The Cremator (1968/Dark Sky Films DVD)
Picture:
C- Sound: D Extras: D Film: B
One of
the great, undiscovered horror relics, The
Cremator is haunting, somber, and meditative with a deep undercurrent of
subtle humor throughout. While there are
only a few deaths towards the end and no outright “scares” to speak of, this
film definitely qualifies as a horror film.
The calm, omnipresent voice of the main character, Karl Kopfrkingl
(superbly played by Rudolf Hrusinsky), draws the viewer into the world as seen
through Karl’s eyes. It is a world where
death and lust underscore every part of life, and his profession as a cremator
is noble and sacred, as though he were the ferryman on the river Styx himself.
Set in
pre-WWII Czechoslovakia, Karl begins as a fairly harmless creeper, perhaps too
enthusiastic about his rather morbid job, but still a bit charming in a macabre
sort of way. Then, the Nazis show up and
start whispering in his ear, and eventually Karl becomes a full-fledged
psychopath. Take one mentally unstable
man who specializes in cremation, add the Third Reich, mix until blended, and
well… I bet you can figure out where this one is headed.
Stylistically
the film is equally impressive, taking visual cues from the German
Expressionist movement, editing techniques from French New Wave, and mixing it
all with a healthy dose of surrealism.
The picture, in black and white, is framed in a 1.66:1 anamorphic
widescreen. There is a good deal of
extra grain in the picture, which is also just a touch soft. The audio quality, as well, leaves something
to be desired. While the music and foley
tracks are not as bad, the dialogue (undoubtedly the most important audio track
for this film) is audibly soft. The
dialogue comes only in Czech (as it should be) in Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, with
optional English subtitles. I cannot
even express what a crime it would be to dub over Hrusinsky’s dialogue.
Unfortunately
there are no extra features on this disc, especially disappointing for how
stunningly mesmerizing and criminally unknown this film is. Perhaps I’m just sentimental, but I do think
that the poor picture and sound quality of the film adds to its haunting
quality. The calm, constant tone of
Karl’s dialogue almost seems as though he is whispering in your ear, guiding
you step by step through his “Temple of Death.”
This film is a must-see for any horror fan, or anyone interested in
less-conventional cinema.
- Mathew Carrick
