Precautions Against Fanatics (1969) User Reviews

make sure to find it with subtitles

[Quinoa1984 · 6/10 · 14 August 2007]

Currently there is a version of Measures Against Fanatics on you-tube, which was how I got to see this short Werner Herzog film from early in his career. It's about horse racing, or rather the people who take care of the horses, and how to, apparently, protect them from the 'fanatics' of the title. Unfortunately, it's hard to really give a totally quantifiable rating to the documentary, because the version currently available, despite being in excellent picture and sound quality, has no subtitles in English (and being that I'm not up on my German much at all I could only pick out a few words here and there based on what I've heard in other movies and elsewhere).

As far as visuals go it's not bad, though there's not a whole lot Herzog can go in photographing such things like horses walking around and their protectors talking (though it is cool to see one of the horses walking around). It seems to mostly be dull even without knowing entirely what the context is usually in, but there are still some noticeable Herzogian moments, like when the one trainer or whomever proceeds to break blocks of wood with his hand. Or with the mere presence of the old man, who always seems to be interrupting the dialog the person answering is having, always with his say. The music is also ironically cheerful, which makes funny in an off-kilter sort of way.

It is worth watching, if you're a Herzog fan like I am, though knowing a little German might help add a little extra enjoyment.

Oddly entertaining

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 6 June 2015]

There is something really weird about Werner Herzog's early short film works and this one here is certainly no exception. When this was made 45 years ago, Herzog was in his mid-20s and who would have guessed that he will become what he turned into in the last decades: one of Germany's finest and most respectable filmmakers of all time. These 11 minutes here are his 5th short movie and basically it is about horses being in danger from fanatics. That's why there is a man standing there protecting them (and later on flamingos) and another man tells him to go away because he breaks everything. It's really just random rambling (sometimes with an accent so heavy that you may need subtitles even if you are a German native speaker) with no real point to it, but it is somewhat entertaining. Herzog also worked a lot with static cameras at this point. There is almost no movement at all. This was the last short film Herzog directed before entering the world of full features for a second time 45 years ago. And his "Even dwarfs started small" is at least as much of an oddity as "measures against fanatics". In my opinion, both are worth taking a look at. Oh and yes, before I forget it, Mario Adorf, one of Germany's most respected actors to this date, is also in here briefly.

funny and early herzog short

[framptonhollis · 7/10 · 4 April 2017]

Although Werner Herzog is often seen as a cold, straight faced filmmaker of existentialist dramas about the human soul, there is no denying that the man has an eccentric sense of humor that drips from many of his greatest films. In this early short, Herzog shows off his skills at comedy and satire with a brief, mockumentary style presentation of various interviews with people attempting to protect racing horses from horse fanatics, despite seeming like horse fanatics themselves.

It's a simple and minimalist work, but it still manages to get big laughs because of the eccentricities and absurdities hidden within each character's actions, dialogue, and performance. It's a rip roaring feast for the throat as Herzog morphs this simple documentary style premise into a funny, but weird, little comedy.

It must lose something in the translation.

[planktonrules · 28 December 2012]

"Massnahmen Gegen Fanatiker" is a German documentary short by Werner Herzog. While I noticed that some reviewers loved it and thought it to be a brilliant mockumentary, as an American who watching the film it all seemed very pointless...even stupid. Now I am NOT being critical of the film--more saying that whatever the joke is, I cannot fathom it and think this will be the reaction non-Germans will have when they see the film. Why is it funny or clever? I have no idea! My advice is to see the film with a German friend--so they can explain it and why it's a good film. As for me, I just felt lost and confused. All I saw were some nutty folks who just rambled on and on and on....and on.

Funny short

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 5 March 2021]

PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FANATICS is another Herzog short although better developed and structured than the last I saw (LAST WORDS). This one's set at a race track, where a trainer is interrupted by the arrival of various weirdos who think they're meant to be there. It helps that this one is an intended comedy and it's genuinely funny, with bizarre characters throughout and even a cameo from star Mario Adorf.

A very slight and minor film from Werner Herzog

[Red-Barracuda · 3/10 · 16 February 2015]

Precautions Against Fanatics is a short film which was notable in a minor way for being the first colour film director Werner Herzog made. It takes the form of a mockumentary and focuses on various people on a horse racecourse who talk about the different ways they protect the horses they care for from fanatics. All the while an old man tries to make them go away.

This is first and foremost a comedy but the problem that I had was that I simply didn't really get the joke at all! It's certainly a very minor work from Herzog that will only be of interest to his fans to be honest. At twelve minutes, it's so short as to not get boring and its oddball nature certainly is interesting…to an extent. But overall, this isn't too good and is more a case of Herzog having a laugh than much else.

clever but not funny

[dbborroughs · 4/10 · 26 August 2007]

Proof that Germans are not good at humor and that even Herzog missteps.

Various people around a race track talk about protecting the horses from crazy fanatics, while an older man tries to run them off.

Surreal tale that doesn't really work. The bits go on way past the point of being funny, though there are some very amusing moments such as the man who trains horses by walking them around a tree for 36 hours, however since no horse could keep up the pace he has to trade off horses.

Its a long 12 minutes and the punchline, while amusing doesn't really add up to much.

Kind of Fake-Documentation short - very funny

[werner-j-busch · 10/10 · 7 March 2005]

"Measures Against Fanatics" (BRD 1969) is a kind of fake documentation, containing some loose scenes where people on a horse-racing circuit talk about the way they prevent the horses of fanatics. But an old grandpa - hardly breathing - has his own opinions about that...

Very amusing and curious Shortmovie from Werner Herzogs early years, including a very funny (and rare) performance by Peter Schamoni. Also, Mario Adorf can be seen in a short but cool supporting role. A must-see.

This rare movie is an extra on the DVD of "Lebenszeichen" (BRD 1968). The first 90min picture by Werner Herzog. Also "Last Words" (BRD 1967) and "The Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreuz" (BRD 1967) are extras on this DVD.

4 shorts by Herzog

[Michael_Elliott · 29 February 2008]

Precautions About Fanatics (1969)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Herzog short is just one running gag about a fanatic at a race horse. A few laughs.

Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreutz, The (1966)

** (out of 4)

Herzog spoof of war and soldiers and the thoughts that creep into ones mind. There are a few funny jokes but again, nothing too interesting.

Last Words (1967)

** (out of 4)

Another Werner Herzog short, this one I'm guessing was meant to be some sort of spoof about people and their last words but none of it is all that funny.

Herakles (1960)

** (out of 4)

Werner Herzog's first film is about a young man who works out hoping to become very muscular one day. Nothing too interesting here.