Karl Denke (2024)

[bunniefuu]

based on a true story

"After all we will have to view Karl

Denke not as the abominable monster,

...but as a hapless soul, who could not

but fulfil what was inherent to his being."

Madam,

do you have a...

Excuse me ,

you dont happen to have

a spare penny for me?

That's very kind of you.

Thank you very, very much.

Thanks.

Could you spare a penny?

Thank you.

Thanks a lot.

That's very generous.

Madam,

could you spare some change,

a penny or two for me?

Alas, I do not carry cash today.

No, but are you looking for work?

yes!

Just go to Father Denke.

Father Denke?

He's got something to eat for you,

and work.

That sounds good.

Down that street,

on the left-hand side, Teichstrae 10.

Teichstrae 10.

Thank you, Madam.

You're welcome.

Thanks.

And give him regards from Misses Grass.

I will.

Thanks.

Bye!

Teichstrae 10

Teichstrae 10, - Teichstrae 10,

Teichsstrae 10. Yes!

Good afternoon!

Are you Father Denke?

Yes.

Do you have work for me?

Are you able to write?

Of course.

Come in.

Come In.

Where to?

On the bed.

What do we have here?

Robinson Crusoe.

Robinson Crusoe.

A children's book.

You're pretty well off, good Sir.

Name?

Vincent.

Vincent Oliver.

Vincent

Oliver.

Weight.

Weight.

Why Weight?

Just so!

78 Kilograms.

78 Kilograms.

Profession?

Carpenter.

My rabbit hutch needs fixing.

Maybe you can....

If it is not too much of a hassle...

Then write.

I can spell, yes.

Adolf, you fat brat.

Peter Filmproduktion presents

Are you mad?

help,- help

Karl Denke - the cannibal next-door

Mister Denke.

Are you Karl Denke? Mister Denke!

Yes, yes, that's him.

Karl Denke, strike me,

he wanted to strike me dead!

Alright. Alright.

We took your point.

Mister Denke.

Yes?

Are you Karl Denke?

Yes.

Lead him off.

Come.

May I?

Detention cell Mnsterberg town hall

Did we catch you!

You are arrested, Mister Denke!

Tomorrow.

Your hearing.

Now, off!

Caught.

Arrested.

Nonsense...

Because of nothing...

Or is it...

But how?

Ate it all up!

Hearing...

Lullaby and good night,

With pink roses bedight

With lilies o'er spread

Is my baby's sweet head.

Lay thee down now and rest,

May thy slumber be blessed.

Lay thee down now and rest,

May thy slumber be blessed...

Hearing

December 23rd

Particulars:

Name?

Denke.

Denke.

Given name?

Karl.

Karl.

Birthday?

Eleventh of

February

February.

Place of birth?

Oberkunzendorf.

Well...

Parents:

Your parents' names?

Mother Denke.

Unknown.

Father?

Sir.

Father, Sir.

Unknown.

Mister Denke,

why are you here?

The residency?

Resident in...?

Mnsterberg

Mnsterberg

Teichstrae 10

Teichstrae 10

You heard my question!

Which one?

Why are you here?

They brought me here.

Do you have any idea why?

I have been attacked.

By?

By a tr*mp.

Name?

Oliver...

Vincent?

Yes..

What happened during the attack?

He wanted to rob me.

Yes. He, rob you?

Yes!

What did you do?

Defended myself.

How far?

As far as I could.

What does that mean?

With the pickaxe...

You wanted to k*ll him.

I wanted to defend myself.

Someone wants to rob you,

and you try to k*ll him

with a pickaxe?

As defence?

Why didn't you tie him up, bring him to me?

I could have

arrested him.

He was stronger than me.

Mister Denke, you are strong.

He was stronger.

In church,

you are a well-liked man.

And you know your Bible.

Does the Bible quotation:

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" ring a bell?

Certainly.

Theft for theft?

Theft for theft.

Theft for life?

Mister Denke,

you got here

a neatly kept

booklet.

Mister Denke,

thirty names - Which explanation?

Can I refresh myself quickly?

Why?

I feel like it.

Not yet.

Who are those 30 people?

Good friends.

Why did you write

them down?

