Web Series Review: Ed Brubaker's "Angel of Death"

I happened to click on one of my old bookmarks on a fluke, and found the website working now and playing the movie! So I had to watch it all and post it up. One of my favorite writers, Ed Brubaker, penned the Angel of Death story which was produced into a FREE Web Series of 10 episodes released on Crackle. Starring Zoe Bell (an actual stunt woman who you may have seen in Death Proof), it brings the crime thriller story as follows: Synopsis: Noir comic book legend Ed Brubaker cuts deep with the story of Eve, a hot woman with a heart of ice. Zoe Bell steps in as an assassin haunted by visions after a bloody encounter with a very big knife. In this, the most ambitious web series ever created, Zoe makes bare knuckle boxing a thing of beauty, and a head wound as sexy as sin. Lucy Lawless, Doug Jones, and Ted Raimi all show up for the ride, but few come out alive. If the sight of blood bothers you, just keep your eyes on her other assets, and remember she can grab your heart with her looks or her hand, your choice. Writer: Ed Brubaker Starring: Zoe Bell, Lucy Lawless, Doug Jones, Ted Raimi, Jake Abel, Vail Bloom Director: Paul Etheredge This originally hit the net back in March, I think. I immediately went to the website to watch it then and got repeatedly rebuffed as it just wouldn't play and the website was a mess. Apparently, they've got their shit together now and I happened to click on my bookmark for no reason and there it was. So I of course watched the whole 10 episodes right way, lest it won't work again tomorrow (stupid 'net). I really enjoyed it too. Of course, noir / crime / gritty action genres are right up my alley. I'll admit some acting is a little soft in spots, but on the whole it's done very well. The production values are high level for a web series - this could be shown on TV without a hitch. And the action, specifically from Zoe Bell, is surprisingly top notch and violent. The story is typical of the genre, but the characters grab your attention. I saw one or two of the mid episode plot twists coming a mile away, but that's probably my movie cynicism in play. I liked the ending however, and hope they do more. It will be shown on Spike TV on July 25th, and available to buy on DVD on July 28th. But again, right now it's up and running on Crackle.com for FREE. Check it out after you sit in front of your TV, roll through the channels and see there's nothing on...again. As a side rant, this is great, and where I hope to see TV / movies / original content continue to go. This would probably never get onto a television network (it's probably rated R, or at least mature), and wouldn't get a theatrical run, but is a lot of fun to watch and follow the story. TV studio execs cancel shows too fast for me to even bother tuning in any more unless I can pick up a complete season on DVD. And TV seasons are too long to tell complete, but shorter stories. Having an episodic story but one on a definitive timeline with a clear end is something I could get invested in, and not fear I'm going to have my time wasted at the "whim of a madman" (or studio head as it were). Give us 8/10/12 episode stories, and if they're a hit, go for a sequel. But at least we'd know we're going to see the whole thing. That's something I'd pay to see - and here's the irony. Stuff like this and Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long-Blog are fantastic, and were released for free! I'd pay to see more of the work they're giving away, and they want me to pay for stuff I wouldn't watch for free. What's wrong with that picture?