Dave is celebrating his birthday with a backyard barbecue when his mother answers the door to a group of Buddhists eager to share their beliefs. It quickly becomes clear these aren’t ordinary Buddhists—they call themselves “Shape Shifters,” and they transform into monstrous creatures that look like something straight out of the band GWAR. And they have a taste for grotesque killings.
This is a zero-budget splatter flick, amateurishly made by director Alex Chandon, who would later go on to films like Pervirella, Cradle of Fear, and Inbred.
Bad Karma is the definition of an amateur film—shot by a group of friends with no money but lots of passion for gore. The credits thank Sam Raimi, Tom Savini, Peter Jackson, and Troma for inspiration, which gives a good idea of its tone. Still, it shouldn’t be compared to those influences in terms of quality. It’s a short film made as a learning experience for Chandon and his friends, with a total budget of only £350—spent entirely on effects.
Special effects artist Duncan Jarman, who would later go on to win Emmys, already shows promise here. It was likely more fun to make this film than it is to watch, but there’s still some entertainment in its chaotic mess. It’s pure splatter madness made by gore-hungry teens having fun with buckets of blood and over-the-top scenes, including a memorable castration moment.
Despite all the violence, the effects are so poorly executed that it’s hard not to laugh. Acting is bottom-tier—possibly some of the worst ever put to film. But as a homemade project, it’s best viewed for what it is: a gory experiment by enthusiastic beginners.
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