Greetings And Salutations, and welcome to my review of Desolation Angels; here's the breakdown of my ratings:
Story: 1.00
Direction: 1.25
Pace: 1.25
Acting: 1.25
Enjoyment: 1.00
TOTAL: 5.75 out of 10.00
Desolation Angels is an odd little Ozzy flick that left me a tad disconcerted.
The writers pack the story with incidents, but it appears to be a tale of coincidences and luck. For example, the three schoolgirls taking a weekend vacation have the bad luck to run into a car full of maniacs. The madmen's motor gives pursuit, and the girls grow more fearful for their lives. But good luck shines on them as they encounter a cop manning a speed trap. However, fortune has also smiled on the lunatics as they stopped their car at the foot of the hill, so when the girls give their accounts, the copper doesn't fully believe them as the suspect vehicle never crests over the mount. Dejectedly, the girls resume their journey, only to locate the car further up the road. It soon dawns on them that two identical cars are on their trail - double bad luck. When they arrive at the resort home, they find they have a neighbour - One of a gang of bank robbers whose holding up because she's had enough of the game. And it doesn't take the schoolgirls long to cross paths with the automobile maniacs once more. Coincidences and luck abound in this story. However, it does add to the realness of the situation. Sometimes you just have a day of wrong moves, where nothing goes your way. The writers do a fair job of developing the characters in the story, though a smidgen more growth on the female thief, Pamela, would have been ideal, especially in her relationship with the schoolgirl, Liz, who appears attracted to her. It would have strengthened the story immensely and made the women more relatable. The writers also missed the opportunity to add a slim slice of the supernatural. Both cars held licence plates that could link to the occult - END 666 and HEX 777. It could have spiced up the narrative if they were Satanists hunting for sacrificial flesh. But they choose to drive on the side of reality. The guys are a little touched and not by the devil.
The direction's above average, thanks to the director's skill at filming chase sequences and crafting appealing compositions. Though, for the majority of the movie, he opts for a no-frills point-and-shoot cinematography style and a tempo that flows at a brisk walk. Thankfully he's skilful enough to utilise the speed to its full potential. It works to add excitement to the chases, and slight tension to the ominous scenes.
The cast is good, and most give a decent performance. However, the madmen, especially their leader, and the artist at the hotel, are more than a wee bit hammy.
Sadly, there's nothing unique or outstanding in this thriller, and I would only recommend Desolation Angels for one watch if there were nowt else on - It's your standard Sunday afternoon snooze film.
Please feel free to visit my Killer Thriller Chillers lists to see where I ranked Desolation Angels.
Take Care & Stay Well.