Because they...

are good friends.

Are you afraid to

forget your friends?

No.

Mister Denke,

Yes

Do you want to wash yourself?

Gladly.

Go ahead.

And then I gave him a slap

left and right

and left again.

And as that moron lay

on the ground

I took his money

off him.

Here,

two marks.

Now, pass the grub.

Here you are.

What's that?

Rhubarb!

Pardon?

What, no meat soup?

Meat soup?

Later!

First you write!

Write?

Pen and paper.

Cannot write yourself, can you?

Dimwit!

Dimwit...

Write!

Dear Misses von Grass,

The meat for the wedding

will shortly be

ready for you.

Clodhopper.

Quiet! We want to sleep!

Did I finally catch you.

You don't have a good taste.

Farewell, little mouse.

Are you done?

Yes.

Sit down!

So,

summing-up.

Hearing on the 23rd of December 1924.

Name: Karl Denke

Born on 11.02.1860.

Place of birth:

Oberkunzendorf.

Oberkunzendorf.

Parents unknown.

Residency...

You are thorough.

Resident in

Mnsterberg.

Right!

Teichstrae 10

Yes.

What will I get out now, Mister Denke?

Go ahead.

Cloth.

Go on.

Folded.

Go on.

Wrapped.

Why?

So, my friends are always with me.

Those friends?

Yes.

How are your friends always with you?

In that way?

Don't touch!

In every bundle...

there is a piece of them.

Essence.

They gave it to me,

before they moved on.

Where are your friends now?

Don't know.

Where did they move on to?

Into the world.

Into which world?

There are so many.

Alright Mister Denke.

You like to craft, don't you.

Yes!

Friedhelm.

That's Friedhelm?

No, no...

a piece of cloth

from his clothes.

Mister Denke, you know the saying -

we had it just before:

An eye for an eye,

a tooth for a tooth.

Teeth.

If I assume correctly

and

for every tooth here

there must be

one of your teeth.

Mister Denke, look.

And now,

do as I do!

Come on, do it!

You still have all your teeth.

But you should not have any.

Why?

Because you pulled these teeth,

and not from your mouth.

A dentist pulls teeth as well.

Mister Denke!

A dog's skin

of stray dogs.

Mister Denke,

Mister Denke!

Human skin?

A pair of braces.

So, you're of use after all!

Wrapped, like so....

Right, that's nice!

There, next to Friedhelm! Yes.

Now that's good!

Friends.

So many!

Handcrafted.

Oh yes.

Weigh it!

Weigh it!

For the soup

Thirteen...

Six, seven, three... Yield: 76

76 kg yield.

Pretty good!

Now this

Salt...

salt.

There

For later!

This....

This....

Wait!

Just a moment!

Come in!

Greetings Karl.

Misses von Grass...

I wanted to pick up the meat for the wedding.

Oh, wedding meat...

Here you are.

Wedding meat.

Yes, well that's a good portion.

Did you slaughter a dog again?

Dog?

Well...

But, that's forbidden.

Yes, I know.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Oh well, Karl,

I don't mind,

but the neighbours.

They complained.

What about?

About the smell

coming from your flat.

Smell.

Yes...

Maybe you should air it a bit more often.

Air it...

And one other thing...

There are strange sounds

coming from your flat

at night.

I know you work a lot.

And it's good you work a lot.

But maybe you could

try and do it in the mornings?

Morning?

Yes, well the neighbours

have to rise early.

They can't sleep.

Yes, well, that's what I wanted to tell you.

Thanks, Misses Grass.

My pleasure!

Von Grass

Nevermind.

Nevermind

Oh, and another thing.

Should you need help with

your shirts,

you can happily get in touch with me.

Thanks.

Farewell!

Farewell!

Mister Denke, we go about this pragmatically now.

In your meticulously kept booklet

there is one name crossed out.

I hear.

Mister Weber?

Yes!

Special friend!

Because...?

He liked my meat soup.

Poor guy.

He told me everything.

He had been beaten

as a child by his father.

The mother looked the other way.

I assume, you have also been beaten

as a child.

You look like it.

Which consequences do you draw from this?

None.

On the front line

he really showed the French what he was made of!

