Fallen [VHS] [1998]

Washington is sublime as Detective John Hobbes, paired with a superb Goodman(don't think Roseanne because he's just in a different world here),who thinks he's seen the last of a serial killer when he witnesses his execution, but who realizes slowly that somehow the spirit of the deceased lives on. As copycat murders begin, slowly drawing Hobbes into an epic but essentially private battle of Evil and Good, it dawns on him that he isn't fighting any ordinary being, but rather an almost immortal devil whose world weary attention Hobbes has unfortunately pricked!

The film's pace is deliberately steady but never, never lets up as it gradually winds it way on to it's conclusion, where we have the final and best twist of this laconic classic.
I can't recommend this movie highly enough, it is such a jewel amongst all the crud that's followed since Seven. In fact it stands on it's own without comparison to any other film, set amongst the broody backdrop of an industrial Northern Usa city, as one of the best most beautifully wrought movies of our time.

Get it and enjoy it again and again.These rare well made and engrossing performances are the stuff Oscars should be made of, not overbites and false noses! Sail on Fallen - Time is most definitely on your side!

There are no Buffy-esque, rubber-mask-wearing, Kung Fu-kicking Demons here. Just a great script, played with reserve and style by a refreshingly (and brilliantly) talented cast.

Homicide Detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington) has bought a particularly nasty serial killer to justice (for a little while at least). Trouble is, now that he's been executed, the bodies are still piling up in what appears to be, a spate of copycat killings. Hobbes' thinks that he can simply use his powers of reason and his cliched cop-instincts to get to the bottom of it. But, he's going to need a lot more cunning to catch this ethereal nightmare.

What made this film for me was the very tangible presence of fear created by the malevolent 'Azazel'. You can almost feel his loathing for mankind as he flits from one random person to another, destroying their lives without remorse or pity. This adds to the creepy nature of the story, you're never sure who to trust; who is in control and who is being controlled?

I also liked the way we see Hobbes fumble around, with increasing desperation, trying to make the pieces fit, only to be dumbfounded at every step of the way. Well, almost every step. His ultimate, heroic act makes for a genuinely excellent final twist.

Some people define this as a Horror Movie but, to me it's more of a Thriller with a dark-fantasy theme (Think, Ridley Scott's 'Alien' as opposed to Romero's 'Dawn Of The Dead')
You'll be on the edge of your seat (but not necessarily hiding behind a cushion)

It's definitely the creepiest movie i've ever seen. I've seen it several times and it still makes me twitch! I guarantee your skin will crawl!