Dead On: Relentless II

Leo Rossi reprises his role of Sam Dietz and this time he's paired up with a shady FBI agent to find a another serial killer, only this killer has a hidden agenda that isn't just about killing people.

I was actually surprised by this film, normally with sequels you get a very weak second film but this one was anything but, this sequel is actually better than the first, the killer this time is played by Miles O'Keeffe whose intense looks really does his character justice, Ray Sharkey is an actor I've never seen before or since this film but he played the role of the shady FBI agent very convincingly.

The storyline obviously is very much the same formula as the first one only unlike the first one that concentrated more on the killer, this one chooses to focus more on the character of Sam Dietz and how the incident at the end of the first film effected him and his family, as well as how his relentless pursuit of serial killers take its toll on his life and his marriage.

Not many sequels surpass their predecessor but this one is one of the few exceptions, if you're a fan of the first, you won't be disappointed with this one

I sort of enjoyed the first one, so bought the DVD of the second to watch, wish I hadn't bothered.

Apart from the odd bit of fairly restrained violence, this plays as a bland made for TV movie type thing, and the acting is truly awful.

For me, films like this need a bit of sleaze, and there's none on offer here at all.

I'm really surprised that some people hold this one in higher regard than the first. At least director William Lustig managed to create a bit of atmosphere in the first.

Don't think I'll be bothering with 3 and 4 of the series as I can't see them being an improvement on this.

'Dead On' picks up mere months from where things left off. It's still very much a cop's hunt for a killer, but other elements are new. Question becomes is it enough to break up another routine story & does the cast stand out? This first sequel - two more follow - doesn't have a lofty bar to hit. I was hoping it would at least match the original's level.

Det. Sam Dietz (Leo Rossi) solving the 'Sunset Murders' damaged his family. He's separated from his wife & son (Meg Foster, Brendan Ryan) and has become much more of an obsessive detective. When random victims start showing up linked together by method of death & bloody symbols drawn on walls it appears to be another serial killer (Miles O'Keeffe) at work. This time he's teamed up with FBI Agent Vassone (Ray Sharkey) who says it's the work of a guy who already has 22 bodies to his name and is moving across the country from East to West.

There's no getting around the obvious. Dietz has gone from a cop begging to be able to do good police work & a measure of respect to being a downright A-hole. It's kinda off-putting. Especially when the hurt is shown caused to his estranged family. Meanwhile the flick is pretty face up about Vassone being deceptive so you have to play the waiting game to get the obvious reveal. Lastly the killer isn't given any personality. Only when the ending comes does he get fleshed out in back story 101 and have dialog.

'Relentless 2' is stomping pretty familiar grounds. Cops not getting along, family troubles and murder most foul. The cast is sufficient, but there's no standouts. Betrayal & political intrigue gets injected, but much isn't very good. Dietz's thinking becomes a stretch & I was left wondering how much sentiment will be irrelevant come 'Relentless 3'.

For several years I've enjoyed the other two "Relentless" films, but for some reason I missed this one until tonight.

It's not easy to find these films on line, but it's worth the effort.

The villains in each film are well cast. They present a frightening collection of killers!

Leo Rossi does an excellent job playing a frustrated cop trying to solve a case. He doesn't get much help from superior officers, or the FBI agent with whom he's required to work.

If you're somewhat jaded you will enjoy the killing techniques used...including cable ties.

Finally, you'll see some artful shots of ice cube baths, etc.

Enjoy!

Detective Sam Dietz (Leo Rossi, reprising his role from the first film) is trying to juggle getting over the attacks on his family from the first film & trying to catch a new serial killer (Miles O'Keefe) while teamed up with an unhelpful FBI agent and dealing with a home life that's crumbling around him due to his relentless pursuits of his job. Meg Forster also returns but is relegated to bitching at her husband most of the film.

Instead of focusing mostly on the villain like the previous Relentless did, the sequel unwisely chooses to follow Detective Dietz who comes off as a slightly pompous self-loathing windbag. The first film was (moderately) entertaining strictly because of Judd Nelson's dead-eyed portrayal of that films killer (and William Lustigs direction to a lesser extent) Where as this film gives Miles O'Keeffe's Gregor, the stone cold killer (who could've been a great character, the back story was intriguing enough) the short shift, and while this sequel is still somewhat watchable, it is definitely the lesser because of it.

My Grade: C-

DVD Extras: Trailers for In The Cut, Secret Window & Panic Room