Deep Red (1994 TV Movie) User Reviews

Fun on an otherwise boring evening

[sipreana · 6/10 · 14 October 1999]

Home alone and a die hard Scifi-fan. Vaguely triggered by the name of Biehn in the TV-guide. Apart from the apparent alien 'reds'(a bacteria-sort-of-thing that extends life-expectancy), it feels more like looking at a Micky Spilane-like detective. A p.i. who tries to save a little girl from a mad professor and saves his tormented soul in the process.

But it was good fun watching it.

A Very Good Entertainment

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 20 February 2004]

In a space war, a tiny spaceship is hit by another one, falls on planet Earth into the hand of a little girl (Gracie) and penetrates her hand. Some time later, the private investigator Joe Keyes (Michael Biehn) is hired by a mother, who is under the protection of his former wife Monica (Joanna Pacula) together with her daughter Gracie (Lidsey Haun), to help her husband, the scientist Warren Rickman (Tobin Bell). Warren is being threatened by his colleague, Thomas Newmeyer (John de Lancie). Joe is divorced from Monica, and blames himself for the death of another mother and daughter who were under his protection. They were the wife and daughter of the detective Mack Waters (John Kapelos), and killed by a murderer Mack had put in jail. When Joe finds Warren, strange events happen and Joe decides to find Monica to realize what is happening and help her. A great mystery involving immortality and healing is disclosed along the story. This sci-fi movie is very intriguing, having a very different and unpredictable screenplay. It recalls a film noir, with narrative in off, dark and smoky places, with touches of `Blade Runner', and is a very good entertainment. With some improvement, it could have been an excellent movie. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `Sangue Imortal' (‘Immortal Blood')

Another Sci Fi Film Noir

[tabuno · 6/10 · 25 January 2019]

8 February 2004. While not in the league of Blade Runner, this movie has a decent sci fi script with the classic flawed detective and voice over narrative about his search for a mysterious mother/daughter who may hold the secret to immortality. Performed with sincerity, the girl comes across as the most subtle but brilliant performance. The intellectual IQ of our private dick leaves a bit to be desired though, but the convolutions, the build up, and the thrills and chills are patent fifties conventions. A decent if not truly classic sci fi in the Blade Runner mold. Six of Ten Stars.

It was tough ... but the avg genre fan will enjoy

[nothing_important · 5/10 · 18 November 2007]

There isn't anything wrong with the overall tone, the scene shooting looks good enough and the actors have a fair script it seem so to me. Interesting premises if a little "deux ex machina". It does alter the 'overall tone' as I mentioned i.e. another sciffy is logged for our enjoyment. I like the score, no pop songs or MTV montages here. Biehn is easy on the eyes as is the Polish actress who plays Monica. I like most of the user comments here; My rating is 5/10. To quote a nice scene in the movie, "It felt good tonight didn't it?" There were nice, understated FX. The cheese is more like a condiment than a key ingredient.

We can take 'em Joe!

[bombersflyup · 3/10 · 20 November 2019]

Deep Red has a quality cast, but isn't a quality film.

The premise's okay, but more of the origin's needed, since the fun isn't there. A character struggling with a past event, without it being in the opening scene or a flashback, just doesn't work either. The actors are underutilized on all accounts here.

Biehn is solid as usual.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 30 June 2013]

Not bad sci-fi with a touch of film noir, focusing on a haunted, weary character named Joe Keyes (Michael Biehn), a "protector" for hire who's approached by a researcher, Warren Rickman (Tobin Bell) and his family for protection from Rickmans' villainous associate Thomas Newmeyer (John de Lancie), a renowned scientist eager to exploit a unique find: a tiny alien spaceship, part of a bigger one that was blown up in a space battle, that hurtles down to Earth and enters a little girls' bloodstream. This gives her healing / regenerating abilities, and the "deep reds" inside of the child can also be passed on to other people and help them maintain youthful appearances. One can see why Newmeyer would find this "fountain of youth" so alluring. Keyes has to pull himself together long enough to keep Rickmans' wife (Lisa Collins) and daughter (Lindsey Haun), the aforementioned child, safe.

