- Actors: August Diehl, Christian Redl, Nadesha Brennicke, Johan Leysen
- Directors: Robert Schwentke
- Format: Anamorphic, PAL
- Language English, German, Japanese
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Prism Leisure
- DVD Release Date: 10 Oct 2005
- Run Time: 108 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000B9PWBM
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 91,791 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: German ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: This grisly drama about the hunt for a serial killer in the bowels of Berlin gives a sinister new meaning to the expression 'no skin off your back' because the suspects are involved in the auctioning of body art stripped off the victims. Although the story doesn't begin to add up, the German director has used the creepy premise to construct a grim disquieting mood piece whose clinical fascination with gore recalls David Fincher's 'Seven.' The copious amounts of red blood are the only bright colors to be found in a movie that paints Berlin as a sprawling, rain-soaked crypt. Gloomily theorizing about the current vogue for body art and body modification, it suggests that the human race has started going backward. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Fantasporto Awards, ...Tattoo (Robert Schwentke)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Tattoo (2002)
Robert Schwentke's dark and atmospheric thriller centres on fledgling cop Marc Schrader (August Diehl), who goes to an illegal rave carrying drugs one night. When the police raid, instead of just dumping his gear on the floor, he tries to slip away, but brooding veteran cop Detective Minks (Christian Redl) is already on to him. He catches up with Marc and faces him down with an ultimatum - join forces or be kicked out of the force. Marc takes the first option, and Marc finds himself squirming under his thumb as the pair unite. Their mission? To track down Micks' missing daughter, as well as trailing a dangerous serial killer who is collecting the tattooed skins of his victims. If ever there was a reason not to have a tattoo, here it is folks. What unravels before them, is a blood-spattered romp through seamy tattoo parlours, public conveniences, sewers and twilight underworld of Germany, with meticulous cinematography in the vein of Se7en and Blade Runner. Actually, the dynamics of this movie are so reminiscent of Se7en, perhaps it should have been called Ei8ht? That's not the criticism it might seem however, as I actually preferred this grittier crime-noir. Tattoo's stylishly seedy visuals punctuated by grisly discoveries certainly make for absorbing, and at times visceral viewing. Like a tattooist's needle, Tattoo will not only get under your skin - but also leave an indelible mark. This Tartan Video release is presented in Widescreen, with an exclusive interview with Schwentke among the extras. German with English subtitles.
Robert Schwentke's dark and atmospheric thriller centres on fledgling cop Marc Schrader (August Diehl), who goes to an illegal rave carrying drugs one night. When the police raid, instead of just dumping his gear on the floor, he tries to slip away, but brooding veteran cop Detective Minks (Christian Redl) is already on to him. He catches up with Marc and faces him down with an ultimatum - join forces or be kicked out of the force. Marc takes the first option, and Marc finds himself squirming under his thumb as the pair unite. Their mission? To track down Micks' missing daughter, as well as trailing a dangerous serial killer who is collecting the tattooed skins of his victims. If ever there was a reason not to have a tattoo, here it is folks. What unravels before them, is a blood-spattered romp through seamy tattoo parlours, public conveniences, sewers and twilight underworld of Germany, with meticulous cinematography in the vein of Se7en and Blade Runner. Actually, the dynamics of this movie are so reminiscent of Se7en, perhaps it should have been called Ei8ht? That's not the criticism it might seem however, as I actually preferred this grittier crime-noir. Tattoo's stylishly seedy visuals punctuated by grisly discoveries certainly make for absorbing, and at times visceral viewing. Like a tattooist's needle, Tattoo will not only get under your skin - but also leave an indelible mark. This Tartan Video release is presented in Widescreen, with an exclusive interview with Schwentke among the extras. German with English subtitles.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is an excellent film. Many people have just called it the "German Seven" but it is still good in it's own right.
The ending is slightly predictable but if you enjoy dark, brooding thrillers and world cinema then I would definately recommend this film.
Another reason to watch is for the awesome tattoos in the film.
The ending is slightly predictable but if you enjoy dark, brooding thrillers and world cinema then I would definately recommend this film.
