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Der Totmacher

  • 1995
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Götz George in Der Totmacher (1995)
CrimeDrama

Fritz Haarmann, who has killed at least 27 boys, is questioned by a psychology professor in order to find out whether he is sane and can be held responsible for his crimes. During this inter... Read allFritz Haarmann, who has killed at least 27 boys, is questioned by a psychology professor in order to find out whether he is sane and can be held responsible for his crimes. During this interrogation Haarmann reveals his motives and his killing methods.Fritz Haarmann, who has killed at least 27 boys, is questioned by a psychology professor in order to find out whether he is sane and can be held responsible for his crimes. During this interrogation Haarmann reveals his motives and his killing methods.

  • Director
    • Romuald Karmakar
  • Writers
    • Romuald Karmakar
    • Michael Farin
  • Stars
    • Götz George
    • Jürgen Hentsch
    • Pierre Franckh
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Romuald Karmakar
    • Writers
      • Romuald Karmakar
      • Michael Farin
    • Stars
      • Götz George
      • Jürgen Hentsch
      • Pierre Franckh
    • 12User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos

    Der Totmacher (1995)
    Der Totmacher (1995)
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    Top cast

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    Götz George
    Götz George
    • Fritz Haarmann
    Jürgen Hentsch
    • Prof. Dr. Ernst Schultze
    Pierre Franckh
    Pierre Franckh
    • Stenograph
    Hans-Michael Rehberg
    Hans-Michael Rehberg
    • Kommissar Rätz
    Matthias Fuchs
    Matthias Fuchs
    • Dr. Machnik
    Marek Harloff
    • Fürsorgezögling Kress
    Christian Honhold
    • Wärter Schweimler
    Rainer Feisthorn
    • Arzt
    • Director
      • Romuald Karmakar
    • Writers
      • Romuald Karmakar
      • Michael Farin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The film was intirely based on the original interrogation protocols of the serial killer Fritz Haarmann. Of the 400 pages, 80 were used as script.
    • Quotes

      Fritz Haarmann: The boys always asked me, "Fritz, what to you put in there?"

      [opens the window, walks up close to the doctor]

      Fritz Haarmann: And then I always said, "I'm feeding your FISHES!", that's the way I said it.

    • Connections
      Featured in Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Ich hatte einen Kameraden
      Performed by Franz Baumann and Orchestra

      Lyrics by Ludwig Uhland

      Music by Friedrich Silcher

    User reviews12

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    4/10
    Cinema is more than just one single amazing performance
    Most of my fellow reviewers around here dedicate their entire user- comment, or at least the largest part of it, to praising the formidable acting performance of Götz George. And don't get me wrong, I definitely concur. Götz George's depiction of the notorious and legendary despicable German serial killer Fritz Haarmann is absolutely stunning and mind-blowing! Jürgen Hentsch' performance as the shrink is terrific as well. Heck, even Pierre Franckh's performance as the silent stenographer is excellent! But a great film exists of more than just terrific acting performances from the lead characters, if you ask me. Thrillers, particularly when dealing with sensitive and socially relevant topics like real-life murderers, ought to have suspenseful scripts, moody atmospheres, authentic decors and filming locations and gripping action sequences. "Der Totmacher" isn't that type of film, clearly. The screenplay is based on Haarmann's profound and extended psychiatric evaluation, conducted by professor-doctor Ernst Schültze in between the serial killer's arrest and his inevitable execution. Fascinating material, for sure, but not suitable for a film. The long conversations between doctor and monster would make a compelling documentary and perhaps even mandatory viewing material for psychiatrist students, but it doesn't make a very interesting long-feature film. Despite the horrific content, "Der Totmacher" is tedious and monotonous. Fritz "The Vampire of Hanover" Haarmann previously formed the inspiration for another German thriller, the brilliant but sadly obscure "The Tenderness of Wolves" in 1973. That film features magnificent contemporary set pieces, numerous ultimately disturbing sequences and also fantastic lead performance (from Kurt Raab).
    helpful•7
    7
    • Coventry
    • Dec 26, 2014

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • November 23, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Germany
    • Language
      • German
    • Also known as
      • The Deathmaker
    • Filming locations
      • Graf-Goltz-Kaserne, Hamburg, Germany(main location)
    • Production companies
      • Pantera Film
      • Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
      • Südwestfunk (SWF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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