What a lough we had!

What we have eaten!

Meat soup!

He had to go.

Why?

He was my equal...

Did he help you?

With what?

What does it mean to say:

"He was my equal"?

He liked the meat soup.

He always loved meat.

Did you ever eat meat soup?

Yes.

Is it good?

Very!

Meat?

Very!

Yes!

Oh, yes!

Mister Denke,

the booklet smells of blood.

Blood.

There's blood on that booklet.

Blood.

I got here

items crafted by you.

These are your friends.

These

teeth here are... Mister Denke...

Yes.

There's a part of you

I do understand.

And something else

tells me

you will have to die.

And die you will.

We'll all have to die one day.

But not in that way.

Herr Denke,

I`ll bring you before the judge;

the committing magistrate,

my superior.

I will recount your situation.

I will show all of the things I have here.

And I give it to you under

hand and seal...

Hand and seal:

People like you need to go.

Who is he, this Mister Weber?

Mister Weber.

Hey there, get up!

Lodging House Zur Heimat

This man wants to talk to you.

He might have work for you.

Can you write?

Yes, Sir.

I can spell very well.

Can you write something for me?

Yes. Yes, Sir. Gladly so.

I do have some rich soup.

Well then, come.

Yes, Sir.

Marie!

Farewell!

Come in.

Hungry?

Oh yes.

One moment.

Thanks for taking me with you.

You're welcome.

Bon appetit!

Thanks.

You like it?

Yes!

Meat soup!

Yes, meat.

I think,

I haven't eaten a piece of

meat in six weeks.

Your name?

Heinrich Weber!

Weber...

Weight?

68 kilograms,

I think...

Where are you from, anyway?

From Krakeln, Memel Land.

Yes, from East Prussia,

but I Can't go back there.

Why?

Now, the French are sitting there.

They've occupied everything.

But it's even more because of

my father.

The pig.

That pig!

You useless thing!

You only have yourself to blame for that.

Head down!

You dumb b*tch, you brought a moron into this world.

You're too stupid, even for that.

What did I do wrong to be punished like that!?

You are all mad...

Are you still not ready, Karl?

Hurry, it'll start to rain soon!

After all, we didn't have anything.

Father was a drunkard.

Drunkard...

He was unpredictable.

I was seven years old, a little boy.

I spilled his beer by accident.

He hit me in the face so hard

I fell off the bench,

and woke up but later in my tiny bed.

Mother sat next to me, crying.

Crying...

Blood

trickled from my ears.

Blood...

I just wanted to get away!

Away from my father,

away from his drunkenness.

Drunkenness...

Away from the beatings and

away from the hunger.

Is there any more soup left?

Gladly!

Here you are.

Thank you.

And it's nice and hot.

Meat soup!

Yes, meat soup!

I learned at the farm.

Farming.

Yes, but I went to

the military then.

I couldnt stand it anymore

at home...

Military basic training first,

then military service.

And finally, a real bed for me.

And something decent to eat.

Meat soup?

Yes, meat soup.

1914 then

came the w*r.

"We'll be in Paris by

Christmas", we all cheered.

As if.

As if...

After a few kilometres

it was the end of the road.

And every Frenchman,

who came before my

carbine

had the face of my father.

Yes...

He grinned at me. Yes, as if...

as if to say:

Come on! sh**t,

fire away!

Then I pulled the trigger...

again, again and again

and over again...

It just never stopped.

...never stopped...

It just wouldn't stop.

Wouldn't stop...

It wouldn't stop...

What became of my brothers, and my mother,

I do not know.

No idea.

Nobody gives me anything,

No one.

Just You.

You give me such a tasty soup.

Denke, you're really a good man.

Thanks,

Out.

Did I do wrong...?

Out!

Whoever feeds on my flesh

and drinks my blood

has eternal life,

and I will raise him up

on the last day.

Fraud

outrageous fraud!

seduced,..

tempted...

Oh well.

Forgive me.

Sorry. Sorry.

For my flesh

is true food,

and my blood

is true drink.

Whoever feeds on my flesh

and drinks my blood

abides in me

and I in him...

Our father in heaven

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day

our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into

temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

My dear Karl,

welcome.

