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| View Larger Image | Antibodies (Two-Disc Special Edition) | DVDStarring: Norman Reedus, Christian von Aster, André Hennicke, Waltraud Witte, Konstantin Graudus
Directed By: Christian Alvart
| List Price: | $24.98 | | Price: | $20.49 | | You Save: | $4.49 (18%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 11 to 14 days |
| | Binding: | DVD | | Rating: |  | | Run Time: | 128 minutes | | Format: | Color, DVD, Special Edition, NTSC | | Studio: | Dark Sky Films | | Number of Discs: | 2 | | Aspect Ratio: | 2.35:1 | | Release Date: | August 28, 2007 | | Sales Rank: | 11,114th |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
Studio: Mpi Home Video Release Date: 08/28/2007 Run time: 128 minutes |
Amazon.com
Pedophilia, serial murder, Catholic guilt, big-time Biblical imagery: director Christian Alvart bites on some serious issues in Antibodies, but for the most part it's not more than he can chew. Produced in 2005, the German film opens with a riveting sequence in which Gabriel Engel (Andre Hennicke), who has raped, killed, and mutilated more than a dozen young boys, is finally captured by the police. Enter Michael Martens (Wotan Wilke Mohring), a part-time policeman (and full-time farmer) in Herzbach, a small country town where a crime with an M.O. similar to Engel's has taken place (in investigating the incident, the rigid and humorless Martens has so alienated his fellow townsfolk that his own father-in-law shoots his dog). Marten comes to the city to interview the bad guy, whereupon a relationship heavily reminiscent of the Hannibal Lecter-Clarice Starling pas de deux in The Silence of the Lambs evolves; Engel, a stereotypical lunatic who dismisses Jack the Ripper and Charles Manson as wusses, will talk only to the guileless country cop (who undergoes some fairly radical changes as he succumbs to the lurid temptations of big city life). But are the killer's denials of responsibility for this latest atrocity true? Could Martens' own son, the trouble-prone Christan (Hauke Diekamp), be the actual perp? To find the answer, viewers are obliged to wade through some pretty heavy-handed scenes (a symbolic re-enactment of the Biblical tale of Abraham and Isaac is fairly ludicrous). But Antibodies is also filled with gorgeous and creative cinematography and stylish use of lighting, art direction, and set design, all of which help make the film eminently watchable. This two-disc special edition includes a "making of" documentary, deleted scenes, outtakes, and other bonus features. --Sam Graham |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 14 reviews)
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Captivating film by C Wahlman (Merrillville, IN)  5 Stars
November 03, 2009
This film instantly pulls you in and captivates you throughout the duration. The audience is introduced to this film in one of the best opening scenes I have ever seen. Two police officers come to investigate a call of some screaming heard form an apartment. Crazy gruesome things ensue as back up is called and the police manager to catch Gabriel Engel (played oh so creepily perfect by Andre Hennicke), a serial killer that most of the country has been looking for, for quite some time. But one officer is absent, the determinedly angelic Michael Martens aka The Farmer (Wotan Wilke Mohring, who is also perfect). The film follows The Farmer as he tries to determine if Engel is in fact responsible for the murder of a young girl in his town. But it is not just a mystery. Antibodies is also a treatise on good and evil. What is evil? How does it develop? Is there a gray area where they both simultaneously exist without conflict?
There is some gore, a lot of mystery, many thrills (some cheap), but every scene is saturated with intelligence. Antibodies is a thriller/serial killer film in the ilk of Silent of the Lambs. And not just because the audience gets to see Engel and The Farmer have a verbal battle of good and evil (one which is eventually made physical within the Farmer), but because of the intelligence of the characters and the film itself. The story was good, the direction goo, and the acting was perfect from every character.
I highly recommend this film. It is interesting, captivating, intelligent, and scary.
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Antibodies (Two-Disc Special Edition) by NiMi (Estonia) 5 Stars
May 15, 2009
Great movie, I loved it, enjoyed every minute of it. Great value...
When I saw this DVD recommendation, didn't really been introduced to it. So, was totally unaware. But I liked the cover, read the reviews here & I wasn't disappointed in the end.
Well, first of all I also can not agree with Amazon Editorial Review, which is quite over the top. I agree that Antibodies is also filled with gorgeous and creative cinematography and stylish use of lighting, art direction, and set design, all of which help make the film eminently watchable. It does remind me of The Silence of the Lambs (Two-Disc Collector's Edition), but with a homo twist to it.
I love that kind of psychological thrillers with a bit off suspense. I wouldn't call this movie a horror flick. But it is really great & yes it has a "happy ending"...
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engrossing but ... by N. Chandran  4 Stars
December 17, 2008
... ultimately succumbs to a movie finish.
also the "mental manipulation" by the killier is not that convincing and a lack of clarity in certain issues (particularly about the boy's behavior) just to help the plot.
for those who like these kind of movies check out the korean "memories of murder" - far superior to this.
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4 ½ Stars: Evil is a Virus--Monstrosities of God's Creation by Woopak (Where Dark Asian Knights Dwell) 4 Stars
October 19, 2008
Movies about serial murderers have flooded theaters and Dvd shelves for quite sometime. Some are good, others mediocre and very few really does stand out. The German-produced thriller-melodrama "ANTIBODIES" (2005, aka. Antikorper) does stand out. It is gripping, has a very involving storyline and does play like a character study for both the protagonist and the antagonist. The film will definitely have comparisons to "Silence of the Lambs" and "Seven", but believe me, the film can stand on its own. Amazon friend Chris Blackshere recommended this film to me and I am very thankful.
