Carl Lynder I'm not certain how Ulli Lommel's empty thriller Absolute Evil got into the Berlin film festival, but after the woeful Daniel the Magician from a few years ago, I'm surprised, very surprised. Toplined David Carradine plays a jovial sort of gangster which is a small role in this home-made thriller film. The story has a woman chasing after her father's killers about 15 years too late. A torture/waterboarding scene is the primal image in Absolute Evil -- it is the scene that Lommel cuts back to frequently, and becomes the symbol of how this movie grates on the nerves.Absolute Evil borrows from such films as Kill Bill and Planet of the Apes, but steals more heavily from Lommel's own C-grade horror efforts, such as The Boogeyman, BTK Killer, Green River Killer, Killer Pickton, and Mummy Maniac. In other words, Absolute Evil borrows extensively from other filmmakers. There are a few fancy cinematic moments in Absolute Evil, and if one looked carefully one might find these, too, have been borrowed from other movies. Absolute Evil is technically terrible -- the lighting and sound are in particular abysmal. The reviewer for Hollywood Reporter got it right when he said, the film "is quite simply excruciating to watch." Whoever wrote in the IMDb comments that this was a great movie must have mistaken Absolute Evil for some other flick.

rickvanCleef Each time new discoveries. Carradine giving A+ performance. Camera work superb. What was this shot on? I heard they used the new RED??? Anyway, great colors, very cool performances by Chris Kriesa and Ulli Lommel as Beauregard and Rick. Carolyn Neff a treat as Savanna, Rusty Joiner (is he the guy who shows off his body in all these men's mags???). Script shines with twists and turns. Only problem I have: The length. It could've gone on for two more hours. Maybe they should turn this plot into a TV-series. Call it "17th Street" or something. I'd sure watch it. Could be as entertaining and different as "Twin Peaks". "Absolute Evil" reminds me of a mixture out of a David Lynch flick and Tarentino. I didn't care much for Lommel's other horror flicks, but this one? Man, what a departure!!! Has anyone seen his 80s films like "Boogeyman" and "brainwaves"? Or "Devonsville Terror"? Check it out, man. Cool stuff. Now as to his recent Lionsgate stuff, I could've done without that. Neither "Son of Sam" nor "Borderline Cult" did it for me.

jackierebling It was a great surprise to see ABSOLUTE EVIL at the Berlin Film Festival. At first I had reservations, because I did not like Lommel's recent horror flicks. But with this thrilling and inspiring film noir he returns to the formidable strength of his earlier works like BOOGEYMAN and TENDERNESS OF THE WOLVES. I overheard people at the festival in Berlin comparing it to Quentin Tarentino's work, some even suggested it was a rip-off, but I totally disagree. ABSOLUTE EVIL is one of the most entertaining films I have seen in a long time, but you need to have brains and be able to speak English fluently in order to enjoy this film. It is not a dumb horror flick. The story is about love, forgiveness, redemption and revenge. And David Carradine as aging gang leader is a special treat. When the film is released, try to watch the original version. Highly recommendable!

cliffwellman-1 I've watched "Absolute Evil" three times now. And each time it gets better and better. there are so many cool elements in the movie, and so many hidden messages. It's almost like you're on a treasure hunt. I dunno why anyone in their right mind doesn't get this, but I guess we live in a world of quick fixes and surfacy attitudes. I - like many other viewers - absolutely hated Lommel's serial killer films, I mean Lions Gate obviously did a great job with trailers and DVD cover and so on, but the minute you watched one of those films, you had to be disappointed.So when my buddy Charlie, a die-hard Ulli Lommel fan, dragged me into "Absolute Evil" I was ready for more of the same. But, hey! Was I wrong!!! This one really rocks, man! Eighty tight minutes of twists and turns and cool character developments and commentaries on our messed up society. Ulli Lommel haters, get ready: You cannot diss this one, you just can't!! And take this from a former hater. He made a great film, guys. Now what???