Written by: Michael Den Boer on April 11th, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: Germany, 1999
Director: Heiko Fipper
Cast: Heiko Fipper,Mike Hoffman, Stefan Hoft
DVD released: April 1st, 2008
Approximate running time: 85 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Letterboxed Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo German
Subtitles: English
DVD Release: Unearthed Films
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.99
Synopsis: A son ignites a cycle of revenge after his father is brutally rundown by a car driven hooligan’s. He hires assassins to kill those responsible for murdering his father. These revenge killings infuriate a rival gang who set out to exterminate Stephen and the rest of his family.
The plot for “Das Komabrutale Duell” is confusing and virtually nonexistent. The premise sets up why there is a feud between the two rivaling gangs. It doesn’t explain enough after this like how come everyone can be shot, stabbed, lose a lot of blood or body limbs and stay alive (sort of). Are these people now Zombies or are they beings that cannot be killed? So many questions are left unanswered.
The acting and direction would fall into it’s so bad its good type vibe. The special effects are well done even though a few times in the film they show their limitations. Let’s face it no one watches these types of films for good acting or solid direction. It’s all about the gore and there is plenty of it in this film. When the blood flows like a river and limbs are severed and reattached without hesitation.
The score for the film gets the adrenaline pumping. The film does feel overlong and it is only eighty five minutes long. Some of the killings/fights could have been cut or trimmed to move things along faster. The violence in this film is so over the top that you almost feel like this film may have been intended as a comedy and not a horror film. Ultimately Das Komabrutale Duell is a one trick pony that relies too heavily on its strongest asset gore. If you are a gluten for punishment who like confusing plots then I dare you to seek this film out.
The DVD:
Outside of some minor instances of hiss the audio is more than adequate as dialog is clear and balanced with the rest of the mix. The subtitles are easy to follow and error free.
A few years ago there was a region 2 release of “Das Komabrutale Duell” and most of the extras include on that release have been carried over for this release. The extras include trailers, digital effects comparison, outtakes, deleted scenes and a behind the scenes documentary. The added content mostly consists of behind the scenes or deleted footage. Unearthed Films gives “Das Komabrutale Duell” it’s long overdue release in America. The overall presentation of this release is sure to please fans of this film and German Splatter Films.