the Loving Dead – a walking tour of some of the original Berlin locations with Reeder and Jelinski
- Necropolis: Jörg Buttgereit’s Berlin – film scholar Dr. Marcus Stiglegger on the significance of the German capital as the backdrop for Nekromantik 2
- The Making of Nekromantik 2 – vintage documentary viewable with two different audio tracks: an English track comprising audio interviews with Buttgereit, Rodenkirchen and Monika M., and a German track featuring radio interviews with Buttgereit and Rodenkirchen, with optional English subtitles
- Nekro Waltz: The Music of Nekromantik 2 – Reeder discusses his work on the film’s score
- Outtakes Reel
- Nekromantik 2 Livekonzert – footage from the 20th anniversary Nekromantik 2 concert, with Monika M. and friends performing the live score
- Nekromantik 2 Livekonzert – the complete 20-track audio recording of the concert [BD/DVD-ROM content]
- Two Buttgereit short films: Bloody Excess in the Leader’s Bunker (Blutige Exzesse im Führerbunker, 1982) and A Moment of Silence at the Grave of Ed Gein (2012)
- Two Buttgereit-directed music videos: ‘Rise Up’ by Die Krupps (1997), starring Monika M., and ‘Die Frau in der Musik’ by Stereo Total (2007)
- Complete collection of Buttgereit feature film trailers