Der Bomberpilot - 1970 - Germany

Der Bomberpilot - 1970 - 5/10 

 
Near the end of the Third Reich, the cabaret trio keep performing.
After the war, they struggle together and independently to find work.
Pastry shop, stenographer, one seeks a position at a retirement home for dogs. 
Eventually, they reform as a cabaret trio, reviving their old act for Yanks.
Audio is out of sync (deliberately), numerous wardrobe malfunctions.
Tone ranges from comic to ironic to jeering.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3373033

White Hell Of Pilz Palu - 1929 - Germany

White Hell Of Pilz Palu - 1929 - 6/10 
AKA - Die Weiße Hölle vom Piz Palü

 
Know-it-all mountaineer, Dr. Johannes, pooh-poohs the guide’s warning about the winds.
Before he can say, “Well, maybe I was –”  there goes his wife, into the crevasse.
He becomes obsessed, wandering the cliffs in a futile search for years.
Enter a young couple, and history begins to repeat.
Creaky story, a bit melodramatic, but the 1929 location photography and stunts are impressive.
For better or worse, this opened doors for Leni Riefenstahl, perhaps one too many.

Vampira - 1971 - Germany

Vampira - 1971 - 5/10

 
Experimental Docu Horror conjoins vampire legends with succubus.
Predator of lifeforce, as well as essence.
The recently deceased is soon initiated into an older coven.
No dialogue, aside from an intermittent narrator.
“It is not just the existence or the influence of other people.”
Sin and evil are inherent.

Curse Of The Yellow Snake - 1963 - Germany

Curse Of The Yellow Snake - 1963 - 5/10
AKA - Der Fluch der Gelben Schlange

 
A gang attempts to steal the golden snake, since whoever owns it shall rule the world!
#2 son hightails it to London, spies hot on his heels.
An attractive daughter is offered in marriage, so to access his wealth.
#1 son leads a battalion of Chinese hoodlums, seeking the idol and domination.
Fast-paced Edgar Wallace Krimi smacks of Yellow Peril, outdated by this time.
Lots of plot, subplots, assorted characters, your head will spin.
Nevertheless, empty headed nonsense.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/1427223

Murder By The Lake - 2016 - Germany

Murder By The Lake - 2016 - 6/10
AKA - Die Toten vom Bodensee

 
Deaths on the Austria / Germany force two police departments to work together.
Male German, female Austrian.  Both, as we find out, tote baggage.
Three mysteries from the first year are solid, if soon unimaginative.
A simmering Celtic curse, rabies outbreak, promiscuous teacher.
Biggest issue is the reliance on the defective detective concept.
Say, for instance, your home is burgled.
Do you want to hear the cop talk about his financial woes or his partner’s cocaine habit?
The misfit officer is a bankrupt crutch used by untalented writers.  Replace them.

The Carpet Of Horror - 1962 - Germany

The Carpet Of Horror - 1962 - 6/10
AKA - Der Teppich des Grauens

 
He intended to turn over evidence to Scotland Yard.
Too bad, he failed to notice the sphere roll onto the carpet, releasing poisonous gas.
Next man in the chain, a criminal chain, is equally blind, and just as doomed.
Fast-paced Krimi set in moonlit London, in between bright rooms.
The plot is convoluted to the point of confusion.  The Yard, secret agents, a sinister organization.
Empty headed, but fun.  I never grasped the aims of the thugs.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3366934

The Devil Came From Akasava - 1971 - Germany

The Devil Came From Akasava - 1971 - 5/10
AKA - Der Teufel kam aus Akasava

After discovering a powerful, magical rock, the professor goes missing in Mambasa.
The Brits send agent Jane Morgan to find out what-where-how-why.

 
She soon encounters slew of counteragents, assassins, deceivers and charmers.
This rolls like a late Krimi spoof of Eurospy flicks.
Soledad Miranda compels viewing, but the story is silly and incoherent.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/download/3365674

Bis Zum Letzten Tropfen - 2022 - Germany

Bis Zum Letzten Tropfen - 2022 - 6/10
AKA - Until The Last Drop

 
International conglomerate Aqua Pura arrives in tiny village Lauterbronn with a pitch.
You have mass reserves of underground water.  How about selling?  Create jobs?
Alas, for the residents, their mayor is an uninformed, unable to learn, dunce.
Even when family members and friends urge him to “read about this company, see what they have done!”
He relies on government officials, ignores drought, climate change.
The narrative is a foregone nightmare.

