The First Power

With the end of the eighties came a barrage of low budget films with big stars, at the time, trying to make a quick buck. Some of these movies have still to make it to DVD but the ones that have are worth watching. Enter The First Power, this is not the best film that Lou Diamond Phillips has done but I always liked the idea of blending elements of the Exorcist into a cop movie. The information about the Catholic religion that is introduced helps with the believability of the powers and the situations that the actors find themselves in. There are three powers that God or Satan can bestow upon a mortal and they are: the Third Power - to inhabit another's body, the Second Power - the ability to see the future, and the First Power - the power of resurrection. A serial killer has made a pact with the Devil and upon his death he is granted these powers and plays havoc with the LA police department. Phillips is the cop here and unfortunately the main focus of the killer. Phillips at the height of his career looks to young to play the hardened cop that is here. Some of the best parts of this film is the camera angels that are used to achieve the visual effects, some are so believable that its hard to see them as stunts. The ending isn't the best but I'm sure that MGM was hoping for a sequel to come out of it, but you can't have everything.
This a quick and enjoyable movie that you don't have to spend a great deal of time figuring out. Some of the situations are predictable, but if you've never seen this film before its worth a look. Like I've said in the past, just don't expect to much.