Coldfire

The film is a ridiculous nonsense-filled badly acted caper, which doesn't hang together past the opening credits.

The drug ColdFire doesn't feature much in the film, and there's a totally unnecessary sex scene.

The acting is pretty bad, the soundtrack is something akin to a bunch of Vangelis B-sides, and the bad guy is too camp to be evil.

I thought the film was fantastic. By far the best rubbish film I've seen in a long time.

It also cost me the princely sum of &pound1.97 for the DVD from the local 'Game' shop.

Both Michael Easton and Kumar De Los Reyes are beautiful in this movie, and the camera loves, loves, loves them.

Easton gives a decent performance, though lack luster when doing the Starsky "I'm a criminal" routine or playing drunk. Kumar gets 5 shirtless scenes, Easton unfortunately none. It seems he thought himself too thin (or others did) for the full beefcake routine at this time. Sad.

The drug plot is a little too involved, but a reasonably entertaining MacGuffin. (It's not just drugs, it is a Russian plot to undermine America.)

The lispy gay villain is a bit too much, but okay for its time.

All in all, a quite good example of it's genre, which is direct-to-video cop actioner/procedurals of the 80s/90s with a much much prettier male leads than most of these. Good work, Mr. Hauser, though not getting Easton's shirt off during this early stage of his career was a dick move.

Wings Hauser directs himself behind a desk while two rookie detectives deal with a new designer drug hitting the streets. Problem is, beyond the opening scenes the drug becomes irrelevant. It's reduced to just a thing in a case, the very thing the movie is named after could be anything or nothing at all. The pair of unconvincing detectives are matched by a couple of equally unconvincing bad guys, one has a peculiar voice while the other hams up every word of dialog. There are characters who just disappear or are abruptly removed, with little to no recognition by anyone, and moments that have no relevance or meaning beyond padding out a scene. The ending manages to step things up to something mildly entertaining, Wings finally shows up and does the bare minimum. The whole movie just feels unconvincing and at times borderline amateur.

My review was written in January 1991 after watching the movie on PM video cassette.

Wings Hauser's debut as director, "Coldfire", tries to cover too much ground but emerges as an offbeat cop drama about the drug world. Film was released direct-to-video last summer.

Like his second recently released directorial effort, "Living to Die", this film displays Hauser's interest in character development rather than narrative. Chief among numerous subplots is the relationshp of young buddy cops Michael Easton and Kamar Reyes, each too gung ho for his own good.

They're working undercover at a high school as anrcs when a new designer drug from Russia, Coldfire, hits the streets. It turns out to be an isidious plot by renegate Soviet scientisht Albert Cutt to undermine America.

Hauser's own role, as an over-the-hill fellow cop, is relatively small. Behind the camera he coaxes quality performances from the cast, which includes Cynthia Brooks as a tough-nosed fellow cop and sexy Darcy DeMoss as Reyes' main squeeze; latter graduated to female lead in "Living to Die".

Easton is particularly impressive in the lead role and easily could be up for a co-starring assignment on a youth-oriented tv cop show. Addison Randall, also a director, has a fun time playing against the macho stereotype as a gay drug kingpin.

The "Coldfire" is a lethal new designer-drug with destructive capabilities. Its origins are unknown...and its effects are irreversible. This drug promises the "ultimate high." However, what does the user acquire instead? The ultimate way to die...

The main purpose of the "Coldfire" drug is to help the enemy cripple the United States. This drug feeds on the decadence of society. The consequences are only too severe if this drug goes "mainstream." An epidemic is imminent if the use of this drug spreads everywhere...

It turns out that the culprit who designed the "Coldfire" drug is someone who plans to destroy America "internally" through corruption and consummate pandemonium. America needs a prayer...

Will the prayers be answered? Well, entering the scene are Nick (Kamar De Los Reyes), and Jake Edwards (Michael Easton), two young but audacious police officers. They may lack age, but they certainly have attitude. These Generation-X cops hope to show some of the veteran members of the police force a trick or to. These two officers will be working with a company of experienced pros including the seasoned Lars (Wings Hauser), and the short-tempered Dix (Asher Brauner). Their assignment is to track down who or what is responsible for the distribution of this virulent drug substance...

Frankly, the introductory sequence in COLDFIRE is simply hilarious. Basically, flashing lights begin illuminating while a guy is trapped inside a chamber. The guy gradually goes berserk...then he begins to bleed. Eventually, this guy decides to take the plunge. It was probably the most entertaining segment in the whole movie! If only we had more inspired moments like the beginning here in COLDFIRE, this movie could have at least clicked as an entertaining albeit no-nonsense thriller. Instead, COLDFIRE is a listless film, especially for one belonging to the action genre. COLDFIRE is yet another film that deals with the subject of drugs. It tries to insert some moral relevance. While this movie does have its noble intentions, for the most part, it is a slack movie. COLDFIRE seems intent on being preachy and indeed that could hold true. For the majority of this film, it is rather ponderous and tiresome as it tries to deliver its message to "stay cool and never lose faith." There is of course, the anti-drug message too (though it is rarely mentioned). COLDFIRE is a misfire.

The fact that COLDFIRE is boring is only one of my main concerns. Another flaw that really distracted me was this film's inanity. Sometimes, you have to wonder whether these characters in this movie actually think about whether their decisions will have substantial consequences or not. They always have a proclivity to behave so irrationally. For example, notice how most of the police officers always communicate with guns. It is quite scary how this movie portrays cops as either inept, reckless, or both. Some of these cops (such as Lars) can even be seen as "lazy." Also, the villains in this movie are inane. They too are excessively illogical. The worst character of all is the main villain. He has such an obnoxious voice! Now, do not get me started on the plot holes. They proliferate as much as the bullet wounds on certain characters. (I.e. You would think that the Police Department would have cared knowing that two of their own cops are declared missing in action). Finally, there are times when this film just seems to be a parody of itself...

Despite the problems galore that I found in this movie, I will consider this: The two leading cast members (Kamar De Los Reyes and Michael Easton) are both proficient and promising. Although Wings Hauser (who is also the director) is top-billed, the spotlights belong to rising stars Kamar De Los Reyes and Michael Easton. Though these two actors are tyros, they have already begun to show a lot of enthusiasm and alacrity for their roles. I am confident that these two guys will find success in show business. In addition, Darcy DeMoss (LIVING TO DIE) is a fine and gorgeous actress too. As for Wings Hauser, his role is, at best, a tenuous supporting character.

COLDFIRE is a tragedy. It could have been a low-budget but first-rate thriller. Instead, COLDFIRE is a contrived, ridiculously ludicrous film with haphazard characters, a conventional and predictable plot, and languid action scenes. Still, COLDFIRE does have its attributes. An ambitious premise somewhat compensates for a dearth of ingenuity. Also, Kamar De Los Reyes and Michael Easton are capable performers. These two actors single-handedly save COLDFIRE from complete oblivion. Last, the denouncement is appropriately action-packed. It highlights the pinnacle of the whole movie... Unfortunately, most of this film's few attributes are overshadowed by its shortcomings.

I guess that my biggest complaint would be the fact that this film was so superficially made. It does not have enough depth to be considered a decent crime drama and there is little zest in this movie to help make this film truly exhilarating. If they could only quicken the pace, throw a curve ball for a plot twist, and perhaps add some excitement, COLDFIRE would have worked.

RATING: *1/2 out of ****.