Never failing to let fans of any sub-genre down, Scream Factory unleashes the sci-fi action flick “Eve of Destruction” on Blu-ray for the first time ever. Granted, it’s a bare-bones edition strictly for those who have wondered where the forgotten 1991 cult classic disappeared to. The movie was a box office disaster when originally released, but found a second life on VHS and DVD. It’s been largely ignored over the years, partly because it’s rarely shown on television.
Eve VIII (Renee Soutendijk) is a deadly android created in the image of her maker. After years of research, the machine is sent out on her first test mission. Things go horribly wrong when she’s damaged and short-circuits. Now, Eve VIII is maiming and killing anything it perceives as a threat. Terrorism expert Jim McQuade (Gregory Hines) and the android’s creator must track it down before she goes nuclear.
I remember seeing this little slice of cheese in theaters when it first came out and often wondered what happened to it. It’s not a great movie by any means. However, if you’re looking for some additional cyborg fun after exhausting your copies of all the “Terminator” movies, look no further. The best way to describe this is as the “Terminator” if Arnold Schwarzenegger was replaced by a middle-aged blonde in a mini-skirt and high-heels.
The late Gregory Hines does a wonderful job playing the no-nonsense terrorist expert assigned to track down Eve VIII. He marches around convincingly with his oversized pistol wondering why they didn’t give the android an “[email protected]!ing off switch.” Renee Soutendijk portrays both the doctor and the Eve VIII robot, switching back and forth from panic-stricken to emotionless, seductive, and angry. The movie really gave the actor a wide range of emotions to bounce through in her first American role.
The movie is rated R for strong violence, language, adult situations, and nudity. it really feels like the boob shots in “Eve of Destruction” are needless and tacked on to tantalize male audiences. They don’t help to further the story or plot, except to show that Eve VIII looks real in every way. I still don’t think they were necessary to get the point across.
“Eve of Destruction” is presented in 1080p High-Definition Widescreen (1.78:1). The picture is clear but the Blu-ray transfer didn’t rob the movie of its gritty look. The DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo breathes new life into the film’s score and environmental sound effects.
Unlike most Scream Factory releases, “Eve of Destruction” doesn’t come with much in the way of special features. All that’s included here is a trailer. This probably has something to do with the fact that most of the people involved in the making of the film are either dead or moved on in their careers. Both Gregory Hines and Director Duncan Gibbons passed away many years ago. Renee Soutendijk sticks to roles in European films and television shows and lives outside of the U.S.
“Eve of Destruction” is a perfect example of the sci-fi movies audiences were getting in the early and mid-1990s. It fits nicely next to such cult classics as “Mandroid,” “Nemesis,” “Hardware,” and “Universal Soldier.” Is it as entertaining as “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” or “Total Recall?” Of course not, but it still has its place in the Museum of Schlocky Genre Cheese.
“Eve of Destruction” is available now on Blu-ray.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
‘After Earth’ Utilizes Sci-Fi Genre to Exemplify Father/Son Dynamics
Talky Sci-Fi “Scavengers” Has Too Much to Say and Little to Do
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