Satansbraten (Satan's Brew) (1976)

75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(453 ratings)

This fast-paced black comedy by wunderkind director Rainer Werner Fassbinder follows the frantic efforts of a starving and confused writer, Walter Kranz (Kurt Raab) to beg, borrow or steal enough money to survive on, and at the same time make some sense of his confusing life. Unable to write enough… More This fast-paced black comedy by wunderkind director Rainer Werner Fassbinder follows the frantic efforts of a starving and confused writer, Walter Kranz (Kurt Raab) to beg, borrow or steal enough money to survive on, and at the same time make some sense of his confusing life. Unable to write enough to keep his publisher's royalty advances coming, he seeks out a woman he imagines is a prostitute and interviews her for material. He is also inspired to utter some poetry, which his brassy, outspoken wife identifies as coming from the famous homosexuality-advocating mystical German poet, Stefan George. This inspires Walter to take a closer look at the "gay scene," and he quickly becomes a sort of celebrity there. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Written By: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 9, 1977 Wide
On DVD: May 6, 2003

Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin, New York Times
If you have any doubt that there's such a thing as being too prolific, by all means go see Rainer Werner Fassbinder's Satan's Brew.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
A 1976 comedy by the well-known German humorist, Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Jay Antani, Cinema Writer
If you're new to Fassbinder, this one may catch you off-guard, but if you love the guy, here's another to scratch your head over and chuckle mischievously along with.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
[It] may be the least interesting film made by the great Rainer Werner Fassbinder, a shrill and tiresome attempt at a screwball black comedy.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It was enjoyable as offbeat entertainment from a director who is not afraid to take chances and change his filming style.
Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
To those who only know Fassbinder as the director of coolly distanced melodramas, Satan's Brew will come as quite a shock. It is a flat-out screwball comedy, but one that is pitch black in tone.