For many years, Germany has been menaced by a "Crucifix Killer", a ruthless murderer that preys on young men. One evening, the killer has supposedly been apprehended by the local authorities after an intense encounter. The killer has been identified as a man named Gabriel Engel (Andre Hennicke) and he is psychosis and evil incarnate. A religious country cop named Michael Martens (Wotan Wilke Mohring) is obsessing over the murder of Lucia Fielder who had been found dead some years ago. The townsfolk insists that Engel is Lucia's murderer but Martens isn't so certain. He decides to go to Berlin just to make sure. Upon his arrival, Engel is fascinated by this country cop and decides that he would talk to no one but Martens. Martens begins his interrogation of the psychotic killer, little does he know that he may be connected to the killer himself in a very sinister way...
The film is a thought-provoking drama thriller that takes us into the depths of two men: Martens and Engel--good and evil. From the film's opening act, when Engel has been apprehended by police, you have an idea exactly what you are in for. Well, at least the film gives a misleading image that the murderer is caught and the nightmare is over--WRONG. The nightmare is just starting as the film presents a character study of Michael Martens. The man is supposed to be incorruptible; he goes to church, and follows the laws of man and God. Now this `good' cop is about to meet evil incarnate in the form of Gabriel Engel. The man supposedly has 14 victims under his belt and this doesn't mean that he has stopped adding names to his list. He mocks well-known serial killers like Jack the Ripper and Charles Manson, stating that society had glorified these two when they don't deserve much credit. With the film's opening act, the viewer is given a chilling impression and sets the film's tone; that they are to be taken for a ride and the film does not disappoint.
The tensions in the film begin when Martens and Engel begin their conversations. Admittedly, at first, I thought I was going to see a rethread of "Silence of the Lambs" or "Red Dragon" but the film quickly disperses this idea as director Christian Alvart presents an experience that is an effective blend of a crime thriller and a psychological study. The sharp-tongued dialogue will undoubtedly turn off some viewers, with its talk of child predators and sexual abuse. The images are actually quite twisted and disturbing but the scenes aren't done in bad taste and becomes an integral part of the film itself. The film examines the roots of evil and/or the evil that men do. The relationship between Martens and his son, Christan (Hauke Diekamp) is explored in dynamic fashion. The psychotic persona of simple ordinary folks and just what drives them to do such horrendous crimes.
Michael Martens have his own share of issues; an overbearing father-in-law and subtle hints were shown that his marriage isn't really in good terms as he sleeps in a separate bed in the same room with his wife. The film is actually a study a decent man and of psychosis itelf: what makes them so and just how it is that psychotics seemed to have no qualms between right and wrong. Some religious aspects are put to bear and these elements may seem a little heavy-handed to some viewers but to me, it was a stroke of fortitude and brilliance. The film's main premise is all about Martens and while Engel is arguably the more compelling of the two, Martens is the film's central focus.
Despite the film's riveting experience, the film does have its flaws. There was one investigation scene that had a major goof and some of its elements felt like they were too convenient. Barowski's character seemed a minor plot device to add complications while Seiler (Heinz Hoenig) is some sort of support and his character is a little underdeveloped. But these are minor flaws that can easily be forgotten.
Is evil really infectious? Are murderers born or are they made? These are the haunting questions that the film dares to ask in its very ambitious script. Alvart uses a Bible passage to reach its conclusion that I rather enjoyed. The film isn't visually bloody or brutal, but the experience does leave you that cerebral sensation. "Antibodies" is NOT a film for everyone because of the dialogue and the fact that it is a film about sexual predators, it will prove a little hard to take. There is also a graphic sex scene. The film's climax may be a little heavy-handed and will more than likely disappoint some viewers. But I rather think that it was quite surprising and goes in a direction that wasn't expected.
I'd hate to repeat myself; but again, the film is not for everyone and those who are looking for an abundance of violence will be disappointed. The film is more an enthralling study of a man and evil itself. The film is more a psychological chiller than a horror film but Hennicke's and Mohring's performances does give it an oddly creepy feel. The film's climax will undoubtedly provoke mixed reactions-- for me, it fit the film's premise and was surprising.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! [4 ½ Stars]
You can sit in a corner and suck on your thumb for now...
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Evil Is A Virus That Is Worth Witnessing by C. Sawin (TX) 4 Stars
October 06, 2008
Antibodies has a fairly large Silence of the Lamb influence to it, which definitely isn't a bad thing. In fact, I would say it's one of its strengths.
André Hennicke's portrayal of Gabriel Engel is generally psychotic, disturbing, and extraordinary. He steals just about every scene he's in. André was Gabriel. As disturbing as his performance is, it's also truly mesmerizing.
Wotan Wilke Möhring as Michael Martens is also quite good. He does a fantastic job portraying a cop who was once such an abiding citizen who was a religious man who cared very much about his family and is now beginning to lose his grip on his so called perfect life.
The religious parallels are also incredibly interesting and the movie does a good job of pointing them out to you. The similarities between Michael and Abraham are uncanny. The film makes you think you know where it's headed and then winds up taking a detour and going in the opposite direction.
Antibodies has a few flaws that mainly lie within the script, but winds up being an excellent crime/drama/horror/thriller. The story is very well-written, the cast is top notch, excellent cinematography, and the film isn't predictable. Something a lot of movies these days can't claim. Well worth the time to sit down and watch.
Rating: 8/10
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