Gabriel (2007)

Dir: Shane Abbess

Not only does GABRIEL open with a title scroll explaining what we are about to watch, but there's an additional narration as well! Often a sign of a confusing film to follow. For centuries the forces of light and those of dark have fought over the unclaimed souls in Purgatory. Each side can send one warrior, who must take on human form, each cycle for a total of seven arc angels and seven fallen. If it's ever explained how long a cycle is or why these rules were put into place I missed it. Perhaps a footnote during the opening would have helped?

All six arc angels sent previously to Purgatory, including the greatest arc warrior of them all Michael, have failed to defeat Sammael (Dwaine Stevenson wearing a pair of what must be the craziest contact lenses I've seen since LAST ACTION HERO) and set the scales in favour of the forces of light. Into Purgatory, a city in perpetual darkness, is cast Gabriel (Andy Whitfield who brought Spartacus to life in the television series and sadly passed away at a young age). Gabriel is ill prepared for the shock of seeing the dirty and decaying city and the desperation of those who inhabit it. He seeks out the six arc angels to learn why they failed, all the time trying to stay one step ahead of Sammael's minions bent on destroying the last chance of the forces of good.

Produced with a micro budget of $150,000, the Australian GABRIEL looks far more interesting a world than most films with ten times the cash. While there are a limited number of sets they do look like they belong to a city which houses the souls of those crushed by a lack of hope for a better existence and every sin and taboo is readily available for their consumption. The film makers put the budget up on the screen.

The angel mythology of them battling it out for the souls of humans is one used often in film and television (NIGHT WATCH, SUPERNATURAL) and one that I like. Like the angels in Revelations, The War Scroll and Milton's Paradise Lost, these angels are a scrappy lot and relish fighting one another with rifles, pistols, knives and the current martial arts in vogue. The film really shines during a number of the action sequences. Kyle Rowling, fight director, does a great job of coordinating firearms and fists so that the fights look dirty, brutal and often realistic.

GABRIEL, running nearly two hours, wasn't able to keep my interest after establishing the world when there wasn't a fight scene. I didn't care about Gabriel or any of the other angels he seeks out to enlist in the war against darkness. The film to me became tired and tedious scenes of Gabriel trying to convince one world weary arc after another to take up arms once more interspersed with thrilling action. There's a nice twist at the end that I wasn't expecting and I really do like the premise but it all added up to meh.

*1/2 out of ****