Antikörper (2005)

Director:

Christian Alvart

Writer:

Christian Alvart (writer)

Release Date:

7 July 2005 (Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Das Gute ist das Böse daran. [The Good is the Evil in It.]

Plot:

Long wanted serial killer Gabriel Engel gets arrested in a spectacular police strike. Small town cop...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Murder | Serial Killer | Rooftop | Prayer

Awards:

6 wins

Cast

Norman Reedus	...	Polizist Schmitz
Christian von Aster	...	Polizist Wagner
André Hennicke	...	Gabriel Engel
Waltraud Witte	...	Frau Hering
Konstantin Graudus	...	Wosniak
Heinz Hoenig	...	Seiler
Wotan Wilke Möhring	...	Michael Martens
Ulrike Krumbiegel	...	Rosa Martens
Hauke Diekamp	...	Christan Martens
Jürgen Schornagel	...	Sucharzewski
Gudrun Ritter	...	Frau Sucharzewski
Laura Alberta Szalski	...	Sarah Martens
Klaus Zmorek	...	Bosowski
Domenico D'Ambrosio	...	Techniker (Technician)
Holger Franke	...	Karl Prebisch

Also Known As:

Antibodies (International: English title)
Antimatter (International: English title)

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | France:-12 | Ireland:18 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Kinowelt Filmproduktion

Trivia:

Director Christian Alvart uses his own dog to play Schimanski in the film. The dog's real name is Romeo. It is a six-year-old Husky-Rottweiler.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gabriel Engel: The world is unfair. Even to people like us. Pedro Alonso Lopez committed 300 sex murders. Now, 20 years later, who remembers him? Not a soul. Jack the Ripper is world-famous, and for what? Five bitches. Five! And Charley Manson. The hippie they called "Our Emperor" didn't even commit one murder himself.

Movie Connections:

References The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Soundtrack:

Unique

Top-notch psychological horror from Germany.

"Antikörper" is a tremendously entertaining, gripping and chilling serial killer movie directed by relative newcomer Christian Alvart. From the superb, edge-of-the-seat introduction and the inventive use of credits, the film is imaginative, brave and unpredictable.

While there are shades of "Silence of the Lambs" in this film (interestingly, there's even a throw-away comment about Hannibal Lecter as if the director was aware of the similarities in storyline and decided to confront this matter head-on), "Antikörper" is a much more realistic, character-driven piece. André Hennicke is genuinely frightening as the paedophile serial killer, Engel, who embarks on psychological mind games with the likable, country-based policeman, Wotan Wilke Möhring. Möhring's portrayal of a man who is driven to the edge of his wits is brilliant stuff and riveting viewing.

The film is undoubtedly a roller-coaster ride of emotions. There are some uncomfortable scenes (Engel makes Lecter look like Father Christmas in comparison) but they rely on the viewer's imagination rather than in-your-face gore. There are also some brief but realistic sex scenes that drive the plot along rather than serve as mere titillation. The film's strength is in its intelligence. This is not your average serial killer movie by a long way. It raises interesting moral questions such as "Just how good is a 'good man?'" I was surprised to see Norman Reedus appear in a small role in this film. Why Reedus was brought in for such a small part is puzzling but it was good to see this distinctive American actor nonetheless.

A highly recommended movie and one I'm glad to have stumbled across by accident. This is one of those film you may never have heard of but which you'll be very glad you watched.