ANGEL OF DEATH (2009)

Directed By: Paul Etheredge 
Written & Created By: Ed Brubaker 
Cinematography By: Carl Herse 
Editor: Jochen Kunstler & Jacob Vaughn 

Cast: Zoe Bell, Jake Abel, Vail Bloom, Doug Jones, Ingrid Rogers, Justin Huen, Lucy Lawless, Ted Raimi

A career assassin becomes haunted by one of her victims following a near fatal injury to her brain. Becoming a rogue assassin settling the score with her former mob employers, chaos and power struggles ensue. --This is a quirky little action film that ties to be ultra action oriented, but plays like an extended tv-pilot especially due to it's open ending and production design. Plus lack of special effects.

This film was specifically devised as a vehicle for Zoë Bell.

The film could almost be a lost chapter in the GRINDHOUSE double feature or SIN CITY with it's brutality.

The film sort of reminds me of the action films that used to play on HBO on Friday nights in the 90's for those of is who choose not to party or go to the movie theater.

Zoë Bell did all of her own stunts. She had only two weeks to rehearse and choreograph all of the fights and stunts she performs in the movie. She also wrote a four page character history for Eve so she would have a better idea of how to play her.

The low budget straight to home video (at the time) action film. Stars former stunt woman Zoe Bell as an assassin who gets stabbed in the head. Yet survives, but as she recovers. She finds she can't kill any innocents and is haunted by a girl she killed accidently. So she finds she must avenge the girls death by killing all those involved in the initial hit. The film follows as she attempts to take down an entire mob family.

Now the story sounds a bit basic if not far-fetched, but the film is funny at times, but what it excels at are the action sequences which are not so much over the top as they are good quality. They don't involve any wire work. The fight scenes are brutal, yet feel realistic and are never one sided. Everyone gives as much as they get and are never one side dominated by the hero.

Lucy Lawless role as Vera in the film is hilarious. I wish she had been in more of the film. She provides most of the comedy and Everytime she in a scene she is priceless. It was specifically written for her. She only worked for one day. Moreover, Lawless came up with the idea for her character to have a Southern accent.

Ted Raimi has a wordless cameo. Though he is billed as a major part of the cast. I am personally excited whenever he is in anything.

Director Paul Etheredge made sure the color blue was nowhere to be seen in the movie.

One of the compliments of the film is that it feels closed off and limited in it's use of locations. That give it a claustrophobic feel.

The films direction is wild and all over the place. The camera doesn't like to sit sill, but not in a distracting annoying way. That many new filmmakers choose to use to show off and grab attention. That never impresses and seems to lead To confusion at times.

The film is a satisfying rental

Grade: C+