Father Vassey (Michael Rooker) has a problem. Using his two 9mm, laser-sighted cannons, he has tracked down and killed the holders of a heretic ceremony meant to bring a demon into the world. Not just any demon, for this one's reason to be is nothing less than uncreating creation. The problem is, Vassey's too late. The demon has manifested and escaped, and is now on the hunt for the soul of a young boy who is believed to be saint material, due to the stigmata he had at birth. The film is directed by Jamie Dixon, heretofore a special effects supervisor, who shows canny... restraint where special effects are concerned. The shadowy demon of the title is depicted often by a fluid black cloud, which is functional without losing its eeriness or credibility. The acting is solid, never campy, though Michael Rooker sometimes feels out of place. And the climactic scenes, built up to with good pacing, are fraught with peril and excitement. All in all, this is a worthwhile effort for a first-time director, and that makes it one of the best direct-to-video releases I've seen in quite a long time. I just wish I could locate the Bram Stoker story it's supposed to be based on. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com [show more]
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