Juraj Herz's filmThe Cremator has been described in many ways - as surrealist-inspired horror, as expressionist fantasy and as a dark and disturbing tale of terror. Combining horror with humour, this brilliant black comedy, set in Prague during the Nazi occupation, tells the story of Karl Kopfrkingl an increasingly deranged .. Read more
| Starring | Vlasta Chramostova, Rudolf Hrusinsky, Jiri Menzel |
|---|---|
| Director | Juraj Herz |
| Genres | Drama |
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Juraj Herz's filmThe Cremator has been described in many ways - as surrealist-inspired horror, as expressionist fantasy and as a dark and disturbing tale of terror. Combining horror with humour, this brilliant black comedy, set in Prague during the Nazi occupation, tells the story of Karl Kopfrkingl an increasingly deranged cremator for whom the period offers great possibilities for acting out his psychotic impulses as contribution towards the��salvation of the world��.
| Starring | Vlasta Chramostova, Rudolf Hrusinsky, Jiri Menzel |
|---|---|
| Director | Juraj Herz |
| Studio | SECONDRUN |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 35 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: Czech |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 10 Apr 2006 Production year: 1968 |
| Format | DVD |
A prime example of Czech Gothic, this is not only a chilling study of psychological collapse, but also a disturbing insight into the seductive power of totalitarianism. As the Nazi-era undertaker who becomes convinced that he can save humanity by fire, Rudolf Hrusinsky gives a performance that irresistibly recalls Peter Lorre at his most pathetically unhinged. His distorted expressions are emphasised by Juraj Herz's insistent use of close-ups, notably during the scenes at the fairground waxworks and in the pristine bathroom, where he tries to lure his wife, Vlasta Chramostova, into a noose. Rarely had evil seemed so hideously self-righteous.
A promising idea for a black comedy about a mild-mannered family man who runs a crematorium, this works well enough for... read more on Time Out
Czechoslovakia is about to be invaded by Germany, Europe is on the brink of World War II and a portly, rather unassuming manager of a crematorium is going to find himself pushed to his wits' end by the changes taking place around him. The result of this turmoil is a 90-minute mini-masterpiece using superb performances, disjointed editing, unnerving close-ups and unsettling music to tell the gripping story of a man - and a country - tumbling headlong into insanity. Highly recommended for all fans of European cinema.
Fabulous cinematography, captivatingly grotesque performances and quite loopy visuals compensate for the rather heavy allegory. There are distinct resemblances to the twitchy brutalies of Jan Swankmeyer. Definitely recommended - but don't believe the reviews that refer to this movie as a comedy, dark or otherwise.