Film Review: Anatomy 2 (Anatomie 2, 2003)

5 months ago (Edited)

(source: tmdb.org)

In 2000 German film maker Stefan Ruzowitzky had great success with his stylish horror film Anatomy. A sequel was inevitable and when it came three years later, again directed by Ruzowitzky, it represented a rare instance of horror sequel offering something quite different from the original from the audience.

Protagonist of the film is Joachim “Jo” Hauser (played by Barnbay Metschurat), young doctor from Duisburg who dreams of finding ways to cure muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that runs in his family. After he becomes intern in prestigious Berlin clinic, his talent and dedication to the work bring attention of Professor Charles Müller-LaRousse (played by Herbert Knaup), head of elite group of researchers. Hauser gets recruited into the group only to learn that LaRousse belonging Anti-Hippocratic Society, shadowy group of physicians that conducts medical experiments without any regard for ethical considerations. Those experiments include artificial substitutes that replace muscles, making the test subjects physically superior to ordinary humans, and that leads researchers to use themselves as test subjects. Hauser is at first seduced by prospects of new knowledge and power, but gradually turns against the group after learning that Müller-LaRousse would stop at nothing, including murder, to prevent secrets of Anti-Hippocratic Society being revealed.

Continuity with the original is established with Franka Potente as Paula Henning, heroine of Anatomy, appearing in glorified cameo as detective trying to expose Anti-Hippocratic Society. Ruzowitzky, however, uses opportunity to take the plot in completely different direction, both in terms of plot and genre. While the first film functioned as stylish, dark and sometimes uncomfortable slasher film, Anatomy 2 is more combination of science fiction, which uses motive of bionics, and generic thriller with some serious dramas about medical ethics brought into the mix. Change of setting from dark and traditional Heidelberg into the flashy metropolis of Berlin looks more refreshing. On the other hand, Anatomy 2 at times allows itself to be too exploitative and compromise its seriousness with too much gallows humour. Those scenes, however, seem tailor-made for Heike Makatsch, actress and former television presenter who excels in the role of Viktoria, one of the young members of research group. She easily overshadows Barnaby Metschurat who is, on the other hand, decent as protagonist. Despite its flaws, Anatomy 2 can be recommended as stylish piece of genre cinema, at least to those who were satisfied with the first film.

RATING: 6/10 (++)