The Lost Angel (2005)

Good movie but grossly overrated

A different way of telling a story

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

This film was on Lifetime as a World Premiere, and I really enjoyed it. I found the plot to be unpredictable, the production was very good, and I was surprised to see Alison Eastwood carry the lead. The production value was so much better than what you get from Lifetime. The locations creepy and unusual. You hardly ever see a sustainable, tough female lead. I though the Director did a great job keeping the visuals interesting. It reminds me of thrillers like seven and they way they keep you guessing all the way to the end. I tried to guess the ending, but never saw the twist coming. The film kept me guessing. It's well worth watching.

To begin with this is one movie when I wanted the lead to be the next victim. Alison Eastwood, unfortunately didn't inherit any of her dad's talent. A completely unbelievable performance. I can accept anything in these bad made for TV movies on LMN, but not this one. I couldn't believe how this inept detective gets away with what she does. Taking on a man twice her size in one punch; tripping a guy with a gun. C'mon gimme a break. She plays the role with the emotional level of a minus 10. Monotone voice, blank facial expressions and absolutely no sex appeal, this was a mistake. I guess when your father's a star you get all the breaks. Everyone else in this loser I won't embarrass them by mentioning their names. I'll give them a break to help them forget this experience with Eastwood's bad acting. She can't be serious about a career. Please.

The lead guy wrote it. I guess thats why the jarring switch to an unnecessary and unexplained sex scene with Allison Eastwood occurred. I would rewrite to drop that in also if I was him.I am guessing they also found out that Judd Nelson was coming onboard after the script was written and had to duct tape him in. That would explain him dropping out of the sky for no apparent reason as an FBI Priest. FBI Priest? It would also explain why his character was clueless each time he appeared and seemed purposefully written to have no impact on the plot at all, he was like the ghost of a dead career haunting this movie.This movie has an almost artistic way of leading you on to think its going to get better. A secret ancient ritual with a nude killing each day? Let's stick around! Is the ritual ever mentioned again? No. Weird cuneiform writing? Must be something weird! Lets stick around. Was it? No. Start out with babe victims and then move to old friars and old ladies. Blah. Why are these bad guys mutating into some other guy? Must be supernatural lets stick around. Was it? No. It's weird, but its a fairly watchable pointless mess.Need to explain why the Priest heard nothing...lets make him deaf. Need to have the Friar not say what he knows....lets make him a mute. Need the sister grabbed at school but the bad guy can't do it because he would be recognized....have a random guy do it who is never seen again. Need a way into a building.....create a secret tunnel and give a lame one-off explanation that has nothing to do with the plot.The acting was not that bad except at the start. In fact, the movie was starting to drag me in a little until Judd Nelson suddenly dropped out of the ceiling into the movie and jarred me back to my senses. If you want to see a watchable exposition of bad writing this will do.Why is there snow in one part of town and not elsewhere? The secret tunnel goes to the "East Forest".....but this church is downtown is it not? Why is the first bad guy washing out bloody cloth with gasoline?

This film was recommended to me at the video store. I did not expect the film to be this good. I found the story to be very compelling, the acting was good. I read that the lead, Allson Eastwood, is Clint's daughter, you can see the resemblance.The snow scenes give the film a very creepy element, which adds to the mood.The violence is not over the top, which most thrillers seem to attempt.They spent some money on the look of the film. And there is a neat little twist at the end.I would recommend the film.Rick