EVE OF DESTRUCTION (1991)
In the last year or so, I've tried to broaden my horizons a bit. What does that mean? In terms of Blood Capsules, it means more science fiction. Teenaged Dom (who is becoming a recurring character, it seems) would have strolled right past Eve of Destruction in the video store. Of course, I probably would have been in the horror section anyway, but that belies my point. I'm finding that there is a wide range of sci-fi nuggets that are wacky enough for my idiosyncratic sensibilities. I'm also finding that "wacky" is a prerequisite in my household. I mean, it's the perfect adjective for a film that pits Gregory Hines against a Terminator-esque android. Why Gregory Hines? No, I'm asking. Why was he chosen to play a callous, hard-boiled colonel with the vocabulary of...well, Teenaged Dom? That's not a compliment, by the way. Hines gives it the old college try. I don't know that he failed necessarily, but I was having a tough time buying him as a John McClane type.
I've gone and buried the lede. This is a cool, energetic "action thriller," and yes, it hurt typing those words. I won't let it happen again, though I concede that this is definitely not a horror flick. It does come close enough for my purposes, as I like to say. We do see some moist gore in the way of bionic intestines. Speaking of which, Renée Soutendijk gives a cracking performance as both Eve and her all-too-human architect. If there was any justice in this world, she would have received an Oscar nomination for her services rendered. But there isn't, so she'll have to settle for the dinky praise of an online critic. Eve of Destruction goes down smooth if you're in the market for brisk entertainment. Having said that, I can see why it flopped in the States (it bypassed theaters altogether overseas). It certainly won't light your VCR on fire. I'm thinking 3.5 Z'Dars. Recommended if your video store doesn't have copies of T2: Judgment Day. Yeah, I'm still running with the VHS gag. Call it a gimmick.
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