FAUST: LOVE OF THE DAMNED

2000/Director. Brian Yuzna.
Review by Justine Ryan.

Standing on the edge of a bridge, broken and despairing since the murder of his girlfriend, and about to commit suicide, artist John Jaspers (Mark Frost) is approached by two strangers – Mephistopheles (WISHMASTER’S Andrew Divoff) and Claire (Monica Van Campen) who offer him a deal. The deal is this, M will grant Jaspers the power of vengeance and allow him the power to vent his rage towards whomever he wishes. “Go forth and mutilate” Mephistopheles tells Jaspers. 

 The catch is, M will collect his soul from the day he begins to care and believe in something again, which he eventually does making for a really fun ride while watching this film.

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FAUST: LOVE OF THE DAMNED is based on the 1988 thirteen-part graphic novel of the same name by David Quinn and Tim Vigil. The film is toned down quite a bit compared to the comic, which is ultraviolent and sexual, to the point that in the graphic novels initial release, copies of it weren’t allowed through customs in the UK, New Zealand, Canada or Mexico. Artist Tim Vigil and Writer David Quinn (who also penned the screenplay for the film) were accused of offending women and promoting rape. Some years have passed, but Vigil and Quinn completed the final two chapters of the comic in 2012. 

In the early stages of the film, Stuart Gordon was announced as director and producer. Early casting choices for the role of Claire (the sadistic mistress to M, who much like a widow spider enjoys killing her prey after sex, though Claire goes the extra mile and kills them during the act!) were Gordon regular Barbara Crampton and Madonna. 

Brian Yuzna does a fine job with this. The film has quite a few differences compared to the comic but Yuzna in his usual style always finds a way to make it his own, which all good adaptations should be. Two thumbs up from this gal!

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