This third entry in the religion-themed horror series is reasonably entertaining for what it is. Good enough for at least one watch, it offers action scenes likely inspired by "The Matrix", if not quite as outlandish. The gore is fun, the performances solid, and the story pretty amusing if not inspired. The best twist that it can offer is that, for a while, it has you wondering who the "good guy" is and who the "bad guy" is. The angel Gabriel (Christopher Walken) is not a major player this time around, however: he's more of an observer, having acclimated quite well to ordinary Earth life.
A youthful street preacher named Danyael (Dave Buzzotta, receiving an "introducing" credit) is gunned down during one of his sermons by a zealot (played by that great screen psycho, Brad Dourif). But Danyael actually returns to life in the morgue, and a mystery man who calls himself Zophael (Vincent Spano) picks up his trail; he's out to stop Danyael from fulfilling a mission.
Although largely routine (which is what you would tend to expect from a straight-to-video movie), "The Ascent" proves to be fairly watchable. Debuting director Patrick Lussier, who'd been an editor on some of Wes Cravens' movies, gives the yarn some style and a cracking pace that results in a blessedly brief running time (84 minutes all told).
Lifting this a tiny bit above average is the quality of this cast. Walken is at his most Christopher Walken-esque, meaning that quirky charisma is in full bloom. Spano is good, as is Kayren Ann Butler as Maggie, the lovely lady who'd been part of Danyaels' flock. Dourifs' part is much too small; another top character actor, Jack McGee, is seen fleetingly as well. Steve "That's gold, Jerry. Gold!" Hytner reprises his role as coroner Joseph, now haunted and puzzled by his experiences throughout the series. Sandra Lafferty and Moriah 'Shining Dove' Snyder also reprise their roles from the first movie.
Overall, an enjoyable mix of action, horror, and religion, although its big final confrontation / fight sequence is not everything it could have been. As it is, it's dealt with a little TOO quickly.
Six out of 10.
A youthful street preacher named Danyael (Dave Buzzotta, receiving an "introducing" credit) is gunned down during one of his sermons by a zealot (played by that great screen psycho, Brad Dourif). But Danyael actually returns to life in the morgue, and a mystery man who calls himself Zophael (Vincent Spano) picks up his trail; he's out to stop Danyael from fulfilling a mission.
Although largely routine (which is what you would tend to expect from a straight-to-video movie), "The Ascent" proves to be fairly watchable. Debuting director Patrick Lussier, who'd been an editor on some of Wes Cravens' movies, gives the yarn some style and a cracking pace that results in a blessedly brief running time (84 minutes all told).
Lifting this a tiny bit above average is the quality of this cast. Walken is at his most Christopher Walken-esque, meaning that quirky charisma is in full bloom. Spano is good, as is Kayren Ann Butler as Maggie, the lovely lady who'd been part of Danyaels' flock. Dourifs' part is much too small; another top character actor, Jack McGee, is seen fleetingly as well. Steve "That's gold, Jerry. Gold!" Hytner reprises his role as coroner Joseph, now haunted and puzzled by his experiences throughout the series. Sandra Lafferty and Moriah 'Shining Dove' Snyder also reprise their roles from the first movie.
Overall, an enjoyable mix of action, horror, and religion, although its big final confrontation / fight sequence is not everything it could have been. As it is, it's dealt with a little TOO quickly.
Six out of 10.