Slash

Now, whilst I don't generally like to be overly critical of actors, I must confess here straight away that I have never seen a single film in which Romano Kristoff headlines that I have actually liked. Again, I don't want to come down too hard on the guy (after all, he may for all I know be a really nice chap in real life) but in terms of action film performers, off hand I cannot think of a more wooden actor. I'm further saddened to report that the film reviewed here, in no way whatsoever challenges nor changes my opinion of Kristoff's work. To call it mundane would be probably a little on the complimentary side in fact! Basically it's a fairly typical example of Kristoff's output and indeed further similarly typifies the standard of film quality by the production company who are responsible for it, namely Silver Star. Note: Lots of big explosions with extras falling over nearby does NOT a good film make.

To be fair, I must admit that the ending wasn't too bad in this when our hero lets rip with his souped up rocket launcher but this action arrives too little too late to remedy what was up until this point a decidedly dull hour and fifteen or so minutes.

There is one highlight in this I would like to note for the record however and that is Kristoff's anguished reaction when he realises that the helicopter he was desperately trying to make it to has mysteriously gone missing - priceless! Indeed for such an hilarious sustained outburst I could almost (but not quite) forgive Kristoff for his crappy filmography. Oh well.........

Director Jim Goldman brings us the Ramboish "SLASH" starring Romano Kristoff (Peter Harris) and the pretty Gwendolyn Hung as (Barbara). With Ham and Egger Mike Monty thrown in as (Major Andrew Scott) this one rolls along nicely with a ton of action and most importantly Kristoff selling the fact that he is an actual bad ass. A couple of the usual plot twists and unfortunately some really bad war scene choreography keep this one out of the Z+ level, but it is still a solid "Z" film. Romano's performance put's it over the top for a recommendation if just barely.

Slash is without a doubt Romano Kristoff's best starring vehicle. A barely mediocre, completely forgettable Rambo ripoff which is just about on the level with the cheapest 80's Italo jungle epics. Which raises it head and shoulders above the average Silver Star fare and the bulk of Romano Kristoff's filmography.

Of the regular Silver Star All Stars, Ronnie Patterson, Gwendolyn Hung and Mike Monty (in a larger role than usual) are present. Patterson made a short mini-career of having non-roles in films like this, Fireback, Intrusion Cambodia and so forth.

There's nothing particularly distinctive about Slash, except for Gallardo's peculiar infatuation with Mike Monty's bald patch. The film is graced with several scenes of Monty's back and thinning hair talking to Kristoff.

If he had been working either in Italy or the US, Kristoff would probably have ended up having a reasonable low-budget, direct-to-video action career. There were certainly other genre actors as bad/far worse than he was who had far more success than he ever did.