Capably directed by Craig R. Baxley ("Action Jackson", "Dark Angel", "Stone Cold"), this is slick enough stuff that entertains well enough for a well paced 85 minutes. It sets itself up with an obvious "Star Wars" homage, then becomes a mystery into which the character of Keyes is dropped. It takes a while before characters start spilling the vital information that Keyes needs to hear. The action, stunts, and special effects are well done. The largely familiar cast also includes such folk as the lovely Joanna Pacula as Keyes' associate Monica Quik, Michael Des Barres as his good friend Lew Ramirez, John Kapelos as grudge bearing cop Mack Waters, Steven Williams as the helpful Detective Sergeant Eldon James, and in a bit, veteran actor Jesse Vint, who'd acted in "Dark Angel" for director Baxley. De Lancie is an effectively nasty villain, but this agreeable bit of escapism really belongs to the under-rated Biehn, who's believable as a depressed man who despairs over an imperfect world that allows tragedies to happen.

All in all, this should prove to be some fun for fans of the genre.

Seven out of 10.

Enjoyable, but not mind stretching

[sculshaw · 7/10 · 6 April 1999]

Finally got around to watching my tape of the film being shown on BBC. At first I didn't recognise Michael Biehn and was about to trash it, but then I did and, on the basis of really enjoying him in Aliens, I watch Deep Red.

Well at the end of ~90 minutes, I wouldn't say I was mentally challenged, but I'd still recommend it as a basic enjoyable movie -if you're into sci-fi, nanotechnology, and the good guy winning.

Nifty sci-fi noir thriller

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 15 July 2010]

Disillusioned and down-on-his-luck security expert Joe Keyes (excellently played with spot-on weary cynicism by Michael Biehn) is hired to protect Gracie Rickman (cute Lindsey Haun), a little girl with alien-altered blood who holds the secret to immortality. Sinister scientist Thomas Newmeyer (essayed with deliciously wicked relish by John de Lancie) gives chase. Director Craig R. Baxley, working from a tight and absorbing script by D. Brent Mote, relates the involving plot at a snappy pace, does an able job of creating and sustaining an edgy and mysterious atmosphere in the first third of the picture, and stages the action set pieces with his usual skill and gusto. Moreover, Baxley brings a cool, stylish, and engrossing contemporary film noir sensibility -- flawed and troubled protagonist with a dark past, gritty urban locations, hard-boiled female characters, etc. -- which further adds to the movie's considerable entertainment value. Kudos are also in order for the sound acting by the capable cast: Biehn makes for an appealing reluctant hero, the gorgeous Joanna Pacula is in fine feisty form as Keyes' tough cookie ex-wife Monica Quik, plus there are nice turns by Lisa Collins as Gracie's caring mother Mrs. Rickman, Tobin Bell as paranoid researcher Warren Rickman, Steven Williams as no-nonsense Sargeant Eldon James, John Kapelos as mean, vengeful cop Mark Waters, and Michael Des Barres as Keyes' loyal old partner Lew Ramirez. Joao Fernandes' lively and polished cinematography gives the picture a funky neon look. Gary Chang's moody score likewise does the trick. A real bang-up flick.

Better than expected

[King Chris-2 · 7/10 · 19 January 2001]

I watched this film expecting it to be a film full of villagers, but was pleasantly surprised to find that despite it's no doubt very low budget, some good special effects managed to be pulled off,(I especially enjoyed the alien being excremented through someone's hand-Nice), even though the film is a bit slow moving, it did keep you guessing (especially at the beginning), and had some good twists so I gave this film 7/10. There were above average performances from all cast members and some nice ladies, if you get the chance watch it, even for curiosity's sake.

Reasonably involving if a bit predictable

[isenberg-e · 7/10 · 18 June 2002]

The film takes a bit of time explaining its premise, which is good, as it makes it a bit of a mystery within a thriller. I found it moderately riveting (if that isn't an oxymoron), but the ending, while satisfying, was predictable.