I warbled at this pompous suit throughout.  Years ago, our region witnessed the invasion of frakkers.
Communities were misled, frakking companies refused to disclose chemicals pumped down, or how the aquifer will be safeguarded.  When water is contaminated, who will remedy it?
Never sell your water.  Leash your politicians; they promise everything, but are weak and greedy.

Traitor’s Gate - 1964 - Germany

Traitor’s Gate - 1964 - 6/10
AKA - Das Verrätertor

 
Graham is busted out of Dartmoor, then helicoptered into London.
Reason?  He’s a dead ringer for one of the Tower guards, Dick.
Once you realize the Tower Of London, you grasp the plot.
Caper film.  Heist.  Stealing the Crown Jewels
Alright Krimi, based on Edgar Wallace, is great for shots of vintage England.
Some comic relief from a curious busybody, but it is minimal.
Kinski best as the ruthless right hand man and crew captain.

In The Dust Of The Stars (Im Staub der Sterne) - 1976 - Germany

In The Dust Of The Stars - 1976 - 6/10
AKA - Im Staub der Sterne

An exploratory mission from planet Cynro responds to a distress code from Tem 4.
Descending, their ship malfunctions mysteriously.
Tem rulers deny the distress signal, then invite the Cynro crew to a big party.

 
Where they are doped and brainwashed into thinking, problem, what problem?
Along with, let’s go back home as soon as possible!

 
SciFi from East Germany has lots of costumes, great sets, terrific villains, tons of extras.
Also, for me, a surprising amount of nudity (where were the Stasi censors?).
Plot seems Trekkish, although it is enlightening to see the majority of ship officers helmed by females.
If you have the right frame of mind, this is great, especially for all the wtf moments.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subscene/97365

Succubus - 1968 - Germany

Succubus - 1968 - 6/10
AKA - Necronomicon Geträumte Sünden

 
Male and female are chained to crosses, while a knife wielding woman carves their flesh.
Hold on, it’s only a decadent cabaret show for jaded sophisticates.
“Tormentor” Lorna is a creature of the borderlands, however.
Apparently slipstreaming various incarnations of herself.
Much of this might resemble six scenes in search of a narrative.
Nevertheless, this is one of Jess Franco’s earliest dream fugues.
(The Acid Party surely inspired David Lynch.)
Perhaps better viewed after seeing a dozen other Franco films beforehand.
The US dub (Terry Vantell) smooths some elements, obscures others.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subscene/71969   (US Dub)

Possession - 1981 - France

Possession - 1981 - 7/10

 
Mark returns from another lengthy mission, only to find wife Anna unresponsive and wanting out.
She denies another man, yet he quickly finds the name Heinrich.
The two men come to blows, while Anna returns home sporadically, yet emotionally distracted.
After disappearing from both men, Mark hires a detective agency.
Then things get really weird.
Possession relates to relationships, emotionally and physically, especially carnally.
Also obsession, along with the inklings of doppelgangers.
This can be an especially draining watch, with the emotional outbursts.
Although Mark (Sam Neill) is the focus, keep trained on Anna (Isabel Adjani) who is both possessive and possessed.
Get the UNCUT version.  Possibly watch twice, unless your are grossed out by intense scenes.

Wingman: An X-Wing Story - 2023 - Germany

Wingman: An X-Wing Story - 2023 - 6/10

 
A “Star Wars” chapter, which I suspect will be viewed as canon down the line.
Fifty-minute film of two halves.
First, an ambush / extraction mission, targeting an Imperial commander.
Second, a pair of X-Wing pilots left behind owing to craft damage.
Fan film from Germany, and I must say extraordinarily professional.
From costumes, to fighter crafts, to backgrounds, to storyline.
Narrative remains on point, never meanders, seldom loses momentum.
Restrained acting shames melodramatic hamminess of recent SW efforts.
Aspiring filmmakers, the costs were €3500.
English subtitles = https://subsource.net/subtitle/wingman-an-x-wing-story-2023/english/10132592

Fast Film - 2003 - Austria

Fast Film - 2003 - 6/10

 
Wild cut of over hundred films, starting with Bogart opening the door.
From there, long chase sequence on a dividing train (yes), then underworld entry.
Train escapades feature versions of Cary Grant.  The subterranean realm, Bond.  007.
Classic film fans will have a field day tagging clips
One could rewatch this 13” experimental short over and over.

