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Lou Diamond Phillips, Tracy Griffith, Jeff Kober, Mykelti Williamson, Elizabeth Arlen ... see more see more... , Dennis Lipscomb , Carmen Argenziano , Julianna McCarthy , Nada Despotovich , Susan Giosa , Clayton Landey , Hansford Rowe , Philip Abbott , David Gale , J. Patrick McNamara , Grand L. Bush , Melanie Shatner , Andrew Amador , Mark Bringelson , Mitch Carter , Robert Colaizzi , William Fair , Gokul , Ron J. Goodman , Todd Jeffries , David Katims , Tiiu Leek , Brian Libby , Lynne Marta , Paula McClure , Michael McNab , Jeff Mooring , Bill Moseley , Charles Raymond , Lisa Specht , R. David Stephens , Oz Tortora , Dan Tullis Jr. , Michael Wise , Mindy Marin , David J. Partington , Scott Lawrence

This lackluster attempt at blending equal parts action movie and supernatural thriller ends up sacrificing the merits of both genres. The plot finds baby-faced homicide detective Logan (Lou Diamond Ph... read more read more...illips) on the trail of "Pentagram Killer" Patrick Channing (Jeff Kober), negligibly assisted by lots of occult mumbo-jumbo espoused by various doomsaying members of the Catholic Church. Channing is eventually captured and executed, but this turns out to be a big mistake: one of the Satanic powers Channing managed to acquire through ritual sacrifice is the power to transfer his soul into other living bodies, allowing him to roam about incognito and continue his killing spree. There is little overt horror on display, as we usually see only the aftermath of Channing's evil deeds; there is scarcely enough mystery to propel the police-procedural elements either. Worse, the producers apparently decided to toss in a romantic subplot involving Phillips and psychic Tracy Griffith to keep things interesting, but fail to sustain credibility even in this department. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

Flixster Users

46% liked it

5,734 ratings

Critics

13% liked it

8 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Robert Resnikoff

Release Date: April 6, 1990

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DVD Release Date: August 28, 2001

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Stats: 146 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (146)

  • YosemiteSamFan
    June 11, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Lou Diamond Phillips plays Detective Russell Logan -- on the bloody trail of a demonic killer who can inhabit different forms and perform super-human feats. Detective Logan is aided by a Psychic (Tess Seaton), who helps him locate the evil force. It is an action-packed showdown a... read moregainst evil with some really cool chases and battles. Suspenseful and fun!
  • deano
    November 20, 2006
    deano
    Cool horror flick of a cop battling a dead serial killer sent back to Earth by the Devil. Psst: Tracy Griffith is Melanie Griffith's half-sister.
  • Dannyrovira
    November 20, 2010
    Dannyrovira
    A fast-paced supernatural 90s thriller, with a excellent creepy atmosphere, dark vibe and a well done plot. Lou Diamond Phillips superbly plays detective Russell Logan who thinks that he has seen the end of the monstrous serial killer Patrick Channing's reign of terror, when he w... read moreatches his execution in the gas chamber for his heinous crimes. But Logan does not know that Channing has the power of resurrection given to him by the Devil. Logan is assisted by a psychic Tess nicely played by Tracy Griffith, in the search for the resurrected killer. The casting of character actor Jeff Kober as the killer Patrick Channing is inspired, he totally chilling as the demonic antagonist, creating a truly menacing, unnerving and eerie presence. Solid direction by Robert Resnikoff and excellent cinematography by Theo van de Sande, superb editing by Michael Bloecher, some outstanding action sequences which includes innumerable shoot-outs and car chases. Stewart Copeland delivers a excellent and effectively scary score. A thoroughly entertaining chiller. Highly Recommended.
  • ileo
    December 28, 2007
    ileo
    Great movie!
  • jam233
    June 26, 2010
    jam233
    This is a rather jumbled mess of a movie. It should have either been a cop action story, a paranormal thriller, or a horror film, but it just doesn?t seem to know what it wants to be. It has a few good chills, but also way too many dream sequences and it gets irritating because a... read morefter awhile you don?t know what is real and what isn?t and you begin not to care. The performances are good, but the story just isn?t compelling and organized enough to work.
  • ContactShivonne
    February 25, 2009
    ContactShivonne
    Jeff Kober is the Serial Killer in this one!! I had a crush on him for a while, lol!!! I mean him- 'Jeff' as a person, LOL!
  • rageofsadako2008
    December 23, 2008
    rageofsadako2008
    Despite never really getting the ending to this movie, it's really, really awesome. Jeff Kohber rules as the Richard Ramirez "Night Stalker" character, and Lou Diamond Phillips is just gut-busting hilarious as the Brat Packer turned rugged, disenchanted cop. Put this at the top o... read moref your Netflix que.
  • soquend78
    July 7, 2007
    soquend78
    Talk about flash back movies....This movie had some really bad acting the main character that Lou Diamond plays is not exactly the brightest crayon in the box!! Was not impressed by this movie.
  • Drewbacca
    June 24, 2006
    Drewbacca
    Kind of stupid and silly, but the guy who plays the devil's servant is creepy as hell. And I also have some weird fascination with Lou Diamond Phillips. I think he's cool.

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Critic Reviews

Ken Hanke
August 21, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Cheesy horror flick, not worth your time

Scott Weinberg
July 27, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

When it stops making no sense, it's really quite boring.

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Richard Harrington
January 1, 2000
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

April 6, 1990
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 17, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Spence D.
January 24, 2004
Spence D., IGN Movies

No review available.

Edward Havens
June 26, 2003
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The First Power Trivia

  • Which movie's tagline is "First with the head, then with the heart"?  Answer »
  • In Scarface (1983),what does Tony Montana (Al Pacino) tell Manny (Steve Bauer) that he has to get in order to get the girls  Answer »
  • Which movie is this quote from "In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women."  Answer »
  • Name the movie this quote is from. Little beat big when little smart. First with the head, then with the heart. You can remember that?   Answer »
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