Dark Angel

1990 "Jack Caine. Houston cop. Human. What he's up against, isn't."
6.1| 1h31m| R| en| More Info
Released: 28 September 1990 Released
Producted By: Trans World Entertainment
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Jack Caine 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...

... View More
Stream Online

Stream with Prime Video

Director

Producted By

Trans World Entertainment

Trailers & Images

Reviews

Maziun This project was initially titled "Lethal Contact" (as it was first written in 1984 as a spec script by Jonathan Tydor). A rewrite of the script was penned by writer/director David Koepp ("Jurassic park" , "Spiderman"). The production, filming and international title is "Dark Angel", and was released as such worldwide, before it was changed to "I Come in Peace" for the late U.S. release, because of two other existing movies entitled "The Dark Angel". The movie was released in 1990 , but it was made in 1988. This explains why it has 80's feel all over it. The cars , haircuts , clothes, music and special effects are all pure 80's , but don't worry. This movie had a 7 mln $ budget and it has dated really well. The production values are more than OK and there is some nice stunt work and decent special effects here. "Dark angel" is a good proof that practical effects are more timeless than CGI effects.At it's heart "Dark angel" is a buddy cop movie with a little bit of "Terminator" and "Predator" thrown in. Actually it makes me wonder was this movie some sort of inspiration for "Predator 2" ? Anyway , it's better than "Predator 2". This movie probably wouldn't have been made today , because people would say it's too cheesy. Is it cheesy ? Yes , but it's unpretentious and harmless fun. It's also NOT a brainless fun . There is some invention here -(CD disc as a weapon , aliens and drugs). "DA" is also pretty self aware of what kind of movie it is and through the whole movie you can feel a slight auto-parody feel to it ( The "White boys" gang ). Dolph Lundgren does a admirable job as the main hero making "Dirty Harry" Cain a easy to like character. Brian Benben is also good as his sidekick - Mister "everything by the book". The chemistry between them works well. Matthias Hues is quite memorable and intimidating as the villain. I also liked the actor who plays the wacky scientist and Betsy Brantley as the love interest.The dialogues and one liners might be the best thing about this movie . They very funny and very quotable : "It's like setting your radio dial to K-I-L-L!" , " I come in peace - And you go back in pieces" and few more. The script is blessed with some witty one-liners.In terms of action this movie also doesn't disappoints. It might be a movie with the largest number of exploding cars ever. There are also shootouts , some fights. Action fans shouldn't worry. The music by Jan Hammer ("Miami vice") is cool and catchy. The songs are cheesy , but fun. I like especially the song "Touch me tonight" by Shooting stars. It's fun , trashy , unpretentious action sci-fi movie . It's not something to put on the "The best science fiction movies ever" list , but the light, comic book style action is a good way to relax after hard day in work. I've heard it's a cult movie in some places and it's not really hard to understand why. A very likeable small movie and one of Lundgren's best. I give it 5/10.
definitivelyzero I loved this film as a kid when it came out, saw it recently and was pleasantly surprised at how well it has aged."I Come in Peace/Dark Angel", at its core, is an action movie that refuses to take itself too seriously, often mocking some of the film's conceits like English-speaking extra-terrestrials. The dialogue is surprisingly witty and in some instances- hilarious, providing lines that are instantly quotable. Dolph, in what is probably his most successful solo endeavor, nails his role as a grizzled veteran detective working to solve the case of his murdered partner. Sure he won't win many accolades from the industry for his performance here, but he certainly doesn't ruin the experience and I'd argue he serves to enhance it. Brian Benben is hilarious here and he delivers his lines with all the wit and snark of a know-it-all federal agent on his first big case. And let's not forget the glorious 80's themed soundtrack by Jan Hammer (of Miami Vice fame).A perfect film to watch when you're in the mood for 80's style action without having to spend too much time in front of your TV. Highly recommended!
