Angel Blade
Directed By David Heavener
Released: 2002
Starring: David Heavener, Amanda Righetti, Dan Martin, and Marc Singer
Running Time: 95 minutes
DVD Studio: MTI Home Video

-------------------------------------------------------

Detective Bradley Cooper (played by David Heavener) returns to the Las Vegas police force after the murders of two pregnant prostitutes. His partner, Paul Jackson (Dan Martin), believes that a new serial killer is operating in the area. Together they begin an investigation that leads them into the seedy side of Las Vegas. Cooper meets a stripper/lingerie model named Samantha (Amanda Righetti) and they start up a relationship. Their chief suspect is Tyrone Washington (Don Wallace), a violent man who had a questionable relationship with both of the victims. Their investigation is hindered by Dr. Martin Gites (played by Marc Singer), Tyrone’s therapist, and a hard-headed police commissioner (Richard Moll). As Cooper and Jackson get closer to solving the case, the bodies keep piling up and a terrible incident from Cooper’s past has more to do with the killer than anyone realized.

So this is a straight-to-video erotic thriller! Okay, now I get it. David Heavener (Evil Grave: Curse Of The Maya) directs, writes, produces, stars, and even does the music for this very polished independent film. The grainy cinematography and the garish lighting work in the film’s favor in terms of trashiness and an all around sleazy mood. Of course, the orgy, stripping sequences, and the multiple sex scenes also add to the “not so fresh” feeling of Angel Blade.

The awkward plot and embarrassing script are strictly by the numbers police procedural. The only “surprise” to the clunky mystery comes when it is finally revealed which of the numerous red herrings is, in fact, the killer. Another disappointment comes from the soundtrack which is one of the worst scores I’ve heard in recent memory. The film’s music is either stock thriller filler or inappropriate rock blues fusion muck.

David Heavener is an imposing figure in this film and I’m a little afraid of him. Whether his character is berating a suspect or going completely bonkers, I can’t help but imagine him as an ultra-macho Norman Bates. As if this isn’t bizarre enough, Angel Blade has Marc Singer (Beastmaster, V). Singer is not a low key actor to begin with and his portrayal of Dr. Gites is otherworldly in its campy insidiousness. Amanda Righetti is good and quite sexy as Samantha, who happens to be one of the better written characters involved. Tyrone Washington is a very unsettling character and well played by Don Wallace. I really liked Dan Martin’s Lt. Jackson character, a sturdy rock in a sea of crazy characters.

Angel Blade is no classic but it’s sleazier and grittier than many bargain basement thrillers on the shelves these days. The film is peppered with plenty of sex and nudity to keep dudes from dozing off during the generic dialogue and clunky plot. There’s a great deal of blood spilt but the killer’s knife is rarely shown actually penetrating flesh so gore is unfortunately nonexistent. David Heavener, Marc Singer, and Richard Moll all play their characters heavy like there’s no tomorrow and it’s nice to see Margot Kidder (another less-than-subtle performer) in on the action. The biggest drawback to Angel Blade is the lack of surprises in store for the viewers. Oh wait, there’s a butt-shaving scene. I guess that counts as a surprise. Thank you for that, Mr. Heavener.