It's great you're here.

Good morning, Father.

My dear Karl,

I am truly happy,

you will carry the cross

at tomorrow's procession.

I would like to thank you for that

on behalf of

the whole community.

A matter of course, father.

Well, sadly, it's not,

in this time and age.

Even within our community,

godless avarice

and greed are rampant.

And the command of charity

is buried in oblivion.

Well Karl,

the world is changing.

Does the world change,

and we change with it?

Or do we change,

and the world

changes with us?

Oh, what a question,

no one can answer that.

But if by good deeds

something turns

for the better, it is the

consequence of our faith.

And who no longer just

revolves around himself

has an open heart

for other people

and for God as well.

Just like you, Karl.

Thank you, Father!

You're welcome.

Oh you, I've heard that -

despite these lean times

you donated something for the

bride and groom.

Yes, I gifted them some meat.

How nice.

It was really

my pleasure.

Oh, and Karl,

have you ever thought

about marrying a woman

yourself?

You are alone, aren't you?

And your neighbour,

the widow,

the widow of the late Captain von Grass,

she truly is a righteous woman,

pious and gracious.

And since her husband -

may God rest his soul

fell at Verdun in 1915

she is all alone.

No, no, no,

I'm not ready yet for marriage.

But Father,

may I ask,

a theological question?

Yes, sure.

I came across a passage in the

bible,

and now, I cant get it out of my head.

Here, John 6:55,

For my flesh

is true food.

And my blood

is true drink.

56: Whoever feeds on my flesh

and drinks my blood,

abides in me

and I in him.

hoc est enim corpus deum

Jesus Christ speaks:

This is my body

which is given for you.

So, it is true,

salvation lies within the flesh.

The blood is the wine that quenches our thirst

in this world.

Yes, yes, that's the idea.

The pope supports the

belief that

by priestly consecration

the altar wine

truly becomes the blood of Jesus

and the eucharistic bread

truly is

flesh from the body

of Jesus Christ.

a piece of flesh from the

body of Christ

Blood of the Saviour,

Piece of meat...

Well Karl, Karl

don't worry about it now, yes?

And I...

I have to get going.

Yes, the municipal council awaits me.

There's so much to

organise for tomorrow.

Piece of meat - body of Christ

Altar wine, blood.

Salvation, salvation...

Blood...

Blood

God is love,

you wrote.

You go to church?

I've seen you there before

on Sundays.

Of course.

Mister Denke, how can this be

reconciled?

Talk!

Maybe your friend can help you,

do you want to have him with you?

Friedhelm Erdmann?

Just take him.

Friedhelm?

Go on!

Now come! Talk.

Jesus

Yes, go on, come on, come!

died at the cross.

Yes!

His blood,

Yes.

and his flesh

nourish the community.

since time immemorial.

Go on.

So, blood and meat

are the key to God.

And you think,

you are god's equal.

Is that what you think?

No!

Do you want to absorb God?

No!!

Do you wish to incorporate God?

No...

Whoever drinks my blood,

and feeds on my flesh

Faster!

abides in me and I in him.

Do you try to

absorb God?

Do you try to eat God?

Do you try to become God?

Mister Denke, talk!

Come on!

Come, Come, come, come, come.

Head up, talk!

Mister, Denke,

did you k*ll those people?

Did you absorb your friends?

You bound them - in skin!

I delivered them all.

Their senseless

and useless lives,

I gave them use and sense.

For the community!

For you!

Mister Denke, now just say:

I have k*lled them.

Did you k*ll them?

Mister Denke, just say it, now!

Say it!

I have them.

I have them...

Friedhelm! Friedhelm Erdmann...

Friedhelm...

You are imbecile.

Mister Denke, you will die.

Definitely.

Give that to me.

Friedhelm?

Give it to me!

Friedhelm.

Give him to me!

Give him to me!

Mister Denke, very quickly,

you will be ex*cuted very quickly.

Then we will have peace from you.

Mister Denke,

in and of itself

I'm fascinated by

what youve written here.

But if that is not evidence enough

I just don't know,

how it proceeds.

Dead 122 kilograms, naked

106 kilograms

disembowelled,

Eighty-six...

