If you think that RW Fassbinder was a serios guy who made bleak films about human alienation, think again. Satan's brew is wacky, in the spirit of outlandish, ebulient dystopia. In some sense, it also aspires to be a film that treats serious topics (self-delusion, masochism, contempt, anarchy/fascism). If you have a slightly obscene sense of humor, it is also a funny movie. (As a matter of fact, I might have enjoyed this a little bit more than I should.) But hey, Fassbinder also wants to say something about the origins of totalitarianism, so I might be excused.
The leading role is played by Kurt Raab, one of my favorite Fassbinder actors. It's just that in this movie, Raab's role is a little bit .... different. His acting style is, to say the least, outrageous. He's the anarchist poet, Kranz, who needs GELD. Geld! He lives with his wife, whom he hates, and his brother, whose major interest is flies. Kanz wanders from mistress to mistress, copulating & trying to secure some money. A mousey admirer follows him around. Kanz starts to realize that he IS the romantic German poet Stefan George. But wait, then he must be gay!
If you can stomach a John Waters' film, you might appreciate this. And if that subtle analysis of totalitarianism passes you by, and if the Nietzschean one-liners leave you cold ("That is the finest humiliation: to expose oneself to an inferior.") what you can learn from this tutorial film are many useful German invectives.
But how the HELL did Fassbinder raise money for this film? The idea for the film must have appeared quite bizarre.
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