Héros

Chuck Norris takes on a serial killer in this enjoyable action thriller. Okay, it's no Silent Rage . . . . . . . but what is? Fans of the mighty Chuck will find enough to enjoy as he launches his patented flying kicks. Steve James is also on hand to look tough and praise our hero, who is literally nicknamed hero at various times throughout (hence the title).

HERO AND THE TERROR is probably one of the weaker Norris/Cannon collaborations, but still it's worth a watch if you think of it as a watered- down version of SILENT RAGE.. sounds like a good idea, which- let's face it- is.

Not one of his most exciting films, but definitely one of his better films, considering everything after this was going straight to video. A solid opening and a killer ending make up for the fact that there's very little action in this, as it tries to go for more of a thriller/drama vibe, in which case it only half-succeeds.

Hero and the Terror' was a slight departure for the action star – one that offered more psychological drama than punches and kicks. Still, I actually like the movie enough to say it's worth a look, particularly if you've never seen it or haven't seen it in a while.

Not much martial arts in this, but Check it out if you like some Good Suspense in an action film.

"Hero and the Terror" is pretty good as Chuck Norris cinema goes. It's more along the lines of his 1982 vehicle "Silent Rage", as it's really more of a thriller than an action film; therefore, some fans may find it disappointing.

Chuck doesn't do too much ass kicking this time around in this attempt to play a different sort of character, and to his credit he pulls it off, playing Danny O'Brien, a detective who earned the nickname "Hero" when he apprehended vicious serial killer Simon Moon, a.k.a. "The Terror" (boxer turned actor Jack O'Halloran, perfectly cast). Danny's always felt guilty about the subsequent praise as he knows what really happened is that he got lucky. Naturally, by the time this movie is over, he'll have realized that this is one demon he will have to exorcise, in order to deal with his nightmares.

Brynn Thayer is foxy and feisty as his leading lady Kay (who was Danny's psychiatrist!), and the late, great Steve James is his usual charismatic self as Danny's colleague Bill; James simply steals the scenes whenever he's on screen. Also appearing are Ron O'Neal (Superfly is the mayor of L.A. in this thing!), Jeffrey Kramer of "Jaws" 1 and 2, Joe Guzaldo (who acted with Chuck in "Code of Silence"), Murphy Dunne of the Blues Brothers Band as the theatre manager, ravishing Playboy Playmate Karen Witter as Hollywood starlet Ginger, Tony DiBenedetto, and the always delicious Billy Drago, Chuck's nemesis in the second "Delta Force" movie, as a highly unlikely psychiatrist.

The real-life Wiltern theatre makes for an impressive setting, and there is some decently done suspense in this thing. The music by David M. Frank fits the tone of the movie with its somber quality. Any and all action scenes are rather perfunctory. Still, Chuck and the cast & crew deserve some credit for doing something a little different; you don't see him in the position of actually being intimidated by his opponent too often, although, again, this might not sit will with some action fans watching.

In any event, it's enjoyable stuff, with a screenplay co-written by former actor Michael Blodgett ("Beyond the Valley of the Dolls"), who does an uncredited bit in an extended restaurant scene.

Eight out of 10.

Years ago, cop Chuck Norris captured serial killer Simon Moon, a.k.a. "The Terror." This made him a local hero dubbed "Hero" by the press. Now The Terror is back and Hero has to stop him. This is a somewhat different movie for Chuck than his other '80s movies. He attempts to play a more layered and sensitive guy this time around. Sure he does spin-kicks and the like, but he also wears sweaters and goes shopping with his pregnant girlfriend Brynn Thayer (one of Matlock's daughters). Jack O'Halloran plays The Terror. Steve James takes time out from being Michael Dudikoff's sidekick in the American Ninja movies to being Chuck's partner here. Billy Drago also appears in a surprisingly non-villainous role. Chuck gets a lot of flack for a variety of reasons but his '80s movies were usually entertaining. This is no exception. It's not high art but it is a fun cop movie.

Homicide detective Danny O'Brien (Norris) is known simply as "Hero" for having brought down L. A.'s most vicious serial killer: Simon Moon (Jack O'Halloran), a.k.a. "The Terror." But for years, O'Brien has secretly been haunted by the fact that his capture of Moon was a fluke. When The Terror escapes from jail and * to his old killing ways, O'Brien finally gets the chance to earn his glorified reputation if his monstrous enemy doesn't destroy him first!

Due to Chuck Norris getting good performance reviews for the superb Code of Silence, it was decided to make a film that demands him to act a little, and here he plays a tortured and sensitive character. He acts really well, and to be honest that's the main reason to watch this otherwise passable thriller which only picks up in the last thirty minutes. The first hour is mainly concentrated on the relationship between Chuck and his pregnant girlfriend. It's not a great Norris film, but passes the time adequately.

Hero and the Terror (1988)

** (out of 4)

Danny O'Brien (Chuck Norris) brings down a serial killer labeled by the media as The Terror (Jack O'Halloran), which gets his labeled as Hero. Three years after the event O'Brien is still suffering nightmares and struggling to put his life together but things get a lot worse when The Terror escapes from a mental hospital.

HERO AND THE TERROR is a Cannon film that tried to show their star Norris in a new light. The "added" stuff here includes seeing Norris struggle with coming to terms with the killer but there's a very large subplot dealing with his pregnant girlfriend and their upcoming child. The melodrama in the picture actually takes up the majority of the running time, which is too bad because there's a fairly interesting killer here to work with.

I never fault any actor trying to go out of the norm and do something different. It's funny that Cannon would have Norris doing some more than kicking butt in this film and especially when you consider that their other star Charles Bronson was trying something new this year too with MESSENGER OF DEATH. Both films have the stars offering up a new thing but it really doesn't work too well here. Norris actually gives a good performance and proves that he can handle the drama but all of this really waters down the story dealing with the serial killer and in the end, this is a Cannon movie after all.

The opening sequence actually manages to build up some nice suspense and there's some great one liners coming from Norris. The first forty five minutes or so are actually very entertaining but the film eventually runs out of gas and struggles to get to the conclusion. I think there are several long sequences that just didn't go anywhere including a search of a theater that drags on to the point where you're ready to take a nap. O'Halloran is effective in the role of the killer and it's too bad that there wasn't more of him.

HERO AND THE TERROR is a decent movie but not a complete winner.