Some recognize Dolph Lundgren as He-Man (from 1987’s live-action Masters of the Universe), others do so as Ivan Drago (the opposing Russian Heavy Weight opponent in 1985’s Rocky IV), and select viewers even look at him as Francis “Frank” Castle / The Punisher (for his role as the character in 1989’s The Punisher). With so many more memorable character portrayals by the Swedish-American Actor throughout the ‘80s era, how many overlook his unforgettable role as Detective Jack Caine in Dark Angel?
In case you are racking your brain, Dark Angel was filmed in 1989, but released in the US market theatrically under the title I Come In Peace on September 28, 1990. Perhaps the reason why the name does not immediately restore a memory, dig a little deeper, and you will immediately remember the impossible-to-forget VHS cover from back in the day which donned Lundgren in one corner and the upper corner a terrifying-looking individual with whited-out eyes. Remember now? If you do, might recall that Dark Angel is one of those films that perhaps was received all too well by critics, but is arguably one of the most exciting Science Fiction Action flicks of the time.
Directed by Craig R. Baxley (the man behind a list of A-Team episodes, as well as 1988’s Action Jackson, to name a few), Dark Angel has a slew of intriguing factors that the average viewer may have forgotten. To start with, even though it was released in 1990, it is as much a flawless encapsulation of ‘80s Sci-Fi as 1984’s The Terminator or 1987’s RoboCop. Making sense, considering an era’s style does not just fashion because the calendar flips, it has the imagery, pace, and atmosphere of ’80s classic dark, moody Sci-Fi favorites fans know and love.
Bring it all together, the score is perfectly curated by Jan Hammer (known by everyone for his impeccable work for the hit series Miami Vice). The icing on the cake, you cannot help but feel Hammer’s soundtrack is perfect for Dark Angel; accompanied by other killer soundtrack pieces like XYZ’s “Maggy” (produced by Don Dokken), and closing credits Shooting Star song “Touch Me Tonight.”
Beyond this, you have the two opposite personalities teamed together with Lundgren’s no-nonsense Vice Cop Jack Caine and the highly amusing Special Agent Smith (played by Brian Benben who is instantly recognized for his role in the hilarious HBO series Dream On). The two become unlikely partners as they look to track down and snuff out even, a fierce-looking Alien named Talec (Matthias Hues: Big Top Pee-Wee 1988, Kickboxer 2: The Road Back 1991) who has come to earth seeking Barsi; a synthetic drug that he creates from the endorphins extracted from his victims’ brains. What feels like an indestructible adversary, makes for one fun ride as Caine and Smith look to save lives.
In all, these are the perfect elements, which as described, make up one of the most overlooked Sci-Fi Action films of the ‘80s era. A title that might be lost in obscurity for some, after the theatrical run, it made its way to VHS and Laserdisc in 1991 via Media Home Entertainment. From there it had several other format releases around the world; including a 2007 DVD release in the USA, plus the first-ever Blu-ray release from Shout! Factory in 2013. Looking at the latter for a moment, Shout! Factory did Dark Angel justice with an additional retrospective featurette called A Look Back At Dark Angel that offered more insight with interviews. Always going the extra mile, now in 2024 they offer fans the first ever 4K Ultra HD edition of Dark Angel.
Released as a two-disc Collector’s Edition on July 9th through Scream Factory (Shout! Factory’s label), the set has a bundle of new features never offered prior. First and foremost, you get a 4K scan of Dark Angel from the original camera negative, and honestly, it is nothing less than outstanding in terms of composition, lighting, and color depth. With the 4K Ultra HD disc featuring the film alone, the Blu-ray disc has a 4K scan as well, but also new features like Go in Pieces: Remembering Dark Angel with a ton of new interviews. Additionally, the Blu-ray also has the must-watch featurette from 2013’s Shout! Factory release, A Look Back At Dark Angel. Bring it all together nicely, you also get a lovely slipcase with the simply captivating Dark Angel art that would make the perfect poster for any media room.
If you caught Dark Angel back in the day and it has been a distant memory since now is the time to reacquaint yourself. On the other hand, if you are someone who missed Dark Angel, it could become one of your favorites from a very special time and place in movie history. That is why Cryptic Rock recommends this 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition release of Dark Angel, giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
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