Antonio Banderas Latest To Hit Direct-To-Vid Skids

Just a couple of years ago, Antonio Banderas was one of the hottest foreign stars making inroads in American films, with prominent roles in "The Mambo Kings" and "Philadelphia."

Then came last year's string of disappointments ("Desperado," "Four Rooms," "Assassins"), followed a few weeks ago by a Disney comedy, "Two Much," that didn't open in several major cities (including Seattle) and tanked at the box office.

This month, Banderas joins the direct-to-video contingent with "Outrage," an R-rated 1993 Spanish thriller by art-house director Carlos Saura ("Cria," "Carmen"), whose most recent flamenco dance movie, "Sevillanas," also went to video last month.

Banderas is cast as a reporter obsessed with a beautiful circus sharp shooter (Francesca Neri), and in the second half it turns into her story. The script takes a sharp turn into revenge melodrama when she is gang-raped and uses her skills to hunt down and execute her persecutors.

Three straight-to-video sequels will also make their debuts this month: "Tremors 2: Aftershocks," with Fred Ward and Michael Gross reprising their big-screen 1990 roles as tough guys battling giant worms; "Witchcraft: Salem's Ghost," a warlock's revenge story starring Lee Grober and Kim Kopf; and "Highlander: The Adventure Begins," a feature-length cartoon based on the 1986 "Highlander" movie that starred Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery.

Also making their debuts on video are three Seattle

International Film Festival entries that never found theatrical distribution: John Ryman's ambitious but empty comedy about the perils of matrimony, "Galaxies Are Colliding," starring Kelsey Grammer and Dwier Brown; John O'Brien's annoying piece of whimsy, "Vermont Is For Lovers," starring George Thrush and Marya Cohn as a stressed-out New York couple who retreat to the country; and Bellingham filmmaker Jon Fitzgerald's soporific gay love story, "Apart From Hugh."

Also bypassing theaters:

"Wild Side." A thriller with Christopher Walken as a charismatic millionaire, Joan Chen as his enigmatic wife and Anne Heche as a bank executive who moonlights as a prostitute. It's available in R-rated and unrated versions.

"The Eye of Vichy." Claude Chabrol, prize-winning director of the Isabelle Huppert version of "Madame Bovary," made this documentary, compiled from newsreels and propaganda produced by the Nazis and French collaborators during World War II. First Run Features is releasing it. Information: (212) 243-0600.

"Women From Down Under." An hour-long $30 package of lesbian short films from First Run Features. The titles include Jane Schneider's morning-after fantasy, "Jumping the Gun," and a couple of clever pieces about sex and hunger, Christine Parker's "Peach" and Monica Pellizzari's "Just Desserts."

"Silent Pioneers." Water Bearer Films is releasing Lucy Winer's hour-long 1985 documentary about senior members of the American gay and lesbian community. It's priced at $40. Information: (212) 580-8185.

"Fatally Yours." Mystery about a haunted house and memories of a former life, starring Roddy McDowall, Rick Rossovich, Sage Stallone (Sylvester's son) and George Lazenby (who played James Bond in 1969's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service").

"The Immortals." Heist thriller about four teams of thieves led by a nightclub owner (Eric Roberts). Tony Curtis, Tia Carrere, Joe Pantoliano and Chris Rock are in the cast.

"Redemption." Kickboxing thriller about a murdered martial-arts champion and the retired champ (Mark Dacascos) who goes to South America to avenge his killing.

"Terminal Impact." More kickboxing action, with Bryan Genesse, star of "Night Siege" and "Livewire: Human Timebomb."

"A Reason to Believe." Feminist college drama about a popular girl (Allison Smith) whose boyfriend (Danny Quinn) belongs to a notorious fraternity. Jay Underwood is the drunken frat brother who sexually assaults her at a party.

"More ABBA Gold." Hour-long tape of hits from the '70s group whose songs have recently played such an important role on the soundtracks of Australian movies ("Muriel's Wedding," "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert").

"Beyond Desire." Crime thriller with William Forsythe as an ex-convict who falls for a Las Vegas prostitute (Kari Wuhrer) who was sent by a mobster to track him down.

"Murdered Innocence." Hitchcock-style thriller starring Jason Miller as a guilt-ridden detective and Ellen Greene as a wife and mother whose life he once tried to save.

"Watch Me." Voyeuristic thriller about a photographer who spies on the man who owns her new apartment.

Video Watch by John Hartl appears Thursdays in Scene. For more information call the Video Hotline on InfoLine, a telephone information service of The Seattle Times. Call 464-2000 from a touch-tone phone and enter category 7369. It's a free local call