Angel 4: Undercover (1994) Poster

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3/10
Not the best Angel
BandSAboutMovies4 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Molly "Angel" Stewart is still a photographer, but now she does it for the police. And she's portrayed by the fourth actress in as many movies to play her, Darlene Vogel.

One of her old street girlfriends is in town, touring with a band and of course, ends up dead before we're all that long into this movie. After photographing the body - it's her job - Molly goes back to being Angel and goes undercover as a groupie.

A sequel in name only, this was directed by Richard Schenkman. Strangely enough, the Miramax site lists George Axsmith as the director, another name* that Schenkman would use.

Stoney Jackson, who was Phones in Roller Boogie, is in this, as are Samantha Phillips (Phantasm II) and Roddy McDowall, who deserves so much better more than anyone has ever deserved so much better.

That said, this ends up being a movie about a troubled musician more than Angel, but such is life when you're watching the fourth movie in a sequel series that is basically unconnected. Maybe a producer somewhere wants to know about my idea, Angel vs. Vice Academy.

*On his website, the director says, "For decades I said that The Pompatus of Love was my first movie, but close friends have long known that two years before Pompatus, I directed Angel IV: Undercover aka Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Why the obfuscation? Simply, I didn't want my official "first film" to be a dreadful, low-budget B-movie I didn't write, although I was very grateful for the chance to learn-by-doing and make my mistakes on a project less close to my heart. But in all fairness, even this was supposed to be a better movie - a "rock n' roll murder mystery" - and it was, until the producer demanded that we shoot an "alternate version" of several scenes, enabling him to position the film as an Angel sequel in "a couple of Eastern European markets." Naturally, only the Angel version ever saw the light of day. Still... I got to work with a good number of dear friends, plus the iconic Hollywood legend Roddy McDowall, as well as the brilliant, much-missed Kevin Gilbert, who did the songs and score."
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2/10
From the Boardroom to the Boredom more like it...
jasonpaulcollum16 August 2003
Well, I've been a life long fan of the original ANGEL trilogy. Even place the original ANGEL in my top 10 favorite films. Admittedly, AVENGING ANGEL kinda sucked, but is still enjoyable in its own stupid little way. ANGEL IV, however, is one incredibly long and boring movie with no production values, a stupid plot and a cast of actors who clearly don't want to be in this movie.

Every set design in this film is just that...a set...even the alleys! Cardboard walls...bad movie lighting...There even seems to be an echo in every room....yuk! The cast has several good names, but all are completely wasted. Sam Phillips, whom I adore, is practically asleep in her line delivery, and Darlene Vogel (as a suddenly blonde ANGEL) simply looks embarassed throughout. Suspense? None. Action? None. Interest? None. You're average Skinemax movie at 2 am looks more professional.

On a side note of curiosity, why did this become an action series when the original was a psycho-stalker film?

Rewatch the original, or better yet, go buy the boxed trilogy set on DVD and forget this installment even exists.
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10/10
entertaining made for cable flick
lotsafun12 April 2005
Don't be too hard on this made-for-cable flick and you just might dig it. I did! Angel 4 was made as a pilot for a proposed Angel cable series. It's an interesting curio that does have a certain degree of enjoyable cheesy charm. Too bad this made for cable TV pilot wasn't included as an extra in the excellent Anchor Bay DVD set of Angel movies. Darlene Vogel is quite adorable as Angel. There's also some nice female nudity that I enjoyed. The Axel Rose like character is a hoot! It's great to see the late great Roddy McDowall too! I took this Angel for what it was (low budget made-for-cable cheese) and had a ball.
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9/10
Very Cool!
Angel-5726 October 1998
This Flick is very Cool. I enjoyed it and it brought a new actor to my attention. Shane Fraser! Very interesting! If anyone knows what he's been up to resently let me know! Love & Light Angel
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10/10
Poetic to say the least
GOWBTW11 June 2020
Since this sequel was made for cable, it's not a bad thing. Molly/Angel(Darlene Vogel) is back, working for the police and away from the streets. Instead of doing tricks, she's now masquerading as a groupie. Why? Because one of her friends from the streets is following a musician who is a troubled soul. During the tour, he and his girlfriend overdosed. He was revived. She died. He continued to do drugs. Angel's friend Paula, continued to be close to him, until Jade(Sam Matthews) decided to say "Back Off!" With known stars like Roddy McDowell, Stoney Jackson, Patrick Kilpatrick, this movie is all right. The quality is questionable. There's a lot of suspense and suspicion. And plenty of sexual energy there. More musical than the other four films. And they used 4 different actresses playing Angel in each film. There's no need for cut downs. So what if this Angel is a blonde? I don't care! 2 out of 5 stars
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