The Loving Dead

Nekromantik, Jörg Buttgereit's 1987 film is so much more than your standard gross out horror flick, it is the complex story of a love triangle between two deeply devoted sociopaths, Rob and Betty, and the corpse Rob brings home from his job cleaning roadside accidents. Things start off well enough but soon it becomes apparent that Betty prefers the company of the corpse, and Rob's world starts to decompose as does Betty's deceased paramour. I won't spoil the end, but let me say that is one the most bizarre and memorable scenes ever. Shot with 16mm film, Nekromantik has a grainy, low-budget look that doesn't detract from the film's inherent beauty at all. It is an unflinching and totally amazing piece of art that I can not recommend enough. Then there's the soundtrack. Sparse and lonely violins, pianos and orchestral pieces strain to convey the absolute desperation and misery of Rob, the callousness of Betty, and the indifference of the dead body that comes between them. Interestingly enough, the music was written and performed by Herman Kopp and the actor who played Rob, Daktari Lorenz. It is a simply beautiful soundtrack that compliments the film perfectly. John Waters called Nekromantik "The first erotic film for necrophiles." I call it a date movie for people who prefer Cannibal Corpse to "When Harry Met Sally." Enjoy.

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