Avenging Angel (1985)

Avenging Angel is the kind of scrappy, neon-stained ’80s crime thriller that knows exactly what it is: a pulpy, street-level revenge tale with a surprisingly likable heart beating under the sleaze. Betsy Russell gives Molly/Angel an earnest edge—smart enough to want a new life, tough enough to dive back into danger—while the movie surrounds her with offbeat characters and a Hollywood Boulevard vibe that’s equal parts grimy and strangely affectionate. The action is blunt, the dialogue can be wickedly funny in that grindhouse way, and the whole thing plays with a campy charm that makes it easy to watch even when it gets mean. It’s not for everyone—there’s some nudity, profanity, and moderate violence—but if you’re on the fence and craving an entertaining, unapologetically trashy thriller that moves fast and doesn’t pretend to be respectable, this one delivers.

Avenging Angel is clearly trying to give Molly a “grown-up” sequel arc—law student by day, street avenger by night—while keeping the neon-grime L.A. crime vibe alive. The problem is it plays like a rushed, uneven mash-up of vigilante action and soap-opera plotting, with less of the original’s cheeky B-movie spark and more generic shootouts and mob threats. If you’re hoping for clever camp, a tight thriller, or a character-driven comeback, this may feel slapdash and oddly joyless despite the premise. Still, if you’re in the mood for mid-’80s exploitation energy, familiar faces, and a straightforward revenge ride with moderate violence and some nudity/profanity, it can scratch that specific itch.