The First Power 1990

Patrick Channing, notorious serial killer by moniker Pentagram Killer, unleashes a reign of terror upon innocent lives, perpetuating a ghastly ritualistic murder spree in the name of Satan. His signature modus operandi involves the gruesome act of inscribing a pentagram symbol into the flesh of his victims before striking them down.

Russell Logan, a resolute Los Angeles police detective driven by an unyielding determination to capture the Pentagram Killer, receives an enigmatic phone call from clairvoyant Tess Seaton. Promising her that Channing would not meet his demise at the hands of justice, she imparts crucial information regarding his next intended victim. With time running perilously short for the soon-to-be-sacrificed individual, Logan chooses to trust Tess’s insight and embarks on a stakeout, ultimately tracking down Channing’s lair. The ensuing struggle culminates in Logan apprehending Channing, but at a steep personal cost: a severe stab wound to his torso.

Logan recovers from the ordeal and, breaking his solemn vow to Tess, successfully seeks a death penalty sentence for the Pentagram Killer. Undeterred by her earlier plea, Tess initiates another phone call to Logan, beseeching him to reconsider Channing’s fate. However, Logan remains resolute in his decision. The consequences of this course unfold as Channing meets his end in the gas chamber.

In a shocking turn of events, since Channing had devoted himself to Satan, he is seemingly granted the “First Power” – the ability to resurrect – marking the first of three extraordinary abilities he endeavors to acquire. Rising from the grave, Channing now possesses the power to appear or disappear at will and to possess others. Seared by a desire for vengeance against Logan, who had thwarted his dark plans, Channing sets out on a path of retribution.

As the story unfolds, Channing initiates a gruesome killing spree by targeting Logan, whom he had previously arrested along with Tess (who saves him). Logan barely escapes Channing’s wrath while protecting Tess, only to find himself stalked once more. Seeking answers, Logan returns to his childhood home, where his grandmother confronts him about the execution of a victim she recognizes. Meanwhile, Logan and Tess are plagued by horrific psychic visions that reveal a shocking family secret: Channing’s grandfather is actually Logan’s father, the product of a heinous crime - the grandfather having committed incest with his own daughter. The grandmother, aware of these atrocities, remained complicit. This revelation sets the stage for the film’s climax at an abandoned section of a water treatment plant, where Logan finds Tess after she was kidnapped from their apartment by Channing. In a possessed state, Channing (inhabiting a nun) engages in a fierce battle with Logan, who ultimately stabs him in the chest with a crucifix containing a hidden knife - the only means to vanquish this malevolent spirit. As the fight concludes, a police officer misconstrues events and shoots Logan, leaving him wounded. Tess visits Logan in the hospital, where he awakens and attacks her. Upon regaining consciousness, she realizes that another psychic vision has unfolded, this time depicting Channing possessing Logan. The film concludes with Channing’s spirit still roaming free, taunting Tess with his ominous phrase, hinting at a supernatural legacy that continues to haunt them.