Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Tears of Kali" is, despite the title, a German German-language film from 2004 and this one runs for 105 minutes approximately. The writer and director is Andreas Marschall and this is perhaps his most known work. He is fairly multi-talented, for example a prolific editor too. Well his film here is basically 3 in one and these three short films have components in common, but are otherwise not really linked to one another. Being the same genre (horror, mystery, maybe fantasy) isn't enough. The biggest name in the cast list here is Mathieu Carrière, but it makes me a bit sad to see his fall from how respected he once was and with the great names he worked with, even if this is already decades ago. He is featured prominently in the third and final chapter here, which is also the longest from the entire film and it fits well that it is named Kali, so maybe you could say that it is in the center of it all. But Carrière can also only do so much and while he elevates the material at times, he certainly cannot make up for all the mediocrities in here. Anyway, the rest of the cast is not known to me really and from what I saw in here, that's not a great loss. I was never thrilled by one of the three chapters and the film does look amateurish at times. It is never as atmospheric as you could hope for that it will get you to the edge of your seat. Plus the characters are most of the time not particularly interesting, let alone memorable. Oh well, it is not a failure as a whole because here and there there is a good moment, but I would say the negative and forgettable dominates these 1 hour and 45 minutes. Don't watch.
Fella_shibby
TEARS OF KALI centers around the fictional India-based Taylor-Erikkson cult group during the 80's. There are some faults with the film that keep it from being truly excellent - but it is an original and ambitious film for what it is. The acting is poor, the cinematography is not upto mark. Only a few of the performances are pretty damn chilling (the "doctor" in the second segment, and the "client" in the third readily come to mind...) and notable. The gore FX are very well done for a low-budget film, with some graphic scenes which reminds us of ol Italian horror movies of the eighties. Flesh ripped clean to the bone...and the blood runs red ...this savage Heart Stopper will grip you...and give you some dark dreams ... Lucio fulci did much better. There are plenty of scenes of genuine atmosphere and tension. The movie is obviously low budget, n some of the acting 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 is quite creepy and genuinely disturbing. The special effects are not for those with weak stomachs. If you are into splatter and gore, give these young film makers a try.Somebody shud make a movie on the other cult involving the cult of The Noida serial murders (also Nithari serial murders, Nithari Kand).
BA_Harrison
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.
Ekkard
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.
AD