Michael Biehn has himself another close encounter...along with assorted Star Trek & X-Files alumni

[SSS-1984 · 7/10 · 18 September 2023]

Not to be confused with Dario Argento's classic 1975 Giallo (known to it's native Italian audiences Profondo Rosso). This 1994 film also known as "Deep Red" to English speaking audiences debuted not in theatres, but on the Sci Fi Channel more than a decade before it was given it's ridiculous Syfy Channel rebranding. That's really another way of telling you that "Deep Red" is from the days when a Sci Fi Channel original was not so easy to dismiss & you'd be making a major error of judgement to dismiss this interesting & involving slice of Sci-Noir. A subgenre which encompasses everything from Future-Noir ("Blade Runner") to Tech-Noir ("Strange Days"). And in the case of "Deep Red" it could perhaps be described as Bio-Noir if not simply Sci-Noir itself...

...With it's plot dealing with biological alteration & regeneration as a result of contact with shrapnel from an Alien spacecraft under attack, "Deep Red" is as deeply rooted in pure Science Fiction as a film can get. But in terms of presentation it has far more in common with the mood driven detective novels of yesteryear. With our burned out protagonist narrating throughout a film which takes place almost entirely at night, "Deep Red" guides us through the darkness without telegraphing any of the twists which occur later down the road. To call the film unpredictable would be inaccurate as anyone who has watched enough films or read enough books in this genre will be wise enough to guess how this one plays out. But that doesn't mean the unfolding story is any less enjoyable...

...And with a cast of familiar film & tv faces including Michael Biehn, Steve Williams, Joanna Pacula, John de Lancie, Tobin Bell, John Kapelos, Lindsey Haun & Michael Des Barres, you know you're in good enough hands to give "Deep Red" the benefit of the doubt upon first impressions. And it must be said that with the film's opening space battle featuring some of the cheapest looking CGI of the 90's you may find yourself put off continuing. But let me tell you that you will not see another shot like it for the remainder of the film! In fact, "Deep Red" is fairly lo-fi for a Sci-Fi film. This one is more about the story than it is spectacle & that's something which most modern Syfy Channel originals sorely lack! And since the quality of CGI in Syfy Channel films are as poor today as they ever were you'd think they'd want to focus more on their scripts rather than "flaunting" their not so special effects. And this is exactly why a mid-90's film like "Deep Red" can be a refreshing experience to modern audiences who roll their eyes at the mere mention of a Syfy Channel original...

...The story of "Deep Red" is not going to rock your world or anything, but it's well told & played enough to keep you invested in the characters at it's heart. The ever-heroic Michael Biehn is naturally our lead & delivers a solid performance as a depressed security agent who works alongside the law. But as good as he is, Biehn is admitedly upstaged by Sci Fi tv icon John de Lancie as (who else?) the villain of the piece. A once renowned scientist turned self serving leader of his own team of "men in white", he's not above murdering anyone who gets in his way. And what could have possibly turned him into such a power mad monster? A taste of immortality of course! Not only that, but also shapeshifting capabilities & other benefits which come from his own contact with the aformentioned Alien shrapnel. Naturally he wants to seek out & silence everyone else "gifted" with such capabilities in order to obtain such god-like capabilities for himself. His main target being a child seen being struck by the shrapnel at the start of the film. It's not the most original setup & the script has more than a few cheesy moments, but at least some thought was put into this Sci Fi Channel original. Which is more than can be said of a Syfy Channel original! 😉

S. S. S.

Great, but I have a vested interest.

[joekeyes · 10/10 · 18 February 2002]

I've seen this movie many times and I think it's great. Sci-fi/film noir, how can you go wrong? Michael Biehn, John De Lancie, Steven Williams were all terrific. The effects were pretty good considering the budget (Less than $3M). Not enough humor maybe, but intriguing just the same. But then, I have a vested interest, don't I?

Somewhat cheesy, but fun

[Jase53 · 10 March 1999]

Caught this on TV last night and had to watch as Michael Biehn is a particular favourite of mine (Hicks.....cool). Basically alien nano-things (reds) that repair the bodies cells and make you effectively immortal take residence in a small girl. She possesses the only reds which do not decay within hours (deep reds) so nasty scientist type wants said little girl to make himself immortal. Emotionally battered Private Eye tries to protect little girl, to save not only her but to redeem himself.

The basic premise is pretty standard stuff, and the sci-fi involved is never delved into in suitable detail, things tending towards the twee and convenient. But hey, forget about James Cameron and Ridley Scott, turn off your brain and enjoy some pure cheesy old tosh!