Dr. Caligari (1989)

Cody Iden
Oct 14, 2021
2 min read

Release Date - December 1, 1989

Synopsis:

A disturbed doctor, the granddaughter of the original Dr. Caligari, carries out experiments on the patients of an insane asylum.

Directed by - Stephen Sayadian

Written by - Stephen Sayadian and Jerry Stahl

Produced by - Joseph F. Robertson

Cinematography - Ladi von Jansky

Music by - Mitchell Froom

Distribution Company - Manley Films

Cast:

Madeleine Reynal - Dr. Caligari

Fox Harris - Dr. Avol

Jennifer Balgobin - Ramona Lodger

Laura Albert - Mrs. Van Houten

Gene Zerna - Les Van Houten

Barry Phillips - Cesare

Stephen Quadros - Scarecrow

Magie Song - Patient in Straitjacket

Jennifer Miro - Miss Koonce

Salvadór R. Espinoza - Spanish Patient

David Parry - Dr. Lodger

and John Durbin - Gus Pratt

Run Time - 1 hr. 19 min. Rated - R

Budget - Unknown Gross - Unknown

Review:

A very loose sequel to the silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) as the main character here is mentioned as being the granddaughter of the original doctor and a few clips from the original are shown during the credits. This truly is one of the weirdest and most bizarre films I have ever watched. The story, if there is one at all, is paper thin, coming across more as a series of surreal art house sequences with sexual overtones that don’t even try to be subtle. The acting is pretty atrocious with the cast consisting of mostly unknowns, John Durbin as the crazy cannibal patient played one of the Cardassians on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Fox Harris has been in a few other low-budget efforts. The only thing the film has going for it is the fantastically bizarre sets and just the entire filming style which is done in such an odd way that it is often fascinating to watch even if the content is oftentimes disturbing, hilarious or a mixture of both. This is really a film that people would not believe unless they saw it with their own eyes, it really defies description, but that’s not to say I’m encouraging anyone to check the film out as it definitely is not for most people and it was a pretty tough watch at times.

My Score: 42

Plot - 1 Cinematography - 5

Attraction - 4 Editing & Special Effects - 5

Theme - 5 Sound & Music - 5

Acting - 4 Directing - 5

Dialogue - 4 Enjoyability – 4

Trivia: