The Dark Power (VCI/1987)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Film: C-

 

 

Another VCI-issued DVD of a Phil Smoot Horror genre film is The Dark Power (1988), his follow-up to the disastrous Alien Outlaw (trashed elsewhere on this site) about female co-eds finding themselves battling Toltec Sorcerers from the dead.  Too bad the screenplay could not be brought back from the dead.

 

What is it about female co-eds that attract serial killers, aliens from outer space and the supernatural?  Sex notwithstanding, it must be some kind of curse.  You will feel as cursed watching this film, with its awkward casting, bad acting and pointlessness in story.  The only message here is that if you are a sexy, attractive female, you must die.  Fortunately for them, this film was dead on arrival.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.66 X 1 image is barely above average, slightly better than a non-anamorphic disc.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is nothing special either, just like the screenplay.  The few extras include a featurette on the film and a commentary track that add nothing to the film.  Too bad there was not more effort in the film itself, but this is issued knowing it is cheesy, so just about all consumers will know that before they purchase this.  You are better off skipping it and seeing Black Christmas (reviewed elsewhere on this site) better.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo