BLITZKRIEG: ESCAPE FROM STALAG 69 (2008)
Directed by Keith J. Crocker
Review by Jason Tosta


Released by: Wild Eye Releasing
Running Time: 135 Minutes
Rating: NR
Color format: Color
Audio/Subtitles: English Audio/No Subtitles
Region Code: 1, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: Letterbox 1.85:1
16:9 Enhanced: No
Special Features: Commentary, Documentary, Cast and Crew Q&A, Trailers, Test Footage, Deleted Scenes, Bloopers, Short Film, Production Stills
Trailer Online: Yes

In 1975, Director Don Edmonds created a film entitled ILSA: SHE WOLF OF THE SS. The film followed the exploits of a wicked, uber-chested, Nazi concentration camp commandant named Ilsa, and her various disturbingly violent tortures of camp prisoners. This incredibly sleazy film, along with the 1969 film LOVE CAMP 7, initiated the notorious film sub genre “Naziploitation.” This sub genre incorporated all of the staples of standard exploitation films: nudity, softcore sex, lots of violence, and sleazy characters, but threw in Nazis to enhance the sleaze factor even further. There were several low budget films that were made in the 70’s and early 80’s, such as SS GIRLS, SS HELL CAMP, and even a few glossy high-class attempts like Tinto Brass’ SALON KITTY. Somewhere around the mid 80’s the well kind of dried up.

That is until 2008, and no-budget indie filmmaker, Keith J. Crocker, picked up the reigns and created BLITZKRIEG: ESCAPE FROM STALAG 69. We begin in Argentina 1955. Israeli police break into the house of Helmut Schultz (Charles Esser) looking to arrest him for “war crimes.” Schultz escapes and makes it to a church where he begins a rambling confession of his Nazi past to a priest.

Now we’re back in 1945 Germany at the P.O.W. camp Stalag 69. Schultz is the commandant along with his sidekick Wolfgang (Steve Montague). The two spend a large portion of the film torturing naked girls in between having long conversations about Nazis as a superhuman race, etc. At one point, a Russian front fighter, Natasha (Tatyana Kot), is captured. She is tortured in an attempt to get information on pending Russian attack plans. During this time, an American U.S.O. troupe is also captured and tortured.

At some point, all of the P.O.Ws plan and attempt a breakout. From there on out, all hell breaks loose and it’s every man and woman for themselves. Who will escape Stalag 69 alive?!

First off, I have to once again take my hat of to writer/producer/director Keith J Crocker. To take on a large-scale period piece like this with a few dollars and a ton of favors is nothing short of insane. This guy and his crew have a lot of heart. I reviewed another one of his films, the Super 8mm horror film, “The Bloody Ape,” awhile ago. Both of these films are definitely flawed, but “no-budget achievements” nonetheless.

In terms of BLITZKRIEG itself, there are a few things that stand out. The make up effects are pretty effective, with several castrations and slit throats on display. All in all, very “homemade groovy.” One or two of the torture set pieces are well done, especially one where a male prisoner’s “urine dispenser” is sawed off. In terms of the acting, Charles Esser (Schultz) and Tatyana Kot (Natasha) give stand out performances and carry most of the film on their shoulders.

On the negative side, BLITZKRIEG is plagued with many large problems. First off, it is 135 minutes long. I’m not kidding and I didn’t mistype, it’s a 135-minute micro-budget film. This flick needed more editing like I needed a haircut back in the 80’s. It contains long stretches of tedious and overstuffed dialogue that plays like the Eveready bunny—it just keeps going and going and going. The blame has to go to Crocker’s script. He admits in the special feature documentary that he wrote the film more like a play. Not a good idea. There is dialogue on top of dialogue. Adding to this, many of the actors’ line deliveries are unconvincing and sound rushed, as if they are having trouble remembering all of the lines and just need to hurry and get them all out. Much of the acting in this film leaves a lot to be desired even by Z-Grade movie standards.

In my opinion, many “Naziploitation” films after ILSA: SHE WOLF OF THE SS are examples of what I call “desperation exploitation” because the need to add the Nazi angle to kick up the sleaze feels a bit desperate to me. Saying that, I don’t believe that BLITZKRIEG falls into this category. Crocker tries to make something more like a period, character drama with some action, comedy, naked girls and torture thrown in. Unfortunately, the result is a bloated, schizophrenic film that while somewhat delivering the skin and violence at times, ends up drowning in mounds of tedious dialogue, unconvincing performances, budgetary constraints, and a marathon running time.

I do look forward to future Crocker films. Each successive one seems to get a little better. If you dig all things “Naziploitation” or you are a fan of super low-budget filmmaking, you might want to take a look at BLITZKRIEG. All others should probably pass.

Wild Eye Releasing puts several interesting extras on this release. First off, there is a fun commentary with Crocker, production designer Keith Matturro, and actress Tatyana Kot. We also get a lengthy documentary about the production, “Nazis Over Nassau,” which contains interviews with all of the principals. Everything you want to know about this film and more is covered in this doc. Also on the disc are Deleted Scenes, Test footage, Bloopers, Trailers, a Q&A with the cast and crew, the Crocker short film “Decade 88” and the list keeps going and going. A lot of care went into this release and it shows. It’s definitely a packed special edition.