Video Hate Squad: FALLEN ANGEL

Just in time for the scantily clad Summer season, VIDEO HATE SQUAD finally takes an excursion into the made-for-TV realm with this vintage slice of America's 1980s romance with stranger-danger. Mixing elements of THE BAD NEWS BEARS with Paul Schrader's HARDCORE, the movie is exceptionally creepy despite being tame enough to meet the restrictions of its format. The late Dana Hill stars as Jennifer Philips, a young girl on the threshold of burgeoning womanhood who has recently lost her father. Meanwhile, kiddie porn talent scout/girls softball coach Howard Nichols (Richard Masur) is under the gun to replace one of their stars who’s falling apart at the seams. Soon enough, Jennifer is starring in Coach Howie’s orange-Crush-&-quaalude-fueled woodland photo shoots. Masur, as the manipulative coach, is both seedy and sweet, but is never over the top despite the fact that his lines are a rich lunch of double entendres. At one point, when meeting Jennifer's parents after a losing softball game, he puts his arm around her and says, "Don't worry. We'll work on her grip next week." Ronny Cox and Melinda Dillon round out this disturbing laugh riot! (Max)