The Tenderness of Wolves (film)


The Tenderness of Wolves, is a 1973 West German drama film directed by Ulli Lommel. The story is based on the crimes of German serial killer and cannibal Fritz Haarmann. It was written by Kurt Raab, who also stars in the film, and produced by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. It was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival.

Plot

Fritz Haarmann is a serial killer who uses his position as a government inspector to rape and murder young boys in war-torn Germany. After killing his victims, he shares the meat with his circle of cannibal friends.

Cast

The Tenderness of Wolves was released on June 29, 1973.

Reception

rated the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, calling it " a nasty little melodrama, lurid and creepy and sometimes bordering on demented humor. It's the kind of movie we may not exactly enjoy, but we don't walk out on."
Vincent Canby of The New York Times gave the film a positive review, commending the film's performances, cinematography, and direction. Dennis Schwartz from Ozus' World Movie Reviews awarded the film a grade A, calling it "A wickedly entertaining but harrowing tale"; praising the film's expressionistic style, direction, and Raab's performance. Chris Coffel from Bloody Disgusting praised the film for its historical accuracy, and unconventional narrative, stating that it was arguably Lommel's best film. Clayton Dillard of Slant Magazine awarded the film 4.5 out of 5 stars, writing "If Tenderness of the Wolves works on a reflexive register, it’s due to Raab’s performance, which consistently displays his own homosexuality in a fashion that blurs lines between fiction and documentary, albeit a bit coarsely, since Lommel often trains his camera on Haarmann’s sexual encounters to milk their exploitative potential."