I won’t hide the fact that Der Samurai is one of my favorite films this year, so much of a favorite I’ve always been promoting it - the upcoming release from Last Exit Entertainment, screenings at Monsters of Film etc. It’s such an important, original and odd film - with one part in arty-farty land and the other in the land of German gory horror. The question after watching it again yester at the above mentioned film festival is if it can be considered a horror film, or just really fucked-up little drama with some decapitations thrown in for good measure? But first take a look at the story, and I’m quoting myself from the Monsters of Film festival program:
“A wolf is circling a sleepy town somewhere in Germany. The lovesick police officer Jakob is desperately trying to scare off the animal at the same time as he has to keep an eye on the local troublemakers. One night he meets a man with long hair, a classy dress and a sharpened samurai sword – a Katana – in his hands. Helplessly Jakob watches the man destroy everything around him, but still decides to follow him to arrest this strange creature. But where is the hunt heading? The samurai does not only become a lunatic without a cause, but might be part of something bigger. Through good and evil, towards acceptance or downfall.”
It’s awesome watching a film together with an audience who have no friggin’ idea what they’re gonna see. It’s like watching a magic trick unfold, or one of those funny cat videos where only you know what will happen in the end, eagerly looking forward to the laughter from your friends. Der Samurai is of course a lot more than a funny cat video, but I wonder if it’s not quite close to a magic trick? What it does it to lure horror fans into what I consider to be the ultimate match against small town bigotry. There’s so much in the character of Jakob, very subtle stuff. I love how he obviously seems attracted to the tough guy, the leader of the local bunch of misfits, how the filmmakers focus on an imaginary kissing scene between him and a woman - and it wasn’t until yesterday it struck me this could be HER fantasy and not his, which makes him even more distanced to women.
It’s a bizarre love story, but what kind of story is it? When I watched it the first time I was pretty convinced this story tells about two personalities of the same person, but now… I’m not so sure anymore. My personal theory is that he summons a spirit, a ghost or whatever. This being takes on his biggest fear his small town mind: being different, being gay, being attracted to the forbidden. In the end I was a bit confused, because you could read it as a negative thing towards being different - but once again, watching it on a big screen made me realize what happens it actually the total opposite. I won’t go into more details, I’ve spoiled it enough.
Der Samurai was born through a campaign over at IndieGoGo, but I promise you this looks as far from a cheap production as possible. It’s a small film, yeah, but it the visuals is fantastic - so much atmosphere in every shot! So even the set design, the cinematography and the talent of director Till Kleinert. But what really makes this film work is the two actors playing the leads, the charismatic and absurdly sexy Pit Bukowski as the Samurai and the magnetic and cute Michel Diercks as Jacob, the police officer. It’s their film, and they’re in it from beginning to end. This is acting, this is real acting. We’re having here two credible characters - both on the opposite side of being normal, the wickedly twisted male succubus and the closet-hiding, shy and somehow - after a while - very brave cop living in a homophobic and macho society, trying to not be himself. Until the Samurai comes…
The ending is brilliant. Hands down one of the best this year, but also - for a Swedish audience - extra bizarre because of the music used at the end. First time I was really skeptical, but after watching the scene a couple of times it grew on me and I think it’s perfect. It’s a glorious moment of tragedy, happiness and an explosion of madness and freedom. For you gorehounds there’s some nice bloodshed also, involving the Samurai sword - it’s pretty bloody, but never disturbing. The violence contains the same dreamlike quality as the rest of the film.
Watch out for Der Samurai on DVD from Last Exit Entertainment sooner or later. This is one of those films I will double-dip every time I find a release of it. Till Kleinert and his cast and crew needs to make another movie, soon - and one way to make that happen is to support Der Samurai.
"What it does it to lure horror fans into what I consider to be the ultimate match against small town bigotry."
Interesting premise.
"Der Samurai was born through a campaign over at IndieGoGo, but I promise you this looks as far from a cheap production as possible. It’s a small film, yeah, but it the visuals is fantastic - so much atmosphere in every shot! So even the set design, the cinematography and the talent of director Till Kleinert."
Miracles can happen....using the lowbudget to your advantage.
"The ending is brilliant. Hands down one of the best this year, but also - for a Swedish audience - extra bizarre because of the music used at the end. First time I was really skeptical, but after watching the scene a couple of times it grew on me and I think it’s perfect. It’s a glorious moment of tragedy, happiness and an explosion of madness and freedom."
Hmmm....it´s that good?
I think I have to check this one out, good review and thanks.
Posted by: Megatron | October 13, 2014 at 23:24