Decoder

Decoder is weird as ****, but completely in my lane. It takes Muzak, subliminal control, consumer culture, riots, industrial music, and underground art and turns all of it into this grimy little dystopian nightmare. The whole movie feels like something you weren’t really supposed to find. 😁

FM Einheit is great because he fits the world perfectly, and having Christiane F. , Genesis P-Orridge, and even William S. Burroughs in the mix just makes the whole thing feel even more like a genuine artifact of early-’80s underground culture. The music is a huge part of the experience too — Soft Cell, The The, Einstürzende Neubauten — it gives the movie a personality you just don’t get from normal sci-fi.

I also love the way it looks. The 16mm photography, industrial locations, neon, smoke, and rough textures all work together perfectly, and Vinegar Syndrome’s 2K restoration keeps that gritty character intact instead of trying to make it look too clean. The extras are stacked too, especially the Klaus Maeck interview, commentary, Berlin riot footage, and the William S. Burroughs material.

Strange, political, noisy, and completely its own thing. Easy 5/5 for me. 😁

This is such a delightfully strange film and I'm so happy VS put it out. Edition looks great, and the special features really help enrich the experience of watching the film.

Didnt know what i was getting into!! Definitely check it out !! Worthy to have in the collection!

Decoder is a bizarre, neon-drenched, proto-cyberpunk, bureaucratic surveillance drama film from West Germany. Quite special movie and was great fun to see it with so high quality Blu-ray.

Ok