The First Power

Before Gary Gilmore was executed, he announced his belief in reincarnation and his intention of coming back. Inspired by this, writer-director Resnikoff's silly thriller has LA detective Logan (Phillips), who headed the successful investigation, up against the evil soul of an executed serial killer, Channing (Kober). Logan's nightmares begin as he is terrorised by a disembodied voice, lurid graffiti, and a resumption of the killings. He recruits the services of a psychic (Griffith) and the local convent, where a nun recognises Satan's handiwork. Resnikoff fails to sustain the tension established in the opening sequences, and the plot quickly degenerates into a repetitive pattern of possession and exorcism for the victims requisitioned by Channing's soul to do its bidding. With the exception of Phillips, the performances are remarkably unconvincing.