Plot: What’s it about?
In this film directed by J÷rg Buttgereit (Nekromantik, The Death King), we watch as a serial killer makes his rounds and leaves a hideous trail behind. The man is Lothar Schramm (Florian Koerner von Gustorf) and he seems like a normal person, he has some problems of course, but then again, we all do. He lives a rather simple life and works as a taxi driver, which allows him some level of personal interaction. Schramm lives alone, but he is more than willing to open his door to others, but when he does, bad things happen to them. He often murders people in most brutal and disturbing fashion, but has little remorse and knows he will repeat this many times, until he can no more. In case you can’t tell, he has a problem with social skills and this extends to women, whom he has trouble getting close to. So instead of dating young ladies, he drugs them and takes nude photographs of them, which allows him the sexual release he needs. But now this maniacal killer is face down in a pool of blood and close to death, as he remembers the path his life took, no matter how perverse and sick, it was his life after all.
I am always glad when lower profile films like Schramm are released, especially in such fine treatments as this disc. I’ll talk about the disc later on though, for now I want to focus on the movie itself. I always love a good serial killer flick and Schramm is a very good one, loaded with memorable visuals and an excellent lead character. The film runs a brisk sixty-five minutes, but that time is well used and in truth, it never hinders the picture in the least. It seems like a feature length effort, as the editing is very well done and no time is wasted at all. This offers a look inside the life of a serial killer and as such, that means some twisted stuff and a lot of blood, of course. So if you can’t handle some nudity, sex, and gore, Schramm isn’t the ticket in your case. I wouldn’t say this is gore overkill by any means, but it does use plenty of the red stuff and in this case, it is more than warranted. I think fans of intense serial killer movies will be well served here, as well as horror lovers and anyone who wants to see an offbeat picture. If you’re at all interested, then seek out this release and since it has been issued with great care, don’t hesitate to purchase, should you be so inclined. This is an awesome overall package from the folks at Barrel Entertainment, so I hope to see more releases from them soon, if they follow this level of excellence.
Video: How does it look?
Schramm is presented in a full frame transfer, which seems to the proper form of presentation. This film was shot on 16mm and as such, looks a little rough at times, but this transfer offers the best possible image, I assume. So there is some grain and print damage, but given the source materials, I can’t be too hard on this one. The colors are bright and never seem too faded, while flesh tones remain normal and warm, as intended. I saw no problems with contrast to speak of, as shadows seemed natural and detail was acceptable at all times. I am going to score this one above average, as the transfer presents the film in great form, even with inherent source flaws.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release has two audio options, the original mono edition or a new stereo version, both in the original German language, of course. The audio is good in both cases, but the new stereo mix does liven it all up, without losing a natural soundscape. The vocals are rich and clean, while sound effects come across in more than adequate form as well. This is not the kind of mix to show off your home audio system with, but the material is taken care of and that’s the real issue. I think both tracks more than cover the bases, but I prefer the stereo mix, for the added atmosphere involved. This disc also includes optional English subtitles, in case you’ll need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a wealth of extras, such as two early short films from J÷rg Buttgereit, which have been subtitled in English here. The titles are Mein Papi and Captain Berlin, both were cool to watch and I am sure fans of the director will be thrilled to have them on this release. I was quite taken with them both and even though they were Super 8 flicks, they look good here and are a very welcome inclusion. A music piece by the director, Die Neue Zeit is also included and if you like the band, make sure to check out the Mutter boxing feature, very humorous antics indeed. The Making of Schramm is up next, which runs about thirty-five minutes and offers a good look behind the scenes of the production. You’ll see both cast & crew interviews and on set footage, which I think gives a well rounded inside look at how the flick was made. The real draw here however, comes in the form of two audio commentary tracks. The first is with director J÷rg Buttgereit and co-writer Franz Rodenkirchen, while the second session features actors Monika M and Florian Koerner von Gustorf. I found both tracks to be informative and worthwhile, but I think the actors’ track was the more informal of the two, if a little less informative. Both tracks were recorded in English, but you might have some trouble at times, due to the accents of those involved. This disc also includes information on the director, a selection of still photos, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
