The Death King (1990)

Not even bad in a good way

A Disappointing Continuation

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

This film wishes so hard to be art, but it just doesn't have what it takes to get there. It is gruesome in an unpleasant way, and the gruesomeness may be intense enough to steer the naive viewer into thinking that there is something deep beneath all the gore. There is nothing. Nothing but the guarantee that it will irreversibly cut 80 minutes out of your precious life, should you endure all the way to the ending credits. Unfortunately, I did. I'm afraid there is no way that I can ever be reimbursed.It's not horror. Horror should scare you. This amateurish piece of clap-trap will just nauseate you.

I wouldn't say I was exactly floored by this movie. The version I had was extremely over-played, and without subtitles. Not that it matters much, since it is an "art" film. As for this movie, I have seen better from the likes of Jorg. If you're looking for a movie like Necromantik, I wouldn't recommend this, nor would I recommend his other movie HOT LOVE. The reason why I've rated this movie a five is because I do like certain parts of the film. The decomposing corpse is particularly good and life-like, and the concept is okay (from what I understand), but it lacks importance, and it's definitely over-played. If you're looking for something that is a good "art" movie, I'd recommend Un Chein Andelou, or Tetsuo: The Iron Man. Both are remarkable pieces of film art.

Der Todesking, the first film that I ever saw by the amazing director Jorg Buttereit, and what a profound film this is! It is a story all revolving around one topic: Suicide. A different story for every day of the week. All of the people receive a chain letter, which (to my knowledge) makes them kill themselves. The best episode is wednesday, because it is so simple, but yet completely beautiful and the dialoge is amazing. I will admit, that the intervals between each story of a decomposing body, can be quite slow, and I would suggest fast-forwading (because they seem to drag forever) but dont let you stray you away from the actual film! True work of art. I cant wait to see what Jorg puts out next.

Buttgereit does a beautiful film about suicide? Who would have thought that the same director of the filthy, Nekromantik, would be capable of bringing us such a moving portrait about suicide. Well, it is also a film about violent death, not just suicide. This is subject matter that most writers and directors would shy away from because it is too dark. It took someone like Buttgereit with enough audacity to give this disturbing topic its humanity. The film itself is actually seven short films each one dealing with violent death/suicide from different aspects. There are indeed some parts that will move you to tears such as a bridge (somewhere in Germany, we don't know where but that's not important) and on film captions of the occupations (no real names given) and ages of the people who have used the bridge to meet their end. At the very end of the film you are shown photos of smiling children obviously during more happier times. This scene got me emotionally more than any other. I have to spoil one thing but as a cautionary statement, there is one scene unfortunately that has become almost a trademark for Buttgereit: the obligatory castration scene. But get past that and this film is a wonderful, emotional experience. This one certainly has earned it's place on my all time top ten movie favorites. I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to see such a marvelous film. Now if only it would be made available on DVD?