Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Night Angel Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 19, 2017

Horror doesn’t come easy to 1990’s “Night Angel,” which is more of an erotic thriller with periodic dips into gore zone activities than a straight nightmare machine. The picture couldn’t be more late-1980s if it tried, combining the ways of yuppiedom with freewheeling bedroom antics involving a bloodthirsty demon and her quest to rise in the ranks of the modeling business. Screenwriters Joe Augustyn and Walter Josten are after something awfully specific with the material, which is ambitious in the way it pulls from biblical mythology and Skinemax, but it’s clear director Dominique Othenin-Gerard (“Halloween 5,” “Omen IV: The Awkening”) doesn’t quite have a handle on the proceedings, dutifully trying to visualize a haunting of the mind and genitals while keeping the effort soaked in blood. “Night Angel” charms with its interest in make-up effects and period style, but it doesn’t have the inspiration to emerge as a formidable genre endeavor, and its titillation factor is debatable.

Craig (Linden Ashby) is a photo editor at Siren Magazine, which is about to launch global circulation under the direction of boss Rita (Karen Black). However, the celebration is cut short when a few employees are gruesomely murdered, finding Lilith (Isa Jank) emerging from the shadows, showing determination to seduce the staff and make herself the cover model for the next big issue. Craig is tempted by Lilith, but his heart remains with Kirstie (Debra Feuer), a jewelry designer with special magical stones she’s pushing on her boyfriend to wear. As Lilith sets out to take lives and build toward her final act of world domination with special powers of hypnotism, Craig searches for a way out of her trap, gradually coming under her highly sexualized spell.

“Night Angel” has an interesting way of making an introduction. There’s a birth of Lilith, brought back to life during a lunar eclipse, but the event, as we’re told on a radio broadcast, also claimed the lives of infants around the area, with the demon’s magic somehow capable of murdering children as well. Before the story has a chance to begin, the production has already established some type of child holocaust for mysterious reasons, with such off-screen savagery never referred to again. It’s the first of many unnecessary detours for “Night Angel,” which, after Lilith is reformed and ready to make her way to the cover of Siren Magazine, has very little time for storytelling, preferring to exist in a hazy realm of dreamscape visits and lustful domination, with most men and women powerless to fight the monster’s seductive ways, which typically results in a gruesome death.

“Night Angel” doesn’t win with dramatics, but there’s a slight creature feature vibe to the effort that does work in its favor. Lilith is generally good about slicing throats and shredding bodies, with poor magazine lackey, Ken (Doug Jones, in one of his first roles), getting repeatedly traumatized by the evil presence. Gore is prized by the production, which adds entertainment value and genre commitment, and odd make-up achievements energize to the viewing experience, including Craig’s descent into a hellish kink club that seems partially influenced by “Hellraiser,” while one shot of a large-chested woman with faces hidden under her breasts will haunt me to my grave. So, kudos to Othenin-Girard for keeping that in the final cut.

Night Angel Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't a vivid representation of "Night Angel," offering a slightly aged viewing experience, but one that brings the obscure feature to HD without any major headaches. Detail goes about as far as it can, enjoying the gruesome particulars of gushing wounds and mangled skin, and close-ups retain textures. Clarity is also necessary for nightmare realms, exploring literal folds of evil and ornate costuming. Color comes through adequately, with hotter reds and bright blues, and skintones are natural, with ample coverage of exposed body parts. Delineation isn't problematic, despite much of the movie taking place in the dark. Source is appealing, without major points of damage. Mild judder is detected.

Night Angel Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix communicates the period atmosphere of "Night Angel" relatively well, with a decent push of dialogue exchanges that navigate specialized performances and accents. Scoring cues are thin but effective, supporting the unfolding nightmare with clean synth stings. Soundtrack cuts for club scenes offer a broader sense of musical presence. Sound effects are defined to satisfaction, along with atmospherics.

Night Angel Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director Dominique Othenin-Girard.

• Commentary #2 features film historians Paul Corupe and Jason Pichonsky.

• Interview (19:49, HD) with Isa Jank covers her early thespian interests, working to graduate from a model to an actress, finding the climb harder than expected. The audition process was challenging but successful, with Jank crediting her "Scorpio energy" and dogged preparation for her success in the role of Lilith, along with a meticulously sharpened set of nails to help sell the gothic menace of the character. Jank also discusses her intense phobia of snakes, with the screenplay forcing her to conquer fears, at first spending private time with a rubber reptile to get used to the idea.

• Interview (12:54, HD) is a rather sobering chat with screenwriter Joe Augustyn, who expresses a lot of disappointment with the "Night Angel" production process, hoping to build on his success with "Night of the Demons" with another horror offering. Augustyn discusses the material's origin and early drafts, and offers praise for Othenin-Gerard, also clarifying that "Night Angel" came before the helmer's work on "Halloween 5." The writer details production challenges for the speedy shoot, and shares the sad saga of the movie's aborted theatrical run, with the distributor, who struck it rich with "Night of the Demons," finding a more lucrative life on home video, where "Night Angel" was quickly forgotten.

• Interview (9:40, HD) with special make-up designer and creator Steve Johnson is a disc highlight, as a creative force behind "The Abyss" and "Ghostbusters" always a treat to listen to. For "Night Angel," Johnson walks through multiple effects shots, explaining how tricks were pulled off with a limited budget and a short amount of time. He closes with an amusing anecdote about mishaps on the production involving a rented mansion, an exploding throat effect, and an ill-advised stop to smoke a joint during a lunch break.

• Animated Behind-the-Scenes Image Gallery (1:39) collects poster concepts, on-set photos, and movie stills for display.

• Tests emerge from Johnson's vault, showcasing make-up effect trials with the creators, who labor to perfect grisly events for "Night Angel." They include "Night Angel" (37:05, SD), "Head Erosion" (3:16, SD), and "Chest Grab" (1:26, SD).

• And a Trailer (1:58, SD) is included.

Night Angel Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sexual enslavement orchestrated by Lilith (aka "Satan's Whore") slowly takes control of "Night Angel," permitting the film to indulge in plenty of sellable nudity, while star Jank has the unenviable task of managing kooky moments, including one where she's asked to fellate a foamy beer bottle, keeping something ridiculous passably sensual. There are a few more scenes like it, but the picture soon devolves into basic good vs. evil tedium in the woods, flattening what was threatening to become an adequately bizarre B-movie, and one with strangely specific bedroom interests.