Arnold Schwarzenegger

Gabriel Byrne

Robin Tunney

Kevin Pollak

CCH Pounder

Derrick O'Connor

David Weisenberg

Rainer Judd

Miriam Margolyes

Udo Kier

Luciano Miele

Michael O'Hagan

Mark Margolis

Jack Shearer

Rod Steiger

Eve Sigall

Victor Varnado

Robert Lesser

Lloyd Garroway

Gary Anthony Williams

John Nielsen

Jonny Bogris

Elliot Goldwag

Elaine Corral Kendall

Denice D. Lewis

Renee Olstead

Mo Gallini

Marc Lawrence

Van Quattro

Charles A. Tamburro

Lynn Marie Sager

Linda Pine

David Franco

Steve Kramer

Melissa Mascara

John Timothy Botka

Walter von Huene

Michael Rocha

Sven-Ole Thorsen

Peter Hyams

Armyan Bernstein

Jeff Gullo

Bill Borden

Steven Kemper

Marc Abraham

Thomas A. Bliss

Billy D. Lucas

James M. Halty

Gunter Simon

Erik Rondell

Thomas J. Larsen

Shawn Robinson

Franco Columbu

James Ryan

William H. Burton Jr.

Janet Brady

Ron Stein

Nadine Grycan

Rita Minor

Darrell Davis

Alan Oliney

Dieter Rauter

Danny Rogers

Tim Trella

Scotty Richards

Josh Kemble

Bobby Bass

Bennie Moore

Lee Waddell

Raymond Normandin

Scott Workman

Mark Chadwick

Alexander Denk

Bill Young

Alan Wurtzel

Joey Box

Mitch Toles

Bobbie Mannix

Dawn Brown

Ian Hunter

Scott R. Fisher

David Norris

Carrie Gerlach

Charlie Daboub

Justin Ditter

Kenneth Hardy

Charisse Cardenas

Richard Holland

Christopher Assells

Hector C. Gika

Dayne Johnson

Greg Berry

Zeke Morales

Michael D. Wilhoit

Steve M. Davison

Steve Callas

John 'D.J.' Des Jardin

Ray Boniker

Jeff Dawn

Jeffrey Beck

Maya Shimoguchi

Scott Martin Gershin

Kerry Carmean-Williams

Tony Lamberti

Gary Fettis

Louis Lazzara

Julia K. Levine

Scott Sanders

Thomas L. Fisher

Stephen S. Campanelli

Michael P. May

Cheree Welsh

Al Hobbs

Michael Minkler

Frank A. Montaño

Gary Nolin

Charlie McIntyre

Gail A. Fitzgibbons

Tom Carlson

Denny Caira

Kokayi Ampah

Michael Haro

Kurt Williams

Zade Rosenthal

Tricia Ronten

James R. Tynes

Kosta Saric

Michael Scott

Michael Ferris

Andrew W. Marlowe

John Debney

Jackie Burch

Paul Deason

Kelly Oxford

Tommy J. Huff

Action

Horror

Fantasy

End of Days

Beacon Communications

United States of America

Faith Or A Glock 9 Millimetre?

End Of Days is directed by Peter Hyams and written by Andrew W. Marlowe. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Byrne, Robin Tunney, Kevin Pollak, Rod Steiger, Udo Kier & CCH Pounder.

It's the end of the Millennium and as 1999 draws to a close Satan (in human form played by Gabriel Byrne) is in town and looking for his bride. That bride is Christine York (Tunney), who 20 years earlier on her birthday had been chosen by Satanists to be the one for the spawning of the anti-Christ. Enter retired cop Jericho Cane (Schwarzenegger), a suicidal security expert whose family were murdered, and who after being hired to protect an every day business man finds himself in a battle with evil itself. It's not just the fate of poor Christine that's now in his hands, but that of mankind too.

Arnold versus The Devil, you couldn't make it up could you? Well actually "they" did, but hey, what's wrong with pitting modern cinema's action super star against man's ultimate enemy? The answer is nothing wrong with it at all; as long as the expectation level is set at brain left at the door for some mindless popcorn fun. Which when one sees the premise on offer is all one can surely expect to see. Surely? Budgeted at $100 million by Universal Studios, of which $25 million went on the Austrian Oak's salary, End Of Days, contrary to some beliefs, made over double that when all sales were factored in. However, it was still a poor return for such a big block-buster and Universal were most disappointed in the returns. As was Schwarzenegger himself, who was hoping to launch a big movie come back after a run of sub standard movies had seen his stock fall. Throw in the Razzie nominations for Schwarzenegger, Byrne (who was also up for Stigmata) and Hyams, and it doesn't make particularly inspiring reading.