bowmanblue I first watched Dark Angel in the eighties - which was impressive as it came out in 1990. However, the reason I keep telling myself I saw it about five years earlier was (a) because I was about twelve at the time and (b) because everything about Dark Angel says EIGHTIES.It's about a nasty old alien who comes to Earth to steal people's endorphin straight from their brains. However, luckily we have tough, no-nonsense cop Dolph Lundgren to sort the rotter out.It's no masterpiece by anyone's standards. When I first decided to watch it again after over twenty years, I worried that it might spoil the memories of my childhood favourite. I'm pleased to say that it didn't. Dark Angel is as ludicrously daftly enjoyable today as it was back in the eighties (sorry, nineties).It treads a fine line between being really dark and serious, and slightly tongue-in-cheek and self-knowing. Not many films can get away with this, but somehow Dark Angel pulls it off.The dialogue may be corny, the special effects aren't really that special, the acting is questionable (and the over-acting from the 'mad scientist' is truly a joy to behold) and you could spend longer listing the plot holes than actually watching the films, but, at the end of the day, Dark Angel is enormously silly fun.If you really don't want to think about plot, story or characterisation the why not immerse yourself in this 'Terminator-esque' action flick from the eighties +1? I defy anyone not to cheer when Dolph finally delivers his cutting put-down to the bad alien near the end of the film!
hellraiser7 This is another childhood relic of mine and believe it or not it's one of my favorite films of all time, it's also my favorite film with Dolph Lundgren in it, he's always been one of my favorite if most underrated action stars which is something were becoming seriously scarce of.I really like the plot I think it's really unique for the alien invasion subgenere. Instead of the cliché approach of trying to take over the world, here this is an alien that is a drug runner and wants to kill humans not to take over their planet but to harvest humans to produce an illegal drug out of them. And I thought that was a wild but cool idea, it almost seems like it could of been a plot line for another "Men In Black" sequel, and this film was years before that movie. Let alone there really aren't that many films that deal with aliens and drugs except the movie and TV show "Alien Nation" but that's a different story.It also has the typical buddy cop format, it's nothing new but it's everything done right. I really like the back and forth between both Dolph's character Det. Jack Caine and Larry Smith (Brian Benben TV's "Dream On"). Jack is the cop that done't go by the book and Larry is the one that is technical and a higher up in a way but a bit inexperienced since he hasn't seen a lot of action. So it's a bit of an experienced cop and rookie relationship. I like that it does develop both have great lines and warm up to each other, even liked seeing some growth on Larry's part when slowly but surely he begins to become disillusioned with certain things he believes.The music is just excellent. I mainly love that theme song which is one of my favorite theme songs of all time.And of course in this film were here for both the action and effects and they are just excellent. The evil Alien (Mathias Hues) is one of my favorite fictional villains. It's true this alien doesn't say much except the line "I Come in Peace" probably the only English he knows which makes sense he's a alien after all but that line always gives me a bit of a chill because you know he doesn't. And this alien really doesn't need to say much of anything at all because he's a doer, he's just got such colorful and fascinating weaponry and gadgets to play with much like the "Predator" alien which is ironic since it's second film came out the same year and also takes place in the urban city. Let alone the size of this alien which makes him intimidating.He's got some drill wire to pump his prey with heroin and some spike on his wrist to extract the chemical he needs. But of course two of the most memorable are his powerful hand gun which is a bit like with the Lawgiver in the film/comic "Dredd"; because with this gun you can adjust the frequency of the gun to any intensity you want it to. It's awesome seeing him use it as ever single controlled burst shot just blows up a car, could possibly blow up a tank. Let alone the sound it makes, I wanted one of those guns.And of course the discs of death, the cinematography shot of those is just beautiful making them seem like a character of their own. As we those discs just bounce off walls or just seeing them zero in on their targets silting or thrusting at their throats.These features really give this alien an edge and really make both protagonists have to go for broke to win. The action sequences are well done and well choreographed, like a sequence where Jack Kane struggles with one of the Bad Aliens weapons the drill wire, it was almost like watching a tug of war.Overall "I Come in Peace" is awesome and I feel if your a fan of the action, sci-fi genre or even both then check it out. Not every alien coming to town is friendly.Rating: 4 stars