Antibodies is a 2005 German horror film. It follows the story of small town cop Michael Martens who goes to the big city to interrogate recently caught serial killer, Gabriel Engel. A girl in the small village in rural Germany was brutally murdered. Unless Michael Martens can solve the murder, the town tears itself apart, placing blame on everyone and no one. All the while, Michael himself slowly deteriorates exploring the madness inherent in even the most seemingly god-fearing people. I know, the plot sounds like just another terrible murder mystery, trying to ride on the ragged coattails of Silence of the Lambs. Many parts of the movie are reminiscent of Silence, but this movie is far superior in depicting a serial killer getting into the mind of a verdant cop. Silence paved the way for the creation of this movie. But this is a cut above in many ways. While I am a huge fan of Hannibal Lecter, I also have become a fan of this movie, seeing it for what it is and what it is not. The beginning of this movie is brilliant. It shows the serial killer Gabriel Engel's capture, beautifully opening for the rest of the movie to follow. Then it cuts to the small town and Michael Martens, laying out the conflict to be resolved by the movie. The movie pacing is a bit slow at times, but it is made up by the fact that it leaves you wanting more when it ends. The killer gets into the mind of our cop and shatters his world while shaking ours. I have seen many movies that depict a killer toying with a cop, but never have a seen one that does so effectively. By the end of the movie, Gabriel Engel has successfully toyed with my mind, making me question my beliefs also. This is a fascinating, brilliantly crafted movie that once you have watched, you will never be the same again.
The level of blood and gore in this movie is low but effectively sparse. What is shown is realistic and shocking, helping to concrete in the mind of the viewer what a monster Engel truly is. There is one graphic sex scene in this movie, especially graphic by American standards. But remember, this is a German movie, where sex is looked upon as less of a taboo to be shown in movies. As I am not normally a fan of sex scenes in movies, usually finding them to be gratuitous and unnecessary, the one in this movie is an important scene, moving this film along to deeper heights and lower lows.
Finally, those of you who have seen it, you're saying, what about the ending; wasn't that lame? Yes, I admit, it was hoakey. But, let's try to overlook this. But, I won't say anymore so as not to ruin it for other viewers. I will say that sometimes a bad ending ruins a whole film, but in this case, it does not ruin the movie by any means. The CGI is distracting and a bit overdramatic.
There has been some talk of an American remake. Anytime a remake is mentioned of any movie, there are always detractors and supporters. In my previous post about Let The Right One In, I say I am looking forward to the remake. For this movie, I do not believe there is much to be improved upon. Any re-envisioning of this movie will likely be sloppy and lackluster. This movie is truly gripping in a stunningly ballsy manner, not shying away from the dirty truth. And that is what makes it the great movie it is. Americans are more touchy about such subjects as child murder and paedophilia. The head-on confrontation with these subjects in this movie makes it what it is, and if you tone down on this, then you might as well not even watch it.
After writing this review, I realised that the director/writer of this movie is Christian Alvart who also directed the amazing Pandorum. Well, no wonder I liked this movie so much!
Superb acting, great script, wonderful plot. 4 out of 5.
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