Search - Gargoyle - Wings of Darkness on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 6/23/2023...

Michael Pare and others were top notch in this sci-fi drama. A must watch!

Gargoyle or Dragon?

Joshua Koppel | Chicago, IL United States | 03/04/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is an interesting film but it looks like somewhere along the way the art was changed.



In Romania, a kidnapper disappears from a rooftop and the CIA gets involved in events of eerie proportions. A gargoyle has gotten loose and is terrorizing the land. Meanwhile the local church and the Vatican seem to be involved in what is going on. Basically, after 500 years, gargoyles are ready to surface again and only the Church seems to be able to defeat them.



During the movie, we see paintings of dragons and the dialog states that the creature looks just like the paintings. There is even talk of dragons and St. George specifically. This has led me to the belief that this was originally intended to be a dragon film but that the CGI was changed to make it a gargoyle. The inclusion of Castle Dracula was unnecessary (and what is the Church doing maintaining a presence there?).



Ultimately we get a reasonable monster movie where conventional weapons are useless. There is the threat of gargoyles returning in large numbers to add real dread to the plot. We have clashing branches withing the Church. We have historic art pointing the way. All told it was not as bad as some reviewers have mentioned but makes for a good popcorn movie."

Not exceptionally bad

Gygos the Stupendous | NWT | 11/26/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This isn't a particularly bad movie. It just isn't goord, either. An earthquake releases a gargoyle that is active at day and night on Romania. Odd, I thought gargoyles turned to stone during the day. We're also shown pictures of dragons, and the characters tell us their gargoyles. Michael Pare plays the FBI agent who dosn't actually believe there's a gargoyle flying around attacking people until the last fifteen minutes, and when the hero dosn't even think the villian exsist until the climax, well, that's kind of stupid.



The CGI for the gargoyle isn't the worst ever put on film, and it does get satisfactory screen time. None of the kills are creative, and we only actaully see one or two. Usually its just the CG gargoyle grabbing someone and flying off with them. The acting and diolauge is cheesey and lackluster, the direction bland. So what's the saving grace?



This movie is rather entertaining and delivers a few so-bad-its-good moments, such the gargoyle chasing a car down a country highway. Sure, its stupid and looks fake, but at least the filmakers tried to put something fun in this slightly boring flick.



I'd recommend it to monster movie fanatics, but no one else."

GAR GOILS AND BAT BOIZ

Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 06/15/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Michael Pare is one of those B movie actors who keep getting roles in direct to DVD movies like this one. He joins guys like Casper van Dien, Michael Dudikoff, etc. in providing little acting credibility. Fortunately, the special effects are above average for a movie of this ilk, so GARGOYLE becomes an entertaining horror flick. Unlike many films of this nature, we even see the gargoyle in daylight, a brave move in this genre. The gargoyle is pretty impressive, though and there's significant bloodletting to please hardcore fans. Martial arts hero Tim Abell turns up as Lex the Slayer, who goes bonkers after a midnight gargoyle attack, and his performance is appropriately campy. Surprisingly good if you don't have too high expectations."