It's all very ridiculous, the film not the statistics, but End Of Days is a whole bunch of explosive, bonkers, action based fun. The flaws are many, not least that the plot is actually an adventurous reworking of T2: Judgement Day (Arnie playing it on safe territory one feels). While giving the big man some character depth was never going to be a good move considering his-ahem-range. Yet the film finds him on particularly good muscular form, machine gunning, shooting rockets and facing off against Byrne's (having a great time and playing it as it should be played) snarly, sarcastic Old Nick adversary. Tunney (wolf whistle that body) bats the eyes and screams as befitting the role, Pollak deserves better but runs with it in his usual dry dulcet way, while the wonderful Miriam Margolyes gets to kick Arnie's butt! Yes it's that kind of movie folks.

With dashes of grue and explosions aplenty it was never about trying to win awards. If ever a film does exactly what it says on the tin then this is it. Arnie V Satan, it is what it is, relax and enjoy. 7/10

**_Solid action/horror with Arnie_**

The devil (Gabriel Byrne) comes to New York City to impregnate a chosen female (Robin Tunney) during the last hour of the second millennium to bring about the end of the world. The hope of humanity falls on an atheist ex-cop, Jericho Cane (Arnold Schwarzeneggar), and his partner (Kevin Pollak). Rod Steiger is also on hand as a no-nonsense Catholic priest.

"End of Days" (1999) is a comic book action flick with horror/fantasy elements. It's not meant to be an accurate depiction of biblical eschatology. As such, it's useless to pick it apart on those grounds; just go with it and enjoy the ride. That said, there are some real-life subtexts and accurate biblical aspects. For instance, disillusionment due to the unjust death of a loved one (or any number of other tragedies) happens all the time.

The movie is R-rated not just for the violence and cussing, but because the filmmakers try to convey the devil's filthy lawlessness, like a threesome with a mother & daughter in a brief dream sequence (which may be "reality," but it's hard to tell). Byrne has fun with the role of Satan.

As a holiday action blockbuster with Schwarzenegger "End of Days" delivers the requisite thrills where there's a massive explosion about every 12 minutes. These types of movies only work if the story and the characters pull you into their world and the film accomplishes this just enough.

It's no where near as good as the first two Terminator flicks, but it's close to being on par with the third one. Of course, "End of Days" is its own animal due to the apocalyptic, religious subject matter. On that note, the palette the filmmakers use is fittingly dark. The entire film takes place at night, mostly in the urban labyrinths of Gotham with additional sequences in Gothic churches, shadowy subterranean rooms and eerie woods.

The film runs 2 hours, 1 minute, and was shot in New York City and the Los Angeles area.

GRADE: B/B-

Andre Gonzales

One of my favorite Arnold movies. A lot of crazy demonic people. Lots of action and a great storyline.

CinemaSerf

Arnie is ex-cop "Jericho" who runs an high end private security company. When an attempt is made on the life of one of his clients, he pursues a man throughout the city before being given a portentous warning by the would be assassin that the son of Satan is soon to be born. Now even he isn't going to but that, but as more mysterious happenings occur, he finds himself trying to keep "Christine" (Robin Tunney) safe from some henchmen, and from the Church - as she is sought by the big "D" himself (Gabriel Byrne). The plot is pretty flawed from start to finish. One would assume that however strong and resilient "Jericho might be, the fact that his foe could cause people to spontaneously combust at will would have but paid to any resistance fairly early on. Nope - he keeps coming back to fight another day - and after a while, that just becomes a little bit dull and leads to an ending that is as flat as it is predictable. I suppose I ought never to have expected much jeopardy, and neither the acting nor the dialogue really do much to elevate this from a very average outing for Schwarzenegger that offers us plenty of action but totally underplays the more demonic aspects of the plot that ought to have made this just a bit darker and more interesting. It is also way too long, and though well enough made, just left me feeling that I'd seen this all before, just in a different guise.

English

UK Re-Release Trailer

End of Days - Trailer

End of Days (1999) - Original Trailer