Yield

86 kilograms yield.

You like meat.

You cooked soup from the meat.

You offered the meat to people.

And did you also -

people who ate the meat

that you prepared so nicely -

did you k*ll them also?

Did you feed human flesh to human

so that a human nourishes the human

you then proceed to butcher?

I...it ...my God.

Did you?

My God.

Did you, Mister Denke?

Undetected,

always undetected...

My coins.

Is that the legendary price,

one has to pay?

Currency, currency, currency...

That, too, smells.

Herr Denke, the sheer number of people

perpetuated here.

I would lie if I wasn't to say

that it fascinates me rather a lot.

Numbers on coins.

Divine currency..

yes...

In the kingdom of heaven,

currency, divine.

Mister Denke, you...

and I tell you that personally -

do you know why you have to die?

Everyone....

You have to...

I am the law

and you fascinate me.

And that must not be allowed to happen.

You understand?

That must not happen...

That you understand me?

You have to die.

You will die.

Yes...

In!

So, let's have a look,

what my colleague brought me.

The file of Emma Sander.

Emma?

Do you know her?

She was in love with me.

She was everywhere I went.

What did you do to her?

She was obsessed with me.

Always wanted to be near me.

What did you do to her?

She made eyes at me.

Go on!

Then we danced.

And then?

Danced...

What did you do to her then?

Emma Sandner died.

Trautmann, a butcher, is doing time for her m*rder.

Twelve years

in your place.

She made eyes at me.

And then...

we danced...

Greetings, Karl!

Emma?

Greetings!

Emma - again.

Emma.

What is it?

Where to?

I go to work.

You stalk me.

I do not stalk you. I come by here every day.

At Richter's Bakery?

Coincidence!

At the fisher's festival?

Happenstance!

Karl, we're living in the same town.

On the field, near the willow tree.

Coincidence!

You're making eyes at me.

Come on. You're imagining things.

You love me, don't you.

No! Please! - I do not love you.

You do love me!

No!

I am sorry you thought it was this way, but...

Give me the basket!

Karl, let go of the basket!

Give it to me!

You're off your head!

Let go of the basket, let go!

You're mad!

Help!

Emma!

Emma!

Emma!

Emma? - Can't you die?

come!

Come on,

come!

Karl, I do love you after all.

You love me?

Yes, I love you,Karl

Me?

Yes! Only you.

Dance?

Yes, I'll dance with you.

Let's be together, Karl.

For ever...?

Yes, yes Karl...

For ever...?

Yes, for ever! For ever.

For ever, Emma, for ever!

Then we danced...

Does the ring belong to Emma Sander?

Give me that ring, it's evidence. Pass the ring to me.

No!

Pass it over.

No!

Give it to me, now!

No!

Mister Denke!

Did you k*ll Emma Sander?

Did you k*ll Emma Sander?

No!

What did you do to her?

Danced !

What else did you do to her?

Only danced!

And then?

Further!

Just Danced.

What did you do?

written here, no surname, just Emma.

Mister Denke, did you k*ll all those people?

Yes or no?

I am talking to you!

Mister Denke, we've got all these things lying here.

My God.

Did you k*ll those people or didn't you?

Here, look at this.

And do you know what this is?

These are links to all the

people you wrote down there.

It's their passports.

Mister Denke, these people are no longer alive.

They are missing.

I have their passports.

Everything fits together!!

You will die, Mister Denke.

Believe me.

How did you manage

to bring all the population to your side?

Fascinating!

Meat!

They always wanted some meat.

Every one of them.

Did they eat your meat?

Of course,

all of them wanted meat.

All of them.

And they got meat from you.

Mister Denke, I will tell those people,

they ate human flesh.

What do you think is going to happen?

Mister Denke, did you k*ll those people.

Yes or no?

Mister Denke!

Yes

No man is replaceable.

No.

But meat is...

They won't understand.

Nobody understands.

They will throw stones!

Stones...

Mister Denke,

it is time...

They will throw stones...

That shall not be granted to you...

It was only after Karl Denke comitted suicide on December 21st 1924 that his flat was searched by the police and all the evidence was found.

We remember the victims.