Dark Angel: The Ascent (1994)

Comic booky, yes, but somehow… a stunning masterwork

A fallen angel in the Underworld has dreams of escaping to the surface in the flesh and thus rises out of the sewers of Bucharest where she connects with a handsome doctor and observes humanity’s corrupt side firsthand.

"Dark Angel: The Ascent” (1994) is fantasy/horror that mixes elements of the first two “Terminator” flicks (1984/1991) with the locations/tone of “Subspecies” (1991) and the basic concept of Marvel Comics’ Son of Satan. But don’t expect over-the-top action sequences since it only cost $350,000 and so the focus is on imaginative ideas and good writing.

Redhead Angela Featherstone is effective in the titular role, a fish-out-of-water. You might remember her as Jerry’s maid in the 9th season episode of Seinfeld “The Maid.” Meanwhile Daniel Markel works well as the “pure” physician.

While this is a comic book-like fantasy and so you can’t expect theological concepts to be technically accurate, the flick is filled with gems to mine, even creative revelations. Despite its micro-budget, it rises from the depths to soar spiritually. It’s both enlightening and moving.

The film runs 1 hour, 24 minutes, and, like “Subspecies,” was shot entirely in Romania (Bucharest, Berca and Floresti).

GRADE: A