Reason to Die

My review was written in June 1990 after watching the movie on Vidmark video cassette.

Wings Hauser heads back to South Africa in the uneventful actoner, "Reason to Die", a direct-to-video title set in the fictional nation of Angelique (read: Angola).

Hauser's a skip tracer who's illogically sent back to Angelique from N. Y.'s Chelsea Hotel to capture a mad killer (Arnold Vosloo) who's preying on hookers.

Pointless action scenes ensue as Hauser protects lovely Anneline Kriel, who becomes the killer's next target after her photo is printed in a magazine alongside her expose on massage parlors. Main problem with the potboiler script is that Hauser doesn't investigate so much as keep bumping into the killer by accident.

Idiotic finale has Vosloo agreeing to play a variation on "The Most Dangerous Game" (man hunting man) with Hauser and Kriel instead of killing them outright.

Bright spot here is Kriel, a South African star who dressed up the James Ryan chopsocky hit "Kill and Kill Again" a decade ago. Pic exists in both R and unrated versions, presumably differing as to gore content.

This is an ugly and unpleasant film. You do feel this at times, one example where the blood flows freely over the opening credits, thanks to our women hating psycho with a switchblade. Again Hauser, with his mysterious and little known past plays a bounty hunter, chasing down the guy in South Africa. A sexy, if brazen reporter, (Kriel) like in the wake of a murder attempt, teams up with Hauser, where a relationship forms, and there is some sex. The psycho's reason here, was that he blames prostitutes for his sister's death. She was also a prostitute. Hauser does get a little bloody on his investigation, when chasing down a few scumbags, associates of our psycho. The son of Hauser's best friend, who acts as a tour guide, a eager assistant, does strongly disapprove of his hardened methods, Wings actually cuts him loose of from helping him in further investigations. And again too, Hauser clashes with African authorities, adding some humor to the situation, one of the African cops stating "You have the right to shut the f... up?" The film becomes personal, when our psycho, Wilson, kills Hauser's mate's son. Here was one truly dramatic acting moment from Wings. The film title has a double meaning too, I love. This is one of Hauser's sicker films that joins "The Art Of Dying". I do admit, I've seen this movie a couple of times, and it was one I quite liked. I haven't seen it for years, where I have to make another viewing time soon. Yes Reason To Die, is an overly sick violent, action psycho thriller that Hauser fans should add to their must watch list, though not doubt, some viewers will see this movie as "a reason to kill".

The scene of a bounty hunter (Wings Hauser) hunting bail jumper (Arnold Vosloo) quickly moves from New York City to South Africa. An obviously unhinged Vosloo is on a rampage cutting up hookers as if he were a human "Vegimatic". While there is plenty of slicing and dicing, his motivation is rather far fetched and weak. Vosloo's sister was a prostitute who was killed while in the "life", and he is out seeking revenge on call girls. The movie delivers just enough sleaze and action to entertain, but lacks a lot in the logic department. For "Wings" fans this might be a worthwhile watch, while others need not bother. ..... - MERK