Gangs da Noite

My review was written in January 1990 after watching the film on VIdmark video cassette.

Street punks in L. A. are the subject of the unexciting B pic "Night Children", a direct-to-video feature release.

David Carradine is far too easy going as a cop trying to deal with marauding youngsters, who are led by Griffin O'Neal. Under O'Neal's control are several women who are objects of police parole officer Nancy Kean's rehabilitation efforts. Not much happens here on the way to several false endings and phony happy twists.

As O'Neal's main victim, Tawny Fere, who appeared in New World' "Angel III", continues to make a good impression, while O'Neal overdoes the nasty-guy routine. Production values are on the cheap side.

Another cheaply made flick, L.A. style (a setting that looks great in any flick) with some effectively dramatic moments, mostly towards the end. The main catalyst of the story has veteran cop Carradine, aging here, chasing down an unruly gang of 5-6, youths, the closest thing to a family they have, where a tragedy ensues, that of a young pup. Now vowing retribution against Carradine is the unrelenting leader of the group, Blade, played adequately by Griffin O'Neal, (Ryan's son) one guy you just get through to. Him and his amigo's knock out Carradine, where after years of robbing old ladies, markets, and of late, leading cops on night chases, they may have just graduated to murder. This was the most intense part of the film, where the happy ending following, comes as much a welcomed relief, followed by a smaller happy ending, where too, we get to hear a new social misfit, remark on Carradine's bandaged face. The acting from the youngsters in this, isn't bad either in this enthusiastic B grade effort. Nancy Kwan co stars, as a dedicated, over caring social worker, whose bod has taken some nasty blows at Blade's angry hand. This doesn't deter her, here. You have to admire Kwan's character's spirit and mettle here. These nasty blows she takes, incites boyfriend cop Carradine into action, if a little overacting at times, in some of his responses/reactions. Night Children by no means is great, nor good. It rides low on story and structure, save for the last compelling twenty minutes, but there's a cheapness I love about this movie. It doesn't pretend to be better than it is. You get what you've asked for here.