Pure Danger

From the early to mid-90s, PM Entertainment was my favorite exploitation, DTV company. They delivered competent productions that delivered some of the best slam bang action of the time period. Forget the computer enhanced stunts in TRUE LIES or ERASER...PM is where it was at. This crime flick marks the third directorial effort by actor C. Thomas Howell (his second for PM Entertainment after the detective film THE BIG FALL) and is a perfect example of the "everything must be like Tarantino" era in Hollywood in the wake of PULP FICTION. Howell stars as Johnie Dean, an ex-con now working as a short order cook. When a bag of diamonds fall into his lap, Johnie and his waitress girlfriend become targets of several gangs looking to steal the diamonds. Yes, it is TRUE ROMANCE with diamonds instead of cocaine.

Howell and company seem to be having a good time with this production. It never takes itself too seriously (how could anyone take Howell seriously with that mustache?) and features an amazing final chase scene coordinated by Spiros Razatos. Seriously, this car chase is one of the scariest things I have ever seen featuring real cars screeching, exploding and flipping right in front of each other. I am still trying to figure how they got permits to film this stuff on LA's streets and highways. John Landis would be proud. Howell also populates his cast with some familiar faces including Leon (dressed exactly like Samuel L. Jackson in PULP FICTION), Michael Russo, Macrus Chong, Irwin Keyes and Carrot Top!

Solid cast, funny, dangerously exciting, excellent action sequences. Script seemed appropriate for this eccentric film noir and cast supported it. C.T. had his hands full.

OK, so this film is not high art. The plot is a bit thin, the lead actress is more wooden than my garden furniture and some of the dialogue is a bit embarrassing. Nevertheless, this film does have a lot to offer! Firstly, any film with C. Thomas Howell can't be all bad. As usual, he rises above his material and gives another great performance. I also found his direction to be lively and creative. Somebody give this man a budget and a script editor for his next directing foray and there will be no stopping him!

The film itself is not without charm. I loved the character of Dice. The scene where he tries to fence the diamonds to a mafia boss, while he's sitting on the toilet is worth the rental price alone! Likewise, the scene where Dice's girlfriend comes up with a most unusual hiding place for bounty is a stroke of genius.

Throw in a great final car chase, a couple of completely gratuitous scenes in strip clubs and some so-bad-it's-GREAT dialogue and you really can't go wrong for a fun hour and a half of entertainment. Highly recommended for the more forgiving viewer!

For first attempt as director, ok effort from C.T. but many improvements needed. Storyline ok, lead actress terrible. C. Thomas' acting also weak, not convincing. Seems difficult for him to do the comedy-action role.

This movie is very entertaining and has some great cameos from terrific actors. C.T. Howell is awesome as an ex-con and down and out wise cracking cook who finds himself working in diner hell somewhere in the middle of nowhere. When thugs converge on the remote diner he works at, a black gang comes to take the diamonds from the racist mobsters and a point blank shoot out leave bodies and the bag of diamonds that C.T.'s character and the waitress he works with seize the golden opportunity to get out of their dim existence and make the big time. They know where to cash in the diamonds but their lives are in constant peril as both the mob and the black gangsters are in hot pursuit. The rest of the movie is a thriller action roller coaster that is very entertaining and worth the watch.