Dark Angel (1990)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Craig R. Baxley

Writers (WGA):

Jonathan Tydor (written by) and
Leonard Maas Jr. (written by)

Release Date:

28 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Jack Caine. Houston cop. Human. What he's up against, isn't.

Plot:

Jack Caine (Dolph Lundgren) is a Houston vice cop who's forgotten the rule book. His self-appointed...

Plot Keywords:

Drug | FBI | Evidence | Cop | Alien

Cast

Dolph Lundgren	...	Det. Jack Caine
Brian Benben	...	Special Agent Laurence Smith
Betsy Brantley	...	Diane Pallone
Matthias Hues	...	Talec
Jay Bilas	...	Azeck
Jim Haynie	...	Captain Malone
David Ackroyd	...	Inspector Switzer
Sherman Howard	...	Victor Manning
Sam Anderson	...	Warren
Mark Lowenthal	...	Bruce the Scientist
Michael J. Pollard	...	Boner
Jesse Vint	...	McMurphy
Alex Morris	...	Det. Ray Turner
Kevin Page	...	White Boy #1
Robert Prentiss	...	White Boy #2

Also Known As:

Death Angel (USA) (working title)
I Come in Peace (USA) (new title)
Lethal Contact (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 (uncut) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 (cut) | France:U | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Houston, Texas, USA

Company:

Vision International

Trivia:

Matthias Hues, who played the film's alien bad guy, performed all of his own stunts because there were no doubles who could match his size (Hues is 6-foot-5).

Goofs:

Continuity: Diana's lipstick shade is completely different at the end of the scene in the autopsy room than at the beginning.

Quotes:

Jack Caine: Either you're Santa Claus or you're dead, pal.

Movie Connections:

Features It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Soundtrack:

Ugly

A lot of fun.

Dedicated maverick police detective Jack Caine (an engaging Dolph Lundgren) is mired in the strangest case of his career: an enormous alien drug dealer (an imposing and striking Matthias Hues) has come to Earth to forcibly extract the endorphins out of human bodies (his ingenious method involves shooting people full of heroin first) because his race is addicted to them. Caine gets an equal dose of assistance and hindrance from by-the-book FBI Agent Harwood Smith (the always likable Brian Benben) as the alien runs amok not only among innocent civilians, but also the local drug kingpins.

Former stuntman and stunt co-ordinator Craig R. Baxley, who'd made a decent directing debut in 1988 with "Action Jackson", ups his game here with this full-steam-ahead, lively, slick, no-brainer with enough stimulating set pieces and explosions to qualify as a good time for the action fan. Its fairly unique premise is a good gimmick, and it's full of enough humor to let us know that the film-makers weren't taking themselves too seriously in the first place.

Lundgrens' character may be pure cliché, but he refrains from ever making him too stiff or one-dimensional, and he has perfectly acceptable odd-couple chemistry with Benben, and also works well with Betsy Brantley, as his feisty, fed-up coroner girlfriend. The supporting cast is full of some familiar faces and good supporting performances: Jim Haynie as Caines' weary boss, David Ackroyd as Benbens', Michael J. Pollard as yet another of his ultra-eccentric, goofy characters, Sherman Howard (Bub the zombie in "Day of the Dead") as smooth criminal Victor Manning, Mark Lowenthal as a way-too-hyper scientist, Jesse Vint as a Mercedes driving early victim, and Al Leong as a "luggage salesman".

Swift, nifty (you've gotta love an alien killer whose arsenal includes deadly flying CD's!), and a completely unpretentious, it's-all-in-good-fun pleasure for action fans everywhere. It races right along to a nicely rousing conclusion guaranteed to leave a smile on ones' face.

8/10