Tears of Kali (2004)

One of my all time favorites.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

As the description says, it is three segments about a mysterious cult. A "reporter" with a hidden agenda manages to get the "inner demon" of Elizabeth (Jandris Irena-Heliana) released in the first segment with almost deadly consequences.The demon attack, and the bizarre suicide, barely compensated for the low budget look of the film.I have never seen anger management therapy the way this cult practices it. A man who wanted to jump out of his skin was literally forced to remove his skin. It won't help in this life, but it will make him better in the next.I am not really sure about the third segment. It was just strange.

Three horror stories based on members of a transgressive Hindu cult that return home but changed in some way. In the first story our former cult member is now in an insane asylum and is visited by a reported who wants to find out about what went on at the cult. Somewhat slow going as story is told in flashbacks while the two sit on chairs and face each other. Reporter is particularly interested in what lead to the death of the participants. What seemed rather boring suddenly turns very exciting with a surprising twist in the story. Things get quite bloody.Second story has a violent young criminal visiting a psychiatrist for mandatory therapy. The patient seems to have some type of agenda but the psychiatrist is up to the task. Again, things slow down a bit and get weird. Then there's a strange twist in the story that is very well written and surprising.Final story deals with spiritual healer who claims to be able to remove the persons illness from them with his hands. One of the patients is a former cult member, so the successful healing gets more complicated. Again, we are surprised by a twist. Has a pretty gory scene in there.There some nice female full frontal nudity as well as male full frontal nudity for some reason. I found the stories to be very well written and the director succeeds entirely in setting up each story with its surprising twist and the gory aftermath.Note: review of the German DVD.

Three macabre and bloody tales are loosely connected by a mysterious cult which practices bizarre rituals.The first story tells of a woman named Shakti, an ex-member of the Taylor-Erikkson cult who is now an inmate at a mental hospital. A journalist (supposedly investigating the cult) interviews Shakti, but it transpires that she has other reasons for wanting to talk to the woman...The next story follows a violent young drug abuser who is sentenced to rehab. His doctor turns out to be a follower of Taylor-Erikkson and his methods of treatment are far from orthodox.The final tale deals with a faith-healer who unwittingly releases an evil force from one of his group (who is terminally ill). The malign monster is seeking a new healthy host, and has got its evil eye on the healer.The movie is obviously low budget, and the dubbing on the version I saw is pretty lousy, but Tears of Kali is original enough and has plenty of nastiness and gore to make this movie worth a viewing. It takes a while to get going, but those willing to make the effort will be rewarded by some nice death scenes which don't skimp on the red stuff.The second story is my favourite as it manages to be quite creepy and genuinely disturbing (and it also features a scene in which which a guy has to peel off his skin!).It may not be a wholly successful venture, but the makers of this film certainly have to be praised for trying something a bit different.

This episode movie uses demons, meditation and a strange sect as its vehicle for the ultimate traumatic horror movie: the whole atmosphere of this film is extremely frightening though you never believe the esoteric background that is supposed to be there! The people doing the movie obviously never had real contact to the Baghwan ideology. But who cares? I don't think John Wayne ever was a professional cowboy nor was Louis De Funes a french Policeman. Anyway, there are some professional actors in this flick doing their best, some horror movie buffs just playing actors. Good old German Matthieu Carriere plays a spiritual healer in the last episode. Attention: The special effects are not for those with weak stomachs: eyelids are cut off, a guy skins himself alive and there goes your breakfast! If you are into splatter and gore but to old to take Fulci seriously – give these young film makers a try.