"Demon Hunter" is sort of a low-rent "Constantine," if you can imagine such a thing. Unlike the Keanu Reeves epic, this one plays like a TV pilot with boobs, and despite its obvious low budget, it's kind of fun at times, and mercifully short. As usual, Anchor Bay gives this a better DVD presentation than it probably warrants.

Sean Patrick Flannery plays Jake, a brooding nihilistic assassin working for the Catholic church, specializing in finishing off victims of demonic possession when exorcisms don't work. But now he has bigger problems. Lately, the possessed have all been young hookers impregnated by Asmodeus (Billy Drago), a horny demon bent on procreating. Conniving Cardinal White (William Bassett) enlists Jake to hunt down and kill Asmodeus with the useless help of wide-eyed nun Sara Ryan (Colleen Porch), who appears to serve no real purpose but to act shocked at Jake's ruthlessness. Together, they enter the seediest parts of L.A to destroy Asmodeus before it's too late. Baring more than a passing resemblance to "Constantine," "Demon Hunter" doesn't really offer too many surprises (with the sole exception of a revelation about Sister Ryan), nor is it directed with much more flare than the standard stuff that usually premieres on the Sci-Fi Channel (only with a lot more female nudity). But it's reasonably entertaining, and Flannery does a decent job with his role...suitably (if predictably) rough-and-tumble, with a couple of amusing one-liners thrown in to remind us how world-weary he is. Porch's character is phenomenally annoying, not to mention unconvincing (I don't know about you, but I've never met a nun who looks like she just walked out of a Maybelline ad). Perennial B-movie baddie Drago does his usual slimy schtick, and gets to most of the breast groping (I guess that's a plus when signing on for a movie). But unlike "Constantine," whether intentional or not, there's a tone of campiness underlying the film that makes it sort of a hoot to watch. Best of all, the movie doesn't wear out its welcome, running only 78 minutes. In fact, it feels sort of like a television pilot (not surprising, since it is produced by TV mogul Stephen J. Cannell).

The movie is presented in 1.77:1 widescreen, but still looks like it was made for TV. I guess that isn't such a bad thing, since the overall image is clear and sharp, with accurate black tones. The audio is offered in both 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital. There isn't much creativity in the presentation, but it's serviceable enough for this sort of film.

Director Mitch Gould & actor Nancy Yoon (who's really only in the film about 10 minutes) provide a decent audio commentary. Other features include a lengthy making-of documentary, 'Demons Among Us' that's actually more worth sitting through than the commentary, as well as another short featurette chronicling a fight sequence rehearsal. Rounding out the extras is the original trailer.

"Demon Hunter" is probably worth renting, especially if you enjoyed "Constantine." It's little more than a B-movie knock-off, but thanks to a solid performance by Flannery, and a pretty high T & A quotient, this is an agreeable way to kill 78 minutes if you keep your expectations realistic Similar Movies: "Constantine"; "John Carpenter's Vampire$"