Horst in Translation ([email protected])
The "Hexer" ("Ringer") is certainly the most known Edgar Wallace character and in this black-and-white film from over 50 years ago he gives a bit of a comeback, at least according to the title "Neues vom Hexer" or "Again the Ringer". Heinz Drahe does not have as many Wallace appearances as Fuchsberger for example, but I felt he was a welcome presence. And there are more names behind and in front of the camera that have worked on several other Edgar Wallace films. Story-wise, this one here is just as underwhelming as the rest and to me it looks like a cheap attempt to cash in with the popularity of the Hexer from one of the older films. Finally, a special mention to Kinski, who is a scene stealer again as always, but sadly also plays the same character in every Wallace film, a troubled men we are supposed to think is the killer or an accomplice, but ends up often dead himself. It gets repetitive pretty quickly. The rest of the film is weak or mediocre. Do not watch. For as much as I care, the "Ringer" can disappear entirely.
unbrokenmetal
After the success of "Der Hexer", this sequel was shot 9 months later by the same director with mostly the same cast - unfortunately Joachim Fuchsberger did not return. Obviously, the sequel had another problem from the start: the first movie had revealed the secret identity of the "Hexer" in the end, so the possibility for a similar surprise was gone. Nevertheless, a solid story was put on celluloid here which makes it an average contribution to the Edgar Wallace series at least. The basic script idea is that the Hexer ("wizard") returns to England once again because murderers commit crimes under his name, so he wants to punish them and prove his innocence.A well-known still from the advertising material shows Klaus Kinski (who plays Edwards, the butler) rising like a vampire in a coffin. It stems from a scene that originally was the opening sequence, but cut before the TV broadcast and video tape release. Still Kinski gets a couple of good scenes, watch him playing a harp for example! Brigitte Horney and Barbara Rütting are both giving strong performances as well, even though the most terrifying scene to get you on the edge of your seat is surely when the boy is locked in the tiger cage.
