Berlin International Film Festival 2025 Highlights 70s German Genre Films in “Wild, Weird, Bloody” Retrospective
The 75th Berlin International Film Festival will celebrate a vibrant yet lesser-known era of German cinema with its Retrospective, titled "Wild, Weird, Bloody. German Genre Films of the 70s." This curated program will explore the boundary-pushing genre films of East and West Germany during the 1970s, presenting 15 selected titles that embrace action, horror, science fiction, and more.
Dr. Rainer Rother, head of the Retrospective and Artistic Director of the Deutsche Kinemathek, highlights the historical significance of this genre cinema. “A longstanding preconception says that Germans can’t do genre. But in fact, early German cinema laid a groundwork that was influential in the international development of fantasy and science fiction moviemaking," he explains. "Our Retrospective showcases pictures made amid other film currents such as New German Cinema that embraced the appeal and played with the possibilities of a good genre flick.”
The 1970s was a period of cinematic experimentation, influenced by international waves of exploitation cinema. West German director Roland Klick’s "Deadlock" (1970) fused post-apocalyptic elements with psychedelic western tropes, while Hans W. Geißendörfer’s "Jonathan" (1970) offered a fresh take on vampire horror. East German filmmakers also contributed, with Horst Bonnet's "Orpheus in der Unterwelt" (1974) reimagining an operetta and Günter Reisch’s "Nelken in Aspik" (1976) delivering biting satire.
The retrospective will also spotlight the works of other notable filmmakers, including Ulli Lommel, Rainer Erler, Klaus Lemke, and Wolfgang Petersen, covering diverse genres such as biker films, thrillers, and musicals.
Berlinale Director Tricia Tuttle emphasized the universal appeal of the program: “Modern audiences eagerly embrace genre cinema and enjoy tracing crime, science fiction, horror, and other genre roots all the way back to the earliest days of the form. This selection of deep thrills and blood spills offers so many discoveries, and shines a light into new corners of German cinema.”
The complete program for “Wild, Weird, Bloody” will be revealed in December 2024, with screenings during the Berlinale complemented by events at E-Werk, the Deutsche Kinemathek's new home. This Retrospective promises to be a thrilling journey into an innovative and often overlooked chapter of German film history.