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The first part of a trilogy Ulli Lommel's ABSOLUTE EVIL - FINAL EXIT is a film noir full of unexpecetd twists about love, revenge, ghosts, waterboarding and David Carradine, whose reflective performance as a retired gangster, holding court in a wheelchair next to a fire he keeps burning to chase off the chill of mortality, is a requiem for all the outlaws he played in his memorable career. Bill Krohn Cahiers du Cinema, Paris, France
"I only want that you love me" - is what Carradine's character in ABSOLUTE EVIL seems to be saying to us. It's also the title of a famous Fassbiinder movie. Sushi, torture and love. FINAL EXIT is all of that, and more.
Frank Arnold Tip, Berlin ABSOLUTE EVIL - FINAL EXIT
David Carradine's legacy on film.
In 1980 I made BOOGEYMAN, starring David Carradine's father JOHN CARRADINE as the psychiatrist. It became John's last successful film in a long and luminous career that spanned many decades and included such master pieces as John Ford's STAGE COACH.
Almost 30 years later I had the pleasure to work with David as on of the lead characters in the first part of a trilogy about evil entitled ABSOLUTE EVIL - FINAL EXIT. The experience on the set with David was for both of us so important and satisfying, that we were looking very much forward to the next two installments of the trilogy: ABSOLUTE EVIL - LIFE AFTER DEATH and ABSOLUTE EVIL - RETURN FROM THE DEAD. David was supposed to play the lead in each one of them. Of course that was not meant to be. The trilogy will be made, but without David in parts II and III. Who will play his part is unclear at this point, but one thing is certain: David cannot be replaced.
ABSOLUTE EVIL - FINAL EXIT was selected as an official entry at the Berlin Film Festival and had its world premiere at the Zoo Palace in front of 1,200 people in February of this year. At the same venue LOVE IS COLDER THAN DEATH, a film by German cult film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, in which I played the lead role, had played at the festival in 1969. The reviews for ABSOLUTE EVIL have been outstanding (see imdb, and reviews link on this page). David was so awesome in this film, that some reviewers actually thought he had deserved an Academy Award for his performance. But what I find most startling is the legacy David leaves, because this film is about death, forgiveness, sex, guilt, torture and the desire to see the light of God through extreme experiences, both spiritually and sexually. David and I had a lot in common. We both have been meditating for many years and sought an East-West connection within the spirit world. Bruce Lee, who also died a mysterious death, was our hero. And we both believe that love, peace and forgiveness are stronger than evil and all its dark agents, and that nonjudgmental love reigns supreme.
Nobody knows as of this date how David died in Thailand. First we were told it was suicide. Then the FBI got involved and rumors have it that David belonged to a secret society which rues he may have broken. Or even a sex thrill gone wrong.
Before we started shooting ABSOLUTE EVIL - FINAL EXIT. David and I spent several hours in his trailer to not only discuss the film and his role, but also issues concerning death, suicide, torture, sex and God. And he repeatedly mentioned the fact that he was searching for the meaning of life and his desire to know more about the mystery of death. He also stated that in moments of intense sexual activities one could get a glimpse of God and the aftermath. We decided to make that the main focus of the ABSOLUTE EVIL trilogy.
Whatever happened in Thailand, I know that David crossed over in peace. He was and is a spiritual warrior and one of the greatest visionaries and actors the world has seen.
Ulli Lommel Writer/Director Los Angeles, June 7, 2009 Copyright (c) 2009 Ulli Lommel - Reprints, quotations and excerpts only with written permission of the author. Teaser click here Copyright (c) 2009 Ulli Lommel, may not be shown on the internet including youtube without permission by the copyright holder. A longer version of this trailer is available upon request and against licensing fee. Synopsis click here Cast list click here Crew list click here Click here for Photos
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