Another reason to watch is for the awesome tattoos in the film.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Tattoo" is an exercise in Expressionist film-making proclaims director Robert Schwentke and you should keep that in mind while watching the movie; otherwise you might be bitterly disappointed. Superficially a thriller, though concepted as a horror film by Schwentke, this dark and brooding tale delves into the sometimes murky world of body art and especially the very disturbing world of its collectors. But the rave scene at the beginning, where slow-motion dance movements are set jarringly to the almost elegic soundtrack, is a clear indicator that this is no realistic take on the story. Brilliantly chosen, unique views of Berlin are the backdrop for the individual, yet interlinking obsessions of the central characters. The images are breathtaking; easily the best cinematography coming out of Germany since the times of the great Expressionists. But ... but in the end it all remains empty. Which quite possibly is the "message" of this film. Though, actually, there is no "message".
"Tattoo" frequently has been compared to "Se7en" and, yes, there are similarities, especially in the stark, dark visual style of both movies. But that's about as far as the similarity goes. While Fincher uses the hellish visions of his film to turn a perfectly straight-forward, suspenseful murder-hunt thriller into a study about the fallibilities of modern life and the ever encroaching darkness surrounding each individual, Schwentke ultimately (and quite literally) loses the plot amidst his amazing visual set-pieces. Characters which start out as quirky, strange and intriguing eventually end up as the usual cliches. The murderer could not be more obvious if he/she had "crazed villain" tattooed on the forehead. Schwentke might claim that all this doesn't matter because the whole murder-hunt scenario is only incidental to the film. But without ever going under the skin of the characters, the film itself never gets under the viewer's skin. The images are disturbing but lack the nightmarish, Jungean quality of the works of German cinema's original Expressionists. If Schwentke had clung less to the Expressionist's theories and had instead tried to understand what actually made their films work, he might have been on to a true masterpiece. As it stands, "Tattoo" is a superb visual treat but definitely no classic.
Picture and sound quality of this DVD release are first-rate. The subtitles are good and truthful to the original dialogue. There are almost no extras but the interview with Robert Schwentke is excellent and probably more informative than any "director's commentary" could be.
"Tattoo" frequently has been compared to "Se7en" and, yes, there are similarities, especially in the stark, dark visual style of both movies. But that's about as far as the similarity goes. While Fincher uses the hellish visions of his film to turn a perfectly straight-forward, suspenseful murder-hunt thriller into a study about the fallibilities of modern life and the ever encroaching darkness surrounding each individual, Schwentke ultimately (and quite literally) loses the plot amidst his amazing visual set-pieces. Characters which start out as quirky, strange and intriguing eventually end up as the usual cliches. The murderer could not be more obvious if he/she had "crazed villain" tattooed on the forehead. Schwentke might claim that all this doesn't matter because the whole murder-hunt scenario is only incidental to the film. But without ever going under the skin of the characters, the film itself never gets under the viewer's skin. The images are disturbing but lack the nightmarish, Jungean quality of the works of German cinema's original Expressionists. If Schwentke had clung less to the Expressionist's theories and had instead tried to understand what actually made their films work, he might have been on to a true masterpiece. As it stands, "Tattoo" is a superb visual treat but definitely no classic.
Picture and sound quality of this DVD release are first-rate. The subtitles are good and truthful to the original dialogue. There are almost no extras but the interview with Robert Schwentke is excellent and probably more informative than any "director's commentary" could be.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Like watching beautiful ink dry.
As a stylish iconic cinematographic masterpiece this works on many levels. Creating a many layered cake of noir/grit/obsession presented within an artistic conceptual dream world. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
More of a thriller than a horror.
I watched this knowing very little about it, and only after did I read some reviews. I can see why this is compared to "Se7en" but it is very different. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Louise Roberts
TATTOO
NOT A BAD FILM, I SHOULD HAVE REALISED THAT IT WAS A GERMAN FILM WITH SUBTITLES, BUT VERY WATCHABLE ANY WAY.
Published on 4 April 2009 by N. Nicola
Teutonic Dreariness
I'll skip the details as they've already been covered. All I'll say is that despite the film having an interesting premise, it's as dull as ditchwater.
Published on 1 Jan 2008 by Paul Pinn
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