Written & Reviewed by: Eric R. Lowther
Rammbock: Berlin Undead (2010)
Written by: Benjamin Hessler
Directed by: Marvin Kren
Hey there, kids! It’s Eric R Lowther aka biguglyhairyscary taking a break from pimping my new novel, “Area 187; Almost Hell”, to say a few words about 2010’s “Rammbock: Berlin Undead”. This 60 minute infected-zombie movie is 100% German born and bred. While it’s been compared to 2002’s “28 Days Later” because of their near-identical infected, this story starts at the beginning of the outbreak and the shock factor that brings to the table unlike where we join “28 Days”, where the characters save for the lead have gained at least a basic understanding of what they face. And, unlike the certainly influential “28 Days Later”, here we find ourselves in a large, older apartment complex instead of the sprawl of London. But before we go any further, let’s get to the synopsis…
Our story revolves around Michael, a likeable electronics store employee from Vienna. The love of his life, Gabi, has left the poor working class schmuck for Berlin to chase some dream or another that seems to involve sewing a bear costume and has left him high and dry after a seven year relationship. Michael can’t accept that it’s over, so he comes to see her in Berlin with the thin cover story of coming to return her keys with the real motive of trying to patch things up. The movie doesn’t take long to get going when he finds workmen and not Gabi in her apartment. The chief plumber is obviously infected and attacks his young apprentice, Harper. Michael and Harper manage to get the infected plumber out of the apartment only to discover still more infected trolling the halls and stairwells. With nothing else to do, they barricade themselves in Gabi’s apartment while they try to figure out just what the hell is going on.
Hey kids! Fun Fact; when Michael and Harper eject the infected plumber into the hall and scuffle with a few others outside the apartment, Michael tries to get away from them by going UP a flight of stairs. He loses his backpack and cell phone in the struggle before managing to get back into the apartment with Harper. Later, when they go to retrieve Michael’s ringing phone, it’s located on the flight of stairs BELOW Gabi’s apartment…
Through interactions with neighbors across the courtyard and a radio, they learn all of Berlin is in a police state due to the unexplained infection that causes its victims to, well… you’ve all seen “28 Days Later”. From here the movie really picks up speed and plot threads involving other residents of the apartment complex when Michael and Harper figure a way out of the apartment and into the adjoining one in search of food, medicine, escape, and, of course, Gabi.
So let’s check out this fine piece of German engineering’s workings. In the traditional German fashion, there’s no waste here and the engineering is of the highest quality. The script, direction and acting are all top-notch and are so tight that director Kren and writer Hessler do in 60 minutes what most small-scope zombie movies can’t do in 90 minutes or more. The apartment complex lends itself to claustrophobia, allowing just a few zombies to really crank up the tension due to the close-quarters. Kren uses the location to his advantage to bring a dark, gritty tone to the piece without even having to try too hard.
Michael, played by German indie cinema veteran Michael Fuith, is completely believable as first a lovesick puppy and then a shock survivor, especially in the early stages when he’s more worried about the damage that’s been caused to Gabi’s apartment and Harper’s use of her silverware for improvised weapons than he is about the raging cannibals just outside the thin apartment door. The effects are good quality as well and are just enough to get the point across without having to resort to buckets of gore and blood. All in all, I’ve seen a lot of other movies with much bigger names and budgets that just don’t have Rammbock’s overall technical quality, acting chops, tight script and expert direction.
So, to the real question; is it any good? Well, if you skipped all of the above then I’ll say it’s definitely worth a watch, especially for zombie or infected fans. The DVD comes with the original German as well as English dubbing and subtitles. I personally prefer to view a movie in its native language first with subtitles and then watch it again with the English dubbing when available just to see if there are any differences. I’m happy to say that with very little exception watching with either the original German or the English dubbing will have little effect on the average watcher’s enjoyment. Even the physical dubbing itself is timed with much more accuracy than in many other movies and is yet another example of the quality of the film in general. If this one sounds like your stein of beer you can rent it from Netflix (though it’s not available for streaming) as well as Amazon (which does offer a streamed version) and your usual online outlets for anywhere from $10.00-$16.00 used and new. You can also find a few places that still offer the movie streamed, just make sure they’re of the legal variety before watching.
Well, that will wrap it up for the biguglyhairyscary. Make sure you’re checking out all the other neat-as-hell stuff here on the blog as well as on The Witch’s Hat family of podcasts. Also, make sure to get your entry in to win a signed copy of my novel, “Area 187; Almost Hell”. I mean, it’s not every day a podcaster actually invites people to imitate and lampoon them. Remember, the contest is open to other podcasters as well, and drunk dialing your entry into the voicemail line is not only encouraged but for some of you will be expected. So until next time and with a tip of my imaginary hat to Keely, Misfit Boy, Root, Kreepy Kyle and whoever the hell else may be bouncing around in here this has been biguglyhairyscary saying, see ya, kids.
Related Witch’s Hat links
Area 187, Book I; Almost Hell (Now available)
Yah or Nay of the Day mini reviews
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