Morituris: Das Böse gewinnt immer

Drei gierige Gewalttäter beschließen, sich nach einer halben Stunde Schönheitsfahrten und ermüdendem Blödsinn zu amüsieren, indem sie zwei Mädchen abstechen und vergewaltigen. Leider stoßen sie dabei auf einen Wald, in dem fünf Stücke alter Geschichte ihren Weg kreuzen... Mehr kann ich nicht verraten, aber es ist eine Unterhaltung genau im Stil alter italienischer Trash-Filme. Und ziemlich blutig, da der Experte Sergio Stivaletti für die Effekte verantwortlich war. Davor gibt es jedoch einen recht langsamen Einstieg und eine ausbeuterische 15-Minuten-Show, bei der eine Gräueltat nach der anderen geschieht, aber nur auf weibliche Gesellschaft (ein Messer in der Scheide!). Danach geht es ziemlich ab. Brutal, atmosphärisch und geradlinig. Nur für Italien-Fans, alle anderen sollten die Hände wegnehmen, damit die Bewertung nicht schlechter wird. (30.01.2013)

A true return to the trashy exploitation Italian horror of the 1970s executed with flawless craftsmanship, thanks to which is not only watchable but also fun. One thing though, I got the only version available so far – Italian audio and Swedish subtitles – so I didn’t understand a single word. That’s maybe the best that could have happened, as stupid dialogues are historically one of the weakest aspects of Italian horror. If I’d understood what the characters say in the quieter moments, my impression may have been worse. But if you like old Euro-horror and fancy a trip back to the good old times of Messrs. Fulci, Deodato et al. don’t hesitate, get this film and stop reading. For the rest, I will tell you the most interesting thing and what I liked the most by far (because in general, cheap exploitation flicks don’t leave me impartial). I don’t think it’s a spoiler =>, because you can easily figure it out, both from the name and the poster, but regardless, if you want to be surprised, stop reading and don’t think about what the surprise could be. So, four words: zombie gladiators, fuck yeah! :-D Zombie gladiators are fun and I can’t believe nobody had ever thought of that. Zombie nazis, yeah, zombie templars, we’ve seen that, but zombie gladiators from Ancient Rome, that’s new. And on top of that, in a very atmospheric, brutal and intense package. This is just great, about half way in it still looked like your typical cheap rape revenge story (though pretty well made by the standards of the sub-genre), but what comes next is… awesome. And the best thing is that the film is not only bloody, brutal and violent (though, to be honest, gratuitously so), but also very atmospheric (it all takes place at night, woods, the ruins of an ancient Roman palace, the moonlight on the white flesh of the Roman gladiators… wow). <= spoiler. One more thing before closing, from an objective filmmaking point of view, Morituris is nothing to write home about, but for the fans of old-school European horror this could become a modern cult film. For me, a surprise on the same level as last year’s Masks. (29.01.2013)