Cave Of The Living Dead - 1964 - Yugoslavia

Cave Of The Living Dead - 1964 - 5/10
AKA - Der Fluch der Grünen Augen

After death number six, Interpol sends agent Dorin to a small village.
While all the slain women show neck punctures, the local doctor marks heart failure.
Villagers disdain strangers, yet live in fear of the grotto area, as well as the castle.
And – the titled professor who has taken it over.

 
Superstition be damned, Dorin soon finds a cross more effective than a pistol.
Not to mention the local gypsy fortune teller, more attuned than the doctor.

 
Routine storyline from Yugoslavia, with assorted character types, easy to differentiate.
The photography, sharp black and white, deep shadows, cutting and angles, is first rate.
Locations from cave corridors to castle interiors are sheer Gothic, and look authentic.
English subtitles = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3359933

Murder On The Inca Trail - 2024 - Germany

Murder On The Inca Trail - 2024 - 6/10
AKA - Mord auf dem Inka-Pfad

 
Ah, to be young, in love, travel the world.
Since they are in love, the married couple shun guided expeditions, and are attacked.
Ursula dies of her injuries, husband Jona tells elaborate, slippery stories.
Aside from the Andes scenery, Jona is a key, if maddening reason to watch.
He is extraordinarily elusive, lying, denying, forgetting, a bold-faced deceiver.
Based on a true murder, I did wonder if Munich actually spent for those police airfares.
By the end, I thought of how different European laws (France - Germany) differ from States.

The Dead Woman From The Way Of St. James - 2025 - Germany

The Dead Woman From The Way Of St. James - 2025 - 6/10
AKA - Der Galicien-Krimi: Die Tote vom Jakobsweg

 
The corpse washes ashore, thrown from the cliff, carried by the tide.
Lungs filled with freshwater indicate murder.
The new chief is from Valencia, far rougher than Santiago, pilgrimage destination.
And yes, although there are murders, blackmail, lies, this mystery is steeped in religion.
Imagery, proverbs, character backgrounds, turistas, vocations.
German production takes a page from French mysteries via photography.
Mind you, this is set in Spain, characters have Spanish names, yet German is spoken.

The Last Ten Days - 1955 - Germany

The Last Ten Days - 1955 - 6/10  
AKA - Der Letzte Akt

 
Berlin is encircled by the Soviets and Americans.
Hitler berates generals, studies maps that he thinks hold hundreds of thousands of fresh troops.
For most down in his bunker, carpe diem.  Drink, sing, boff, await annihilation.
Based on diaries and interviews, this may or may not accurately portray events.
Albin Skoda memorable as a conflicted Hitler, half mad, scarred after the 20 July Plot.
A late Pabst film, shot as an elevated docu-drama, worthwhile for fans of this director.

Cassandra - 2025 - Germany

Cassandra - 2025 - 6/10

Reeling from a family tragedy, the Prills move to a smaller community, new home.
Actually an old home, from the 1970’s, retro with then state-of-the-art technology.
Video monitors in every room, and a eager robot, Cassandra.

 
Who, we soon realize, is as lethally neurotic as it is cheerfully helpful.
The back history orbits in and out, although I grew up in this era.  The gobot is sheer fantasy.
Family dynamics are a mixed bag, both kids grated on me.
Lavinia Wilson as Cassandra is brilliant.
The ending struck me as writing room compromise.
Great scene when the kids play hide and go seek and one child crawls into the oven.
My wife, who had ignored this show, “Is this a German series?”
“Yes.”
“And an oven!  Didn’t someone realize the parallels with –”
“Hey, German humor.  Go with it!”

Pagan Peak - 2018 - Austria

Pagan Peak - 2018 - 7/10  
AKA - Der Pass

The corpse straddles an Alpine marker between Austria and Germany.
As in The Bridge, two police jurisdictions arrive.
Except when the Germany inspector expresses interest, the Austrian shrugs.
“Be my guest.”   And he’s gone, although he is eventually drawn into the investigation.
The core is an isolated serial killer, escalating, trying to make a point.

 
Society needs to reconnect with Nature, primal roots.
Convoluted, with personal sagas that added little.
More compelling were the survivalists, Krampus, and the Red Season.