Rammbock: Berlin Undead | 2010
Rammbock
"Rammbock" (2010) is a German horror film directed by Marvin Kren, written by Benjamin Hessler, starring Michael Fuith, Theo Trebs, Anka Graczyk, and Emily Cox, about survivors of a rage virus outbreak in Berlin. The film was released theatrically not only in Germany but also in Austria, the UK, and the US.
Michael, having recently broken up with his girlfriend Gabi, visits her Berlin apartment to return her keys and possibly reconcile. There, he meets two repairmen, but Gabi is not there, and the repairmen do not know where she went. While trying to contact Gabi, a rage virus turns people into bloodthirsty cannibals, and an older repairman attacks Michael. As Berlin falls into chaos, Michael and the younger repairman, Harper, barricade themselves in the apartment building and prepare for an attack. The two try to contact other residents of the building.
Through news reports, they learn that the virus is only triggered when the victim experiences agitation or adrenaline, and it can be subdued by staying calm or using sedatives. Michael makes a deal with another resident to retrieve sedatives from another apartment, which the resident needs for his sick wife. Michael eventually finds Gabi, but he discovers that she is now in a relationship with her neighbor, which was the reason for their breakup. Harper discovers that the infected are sensitive to camera flashes. Michael, Harper, and another resident, Anita, try to escape the building using cameras and floodlights but are forced to leave Michael behind after he reveals he has been bitten. Michael stays behind in the square, realizing that he has a sedative left, which might prevent him from transforming. However, just before taking the sedative, he sees the now-infected Gabi emerging from the building. He decides not to take the sedative and transforms, just as Gabi approaches him, and they embrace. Harper and Anita escape by boat to the harbor.
The film started production on October 21, 2009, according to reports from ZDF. It premiered on January 19, 2010, at the Max Ophüls Preis Film Festival, and it was released theatrically in Germany and Austria in September 2010. It was released in the UK in October 2010, and in the United States by Bloody Disgusting and The Collective in June 2011.
The film has an 89% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 9 reviews. Boyd van Hoeij of Variety called it "singular enough to please more than just die-hard zombie fans." G. Allen Johnson of the San Francisco Chronicle rated it 4/5 stars, calling it "intriguing and skillfully made." Sifu Scott of Dread Central rated it 4/5 stars, stating that while it uses familiar zombie tropes, its execution makes it a "film not to be missed." Marc Savlov of the Austin Chronicle gave it 3/5 stars, saying that while it doesn’t add much to the already overflowing zombie genre, its brief running time is full of guts. Scott Weinberg of Fearnet found it "compelling but slightly unsatisfying." James Mudge of Beyond Hollywood wrote that the film distinguishes itself only by its German setting.
In 2016, Jim Vorel of Paste ranked it #27 on the "50 Best Zombie Movies of All Time" list, and in the 2020 update, it was ranked #28. In 2017, Gem Seddon of GamesRadar+ placed it at #22 in the "25 Best Zombie Movies That Will Turn You Veggie." Tim Dirks of Filmsite included it in his "Greatest Zombie Films of the 2010s" list.
The film won the "Best Medium-Length Film" award at the Max Ophüls Preis Film Festival on January 24, 2010. In November 2011, Silke Olthoff won the Schnitt Prize for her editing work on the film.
