by Nicole Rebsher
thanks to the Doc for the translation

Wow, what a powerful and impressive movie! Horror veteran Brain Yuzna (Re-Animator, Return of the living Dead, Crying Freeman ...) brings one of the most slanting and violent comics of the last years to life on screen in fantastic pictures: David Quinn's "Faust - Love of the Damned" is not for the faint at hearted. Sex, blood, occultism, roaring music and cool quotes: these are the ingredients this modern Faust adaptation is mixed with. Yuzna gathers in this debut of his new production company Filmax, self-designed heir of the classic Hammer studios, a couple of stars from the horror genre: "Wishmaster" Andre Divoff gives a wonderful diabolic devil with hydrogen peroxide dyed hair and dark cloak. But "M", as he's called here, is up to more than the usual soul trading. As head of secret organization "The Hand", which consists of the leaders of police, politics and economy, is bringing hell on earth closer to us with quite sturdy measures. He's supported by his partner Claire (hot: Monica van Campen), whose nymphomaniac escapades are becoming tiring after a while, though. In the disillusioned painter John Jaspers (Mark Frost) M finds the seemingly perfect tool for his grisly plans. For the price of his soul the devil turns him into a demonic angel of vengeance, who literally tears the heart out of his wife's killers. But finally Jaspers manages to take control about himself again, at least partially, and so he lets police man Dan Margolis ("Re-Animator" Jeffrey Combs in an unusual likeable part) arrest him. In the psychiatric ward the young psychologist Jade (touching: Isabel Brooks of "Razorblade Smile") takes care of the disturbed Jaspers. Slowly she can win his trust and he tells her about his horrible history. While Jade with Margolis’ help gets on the track of "M" and his secret organization, "M" lets Jaspers kidnap from the psychiatric ward and bury him alive. But with supernatural powers Jaspers manages to escape. At the very last moment he saves Jade from the hands of "M"'s minions. In a deserted atelier Jade and Jasper finally get together. 

In the meantime Margolis forces his way into M's house and becomes a witness of a conspiracy on highest level. But all of a sudden he's discovered by M. What happens following this is up to the viewers imagination, but shortly after the policeman calls Jade and lures her into a trap.

"... Why Margolis is changing sides? That was a really difficult and I had a very hard time justifying that. I think it has to do with the fact that he finally gets to the point where he probably feels 'what's the point anymore, I try to do the right thing and it never works out'. And I think it also has to do with personal problems that he has. He likes the woman [Jade] and she won't have nything to do with himand besides [she decides to ] go and be with somebody else, and that probably is the final thing that makes Margolis say, 'woah, forget it, what am I doing, I am going to the dark side'.  That's sort of the way I thought about it.  But at the same time, it is pretty abrupt and I don't think that there is enough screen time to justify it, there was only so much I could do...."

Jeffrey Combs

During a grisly ceremony Jade conceives a child from M, while Claire and Margolis are sacrificed to conjure up the horrible creature Homunculus (obviously influenced by H.R. Giger) In one last fight Jasper can overcome the monster (unfortunately the low budget dimmed the SFX here), but he can't kill M, for he's bound to their contract. Finally Jade offers the devil one last deal: Jaspers soul in exchange for the one of her unborn child. M agrees. Jade believes herself to be the winner, as she's unable to conceive since a rape in her childhood days. But M's smirk gives all reason to suppose this is not the end of the story yet ...

Let's hope Faust II will be as terrific as Faust I!