DVD Region 2. pub: MGM 10005001. 78 minutes with no extras. Price: £ 2.50 (UK) if you know where to look) - stars: Dolph Lundgren, Brian Benben and Betsy Brantley.

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Long before the TV series starring Jessica Alba, in 1990 there was another 'Dark Angel' on film. An alien had appeared on Earth with an unusual way to get his fix. He needed a supply of cocaine which he would inject his victims and then suck their blood out by tube to restore himself. I doubt if a standard rehabilitation would have done much good for this white-haired guy who allegedly came in peace.



After the death of his partner at a drugs heist where he misses the alien at work, Detective Jack Caine (actor Dolph Lungren) is nearly sent on sick leave but instead gets talked into partnering an eager FBI agent, Lawrence Smith (actor Brian Benben) to get to the bottom of what is going on. This evolved into plenty of violent confrontation with this particular dark angel.

Interestingly, 'Dark Angel' does little to disguise itself from being more crime action adventure than Science Fiction. The premise is made simple and not an alien invasion. If anything, the alien just sees humans as the means to get his fix and uses whatever is available as weapons. Much of the time it's converting CDs, which were quite new at the time, into guided weapons. Don't try at home.

Lundgren's acting has always been mean and moody shot with testosterone and seemed incapable of smiling and it is the actors that worked around him that made things work. Brian Benben went on to star in the series 'Dream On' showing a perchance for comedy.

Although it doesn't use much SF per se, it is consistent and won't do anything jarring. CGI hadn't really taken full swing back then so all the effects are physical and on the screen. If you want something to watch late at night that doesn't involve much thinking about then 'Dark Angel' would probably fit the bill.

GF Willmetts