Plot: A beautiful high-tech battle android malfunctions during its trial run and seeks vengeance on the men who wronged her creator, Dr Eve Simmons. Dr Simmons and Special Agent Jim McQuade go after Eve to stop her before she can unleash her nuclear explosive device.
I always felt Gregory Hines was an underappreciated talent and was taken from us far too soon, sadly passing away in 2003 at the age of 57. He was an understated actor and never phoned in a performance, even in a movie with a supposedly silly concept as Eve of Destruction.
This was around the time of Universal Soldier and is similar in the way it’s about a rogue military weapon gone amok; in Eve of Destruction it’s a robot called Eve which is designed to look similar to it’s creator Dr. Eve Simmons (both played by Renée Soutendijk). It’s essentially a female revenge fantasy with Eve taking out any men who have wronged her maker.
Some have said this is very much a product of the time, but the themes are still very relevant today and there is nothing dated about the action. We get regular explosions and some awesome shoot-outs especially when Eve gets her hands on an Uzi. It’s well paced, never going too long between kills and the performances are surprisingly strong.
Hines is well cast as the hard ass Colonel Jim McQuade who is believable in the role but also acts his socks off in several scenes, but I think Renée Soutendijk also shines in her duel roles.
I feel bad for poor Timmy who goes through quite the ordeal in this movie and is going to need years of therapy after it.
The music score is quite different from what you’d maybe expect from a movie like this, but it has some cool moments even if it isn’t especially memorable.
Overall, Eve of Destruction is still a lot of fun with strong performances from Gregory Hines and Renée Soutendijk; it may be a slightly outlandish concept but these days nearly anything is possible, so it’s not too hard to believe. It’s packed with action and keeps a tight pace making for a an entertaining and explosive action picture.
