(minor plot-spoilers coming up)
"Anatomie" is the kind of film that actually proofs how low the nowadays American horror industry has sunk. This German thriller/horror film is nowhere near perfect (or even 'great'), yet it's a lot more refreshing, original and imaginative than what we've seen from Hollywood lately! Unlike the tedious and uninspired US-slashers, Anatomie brings forward quite a lot of suspense, gruesome violence and a couple of interesting ideas and settings. The wholesome of this interesting mixture still is somewhat flawed, but at least the attempt is there and you have to respect that. The story of Anatomie handles about a super-intelligent group of students who're selected to enjoy a special education at Heindelberg University! One of them, Paula (Franka Potenta) soon discovers that a traditional foundation of surgeons is still active in Heindelberg. They perform unethical experiments on dead bodies...Now, within this organization, there are even bigger weirdos who suffer from some sort of strange fetish for human intestines! It's up to Paula to put a stop to this unorthodox manners but who else can she trust?!?
Indeed, this basic plot is a little far-fetched and therefore, Anatomie goes over the top multiple times. Also, some of the characters are really difficult to take serious...They're supposed to be the most intelligent, young medicine-students in all Germany and all they ever talk about is sex and...more sex! Franka Potenta (the over-talented girl from the cult-hit 'Lola Rennt')does succeed in making herself believable, though! There also is a good use of music, scenery and - very important - medical slang!! Your head will start to spin when hearing all those Latin names for diseases and drugs...Nevertheless, I hardly think it was necessary to try and make this film look even more intelligent than it is. It remains entertainment in the first place! Anatomie was a huge success in Germany and the neighboring countries. It also found its way to the American cult-circuit and a sequel was released in 2003. Especially recommended if you need a break from the overblown Hollywood screamers!
"Anatomie" is the kind of film that actually proofs how low the nowadays American horror industry has sunk. This German thriller/horror film is nowhere near perfect (or even 'great'), yet it's a lot more refreshing, original and imaginative than what we've seen from Hollywood lately! Unlike the tedious and uninspired US-slashers, Anatomie brings forward quite a lot of suspense, gruesome violence and a couple of interesting ideas and settings. The wholesome of this interesting mixture still is somewhat flawed, but at least the attempt is there and you have to respect that. The story of Anatomie handles about a super-intelligent group of students who're selected to enjoy a special education at Heindelberg University! One of them, Paula (Franka Potenta) soon discovers that a traditional foundation of surgeons is still active in Heindelberg. They perform unethical experiments on dead bodies...Now, within this organization, there are even bigger weirdos who suffer from some sort of strange fetish for human intestines! It's up to Paula to put a stop to this unorthodox manners but who else can she trust?!?
Indeed, this basic plot is a little far-fetched and therefore, Anatomie goes over the top multiple times. Also, some of the characters are really difficult to take serious...They're supposed to be the most intelligent, young medicine-students in all Germany and all they ever talk about is sex and...more sex! Franka Potenta (the over-talented girl from the cult-hit 'Lola Rennt')does succeed in making herself believable, though! There also is a good use of music, scenery and - very important - medical slang!! Your head will start to spin when hearing all those Latin names for diseases and drugs...Nevertheless, I hardly think it was necessary to try and make this film look even more intelligent than it is. It remains entertainment in the first place! Anatomie was a huge success in Germany and the neighboring countries. It also found its way to the American cult-circuit and a sequel was released in 2003. Especially recommended if you need a break from the overblown Hollywood screamers!