Violent Shit
First film in the Karl the Butcher series.
Violent Shit, a 1989 West German horror film shot on video, was written and directed by Andreas Schnaas. It was made using low-fi Video-8 equipment and launched a series about the killer Karl the Butcher.
The story begins with a boy named Karl Berger Sr., who kills his abusive mother with a meat cleaver after she punishes him for coming home late. Twenty years later, around the mid-1970s, Karl escapes from police custody during a transport, acquiring a cleaver along the way. Over several days, he murders, mutilates, and sometimes eats victims across the countryside. After one double killing, he faints and recalls the day he murdered his mother, revealing a demon—possibly his father—coerced him into the act after he was locked in a cellar. Later, Karl encounters a vision of Jesus on a cross, hacks it open, and crawls inside. Following another double murder outside a church, he collapses in a field. His skin, which had been decaying throughout the film, rots off, and he dies by tearing himself open, revealing a blood-covered baby.
The cast includes Karl Inger as Karl Berger Sr., along with Gabi Bäzner, Wolfgang Hinz, Volker Mechter, Christian Biallas, Uwe Boldt, Marco Hegele, Lars Warncke, Werner Knifke, Andreas Schnaas as Landscaper #2, Steve Aquilina, Bettina X., Maren Y., and Beate Z.
Schnaas made the film with friends over weekends in 1989, using standard-definition video equipment. It was released directly to home video. Mondo Digital has called it Germany’s first straight-to-video horror film and credits its success for leading to a sequel years later.
The first three films were released together in Germany by Astro Records and later issued in a 20th-anniversary edition by Independ'Or. On April 11, 2017, Synapse Films released *The Violent Shit Collection*, a three-disc, all-region DVD set in North America, containing the first three films, *Violent Shit 4.0: Karl the Butcher vs. Axe*, and Schnaas’s *Zombie '90: Extreme Pestilence* as a bonus. The first three films were remastered by their original owners for this release.
Later reviews focused on the film’s basic production and graphic gore. HorrorNews.net criticized its thin plot, sound, and camerawork but praised the gore and creativity given limited resources.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Andreas Schnaas
- Producer
- The Violent Shitters
- Starring
- Karl Inger / Gabi Bäzner / Wolfgang Hinz / Volker Mechter / Christian Biallas
- Music
- Micky Engels
- Cinematography
- Steve Aquilina
- Studio
- Reel Gore Productions
- Distributor
- Blood Pictures
- Released
- 1989 · West Germany
- Runtime
- 73 minutes
- Country
- West Germany
- Language
- German
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The plot follows a young boy named Karl Berger Sr. who murders his abusive mother with a meat cleaver after she beats him for returning home late. Twenty years later, in the mid-1970s, the imprisoned Karl escapes from police transport, kills the officers, and commits a series of murders across the countryside, mutilating and occasionally cannibalizing his victims. After one double homicide, Karl faints and flashes back to the day he murdered his mother, revealing he had been coerced into killing her by a demon (which a line of dialogue indicates might be his father) he had encountered in the cellar after being locked in it. Karl also encounters an apparition of Jesus crucified in the forest, which he hacks open and crawls inside. He later collapses in a field, his skin rots off, and he dies by ripping himself open, revealing a baby covered in blood.
Reader's Guide
Violent Shit is significant as a landmark of German straight-to-video horror, credited with launching a series of sequels and a reboot. Its rudimentary production values and emphasis on graphic gore have drawn later critical attention, with reviewers noting its thin plot, poor sound and camerawork, but praising its extensive practical gore effects and creativity given limited resources. The film's success led to a sequel several years later, and the first three films were later collected in home media releases, including a 20th-anniversary edition and a North American DVD set. The film remains a cult object for fans of extreme low-budget horror.
Did You Know?
- The film was shot on the low-fi Video-8 format using standard-definition video equipment.
- Andreas Schnaas appears in the film as Landscaper #2.
- The film has been described as Germany's first straight-to-video horror film.
- A line of dialogue indicates the demon that coerces Karl might be his father.
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