In 1979 Christine York is born. She is unremarkable - except for the fact that she bears the birthmark of the anti-Christ.

Twenty years later, Christine (Tunney) has grown into a young woman, who is haunted by nightmares about a mysterious man.

Security guard and ex-policeman, Jericho Cane (Schwarzenegger), finds himself caught up in the situation when he rescues the young woman from attackers who have invaded her home.

What Jericho doesn't know, but soon discovers, is that Satan himself is roaming the streets of New York with the intention of mating with the chosen girl in the millennium's final hour.

If Satan manages to impregnate her during these 60 minutes, she will give birth to the anti-Christ, who will put an end to the world forever.

Cane has a chance of stopping Lucifer. He and his sidekick, Chicago (Pollak), become Christine's saviours, battling even the church to keep her alive and away from Satan.

It is up to Cane to protect Christine from witnessing the end of days but does he realise what he's up against?

The $100m budget bought plenty of explosions, helicopter stunts and shape-shifting transformations and fans of the action genre won't be disappointed.

This is that rare example of an action thriller with a brain.

Dominic Bloch