Mark Dacascos and Kadeem Hardison first appeared together on screen in Steve Wang’s action masterpiece Drive (1997). It was evident the two men shared a chemistry and bond that would carry over into their personal lives. It would only be a matter of time before they would join forces again.
The second time would be in the syndicated television series The Crow: Stairway to Heaven. Dacascos portrayed the character of Eric Draven (played by Brandon Lee in the film) while Hardison would bring the character of the Skull Cowboy to life, famously cut from the film version, and would have been played by Michael Berryman. They would reunite a third time for Instinct to Kill (2001), an action-thriller from director Gustavo Graef-Marino, which was finally released to Blu-ray, offering up a couple of welcome surprises.
Tess (Melissa Crider) is forced to testify against her cop husband, Jim (Tim Abell), when it’s revealed he’s been moonlighting as a serial killer. He’s sentenced to life in prison, with no intention of letting the cell hold him. He busts out with a single objective in mind: revenge.
Detective Difford (Kadeem Hardison) is hot on his trail, but his efforts may not be enough to save Tess. She hires former cop and self-defense trainer J.T. Dillion (Mark Dacascos) to teach her to defend herself. The two of them will unite for a final stand against the maniac and attempt to end his reign of terror forever.
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If you go into the film expecting something like Drive, most likely you’ll be disappointed. When I saw Instinct to Kill for the first time back in 2001, I remember being a bit upset it didn’t match the intensity of that pairing of the actors. Revisiting now, I have a different perspective and quite enjoyed the action thriller. Hardison has a much smaller role in the film, while Dacascos and Crider turn in solid performances. The standout here is Abell, who shines as the serial killer with one emotionless mode: to kill.
Dark Force has released the film to Blu-ray in a nice little package. The film was previously released in a weak DVD version, which was full frame and had no special features. This release fixes that by presenting it in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with a brand-new HD scan and color correction from the original camera negative. They’ve added a new commentary featuring Tim Abell and a new interview with the actor.
The Gustavo Graef-Marino-directed film is an excellent addition to your Dacascos collection. Considering how the film was originally handled, this release is a much-needed upgrade.
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