Dark Angel (1990)

A Renegade Cop is forced to work with an FBI Agent in order to bring down a group of Drug Dealers with sinister plans.

Director:

Craig R. Baxley

Writers:

Jonathan Tydor, David Koepp (as Leonard Maas Jr.)

Stars:

Dolph Lundgren, Brian Benben, Betsy Brantley

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dolph Lundgren	...	Det. Jack Caine
Brian Benben	...	Special Agent Arwood 'Larry' Smith
Betsy Brantley	...	Diane Pallone
Matthias Hues	...	Bad Alien - Talec
Jay Bilas	...	Good Alien - 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, Man in Mercedes
Alex Morris	...	Det. Ray Turner
Kevin Page	...	White Boy #1
Robert Prentiss	...	White Boy #2

Storyline

Jack Caine (Dolph Lundgren) is a Houston vice cop who's forgotten the rule book. His self-appointed mission is to stop the drugs trade and the number one supplier Victor Manning. Whilst involved in an undercover operation to entrap Victor Manning, his partner gets killed, and a sinister newcomer enters the scene... Along with F.B.I. agent Lawrence Smith, the two investigate a spate of mysterious deaths; normal non-junkies dying of massive heroin overdoses and bearing the same horrific puncture marks on the forehead. This, coupled with Caine's own evidence, indicates an alien force is present on the streets of Houston, killing and gathering stocks of a rare drug found only in the brain... Caine is used to fighting the toughest of criminals, but up to now they've all been human...

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Plot Keywords:

white eyes | alien gun | cd | automatic weapon | stiletto | 

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Taglines:

A totally lethal alien.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Had its Midwest premiere at the Drexel North Movie Theater in Columbus, Ohio during the annual "24 hour Sci-fi Marathon".

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Goofs

When Caine first confronts Boner in the bar he points his gun at Boner's crotch. In subsequent edits, the gun changes to a different one.

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Quotes

Arwood "Larry" Smith: [Sees a woman talking on a payphone] Excuse me young lady, emergency call, FBI.
[the lady ignores him and keeps talking - Smith pushes the hook manually to end the call and takes the headset from the woman]
Arwood "Larry" Smith: Thank you. Do you have change for a dollar?

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Connections

Featured in Maledetto il giorno che t'ho incontrato (1992)

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Soundtracks

Ugly
Performed by The U-Krew
Written by L. Bell/Hakim/J. Mac
Produced by Marlon "The Magician" McCain and Michael "N-Pocket" Marvrolas
for Darkhorse Entertainment/MacMan Music, Inc.
Co-produced by Larry "D.L.B." Bell
Published by Prohibited Music
(Administered by Fresh Force Music (BMI))

User Reviews

Underrated entertaining action sci-fi.

An alien humanoid is murdering citizens of Houston to gather stocks of a rare drug only found in the human brain. With the help of a FBI Agent a Vice Cop sets out to stop the killer, whatever the cost.

Director Craig R. Baxley's Dark Angel or Stateside known as I Come In Peace is entertaining and of its time. Written by Jonathan Tydor and Leonard Maas Jr. Dark Angel is surprisingly above average for a sci/fi thriller for the time. The character of Jack Caine played by Dolph Lundgren is partially fleshed out and tries it's hardest to go against the 80's stereotype macho cop.

The other characters are well rounded but it's the delivery and how the actors realise some of the characters that skewer the production including Lundgren. That said, aliens Azeck (the Good Alien) Jay Bilas and (Bad) Talec played menacingly by Matthias Hues steals the show. With his size, white eyes and hair Hues' composure Talec is particularly creepy.

The unlikely pairing of Caine and FBI Agent Smith add that buddy cop element synonymous with action films, similar to Red Heat and Alien Nation and although worn adds some humour. There's an over powering sometime misplaced and intrusive score, that said the lasso extraction and insertion/extraction spike effect are basic but effectively done and sci-fi fans will get a kick out of the spinning blade reminiscent of Predator 2.

There's lots of explosions, gun-play, chases and clichés aside, the partner murdered, cop suspension, no one believes to name a few there's a good science fiction tale.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 September 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lethal Contact

Filming Locations:

Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,912,421, 30 September 1990

Gross USA:

$4,348,368

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,348,368

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vision PDG, Epic Productions, Trans World Entertainment (TWE)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1