genre: action, crime, thriller
This is a film I have seen once or twice. First, when it came out on video and another time when it was airing on TV. Both times, I had fun. Now after 35 years or so I watched it again. So what do I think now?
The reason for me to check it out again was because of Fred Dekker. He wrote the script. This might explain the wildness of the story and events. But director Russel Mulcahy took it up a few notches and infused his kinetic style and craziness. He even blatantly refers to his own film, Highlander. It should be a laughable moment but because of the intensity and how it's played out, you get to witness John Lithgow as a proper action film villain.
What surprised me more was the level of violence and nudity shown. In one of the scenes, a man gets killed with a drill and another with an electric Saw. There are some snippets of pornography (full-frontal nudity, and ass shot pin up, even child pornography). I mean, it serves a purpose, but still, it's crazy what they could show back then and not be bothered about it. In that regard this does have a lot in common with other films (also) produced by Joel Silver. Like Die Hard 2 and The Last Boy Scout. I am sure if it were made today, it would have been heavily censored and blasted by Gen Z feminists.
So what do I think now? I had fun again. Denzel Washington as the super ambitious cop has our sympathy all the way. John Lithgow is excellent as the deranged psycho who wants to destroy Washington merely because his career catapulted, why he ends up beaten and locked up. I guess, his revenge, is the ricochet effect, acted up on Washington. You do have to suspend a lot of disbelief when it comes to Earl Blake Talbot and his actions. One could say the same about Nick Styles. In a way, they are equally crazy. And that enhances the viewing experience tenfold.
Like I stated earlier, this is a fun film, but you shouldn't take it too seriously since that will definitely hurt your enjoyment!
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