Eye for an Eye

Nothing beats a good revenge movie, it's a thing people like to watch, making your own justice when all the legal options failed. Fantasizing about what we would do if we were the victim of injustice. For a vigilante movie Eye For An Eye is entertaining but it's not the best in the genre. For that there are too much inconsistencies and is the bad guy (played by Kiefer Sutherland) probably the dumbest vilain ever seen. But it's worth a watch, there is some suspense, we get some justice served, and that's why we watch movies like this one. It was probably better in the nineties but since then there are better movies made in this genre.

EYE FOR AN EYE is an intense, nail-biting thriller that has a good message and taut direction. The script is from the people who wrote HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE, and this is just as intense. While the whole cast delivers fine performances, Kiefer Sutherland is the one who stands out and does a creepy job. It may be hard to watch at times, but I thought it was a rather moving and powerful film.

Karen McCann (Sally Field) is preparing the birthday party of her younger daughter Megan (Alexandra Kyle). Her older daughter Julie (Olivia Burnette) goes home earlier in the afternoon to help in the preparation and talks by phone with her mother that is in a traffic jam. Out of the blue, a man breaks in the house and rapes and kills Julie. Det. Sgt. Denillo (Joe Mantegna) is in charge of the investigation and captures the killer Robert Doob (Kiefer Sutherland) with strong evidence against him. However, his lawyer uses a technical detail to dismiss the evidence and Robert is released. Karen and her husband Mack (Ed Harris) are advised to go to a support group and she discovers that there are vigilantes entwined in the group. Meanwhile Karen follows Robert that works delivering groceries and she finds that he intends to attack a Latin woman. She tries to warn the police and the probable victim, but she is driven away by them. When Robert finds that Karen is following him, he threatens her sayng that he would visit Megan. Karen decides to have self-defense and shooting classes and the vigilante Sidney Hughes (Philip Baker Hall) gives a revolver to her. When the woman she tried to warn is murdered by Robert, Karen plots a scheme to get rid of the killer.

"Eye for an Eye" is a dramatic thriller with a great story of justice and revenge. It is a shame that lawyers use breaches in the laws to defend scums like the character Robert Doob, but that is the sad reality. The praiseworthy attitude of Karen McCann is an exception but perfectly understood in the situation. The acting is excellent and the plot is timeless. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Olho por Olho" ("Eye for an Eye")

Note: On 03 September 2024, I saw this movie again.

In my opinion this is one of Keifer Sutherlands best and underrated roles.He plays a terrific villain here ,so much it makes me wonder why he does not do more roles like this.He is so convincing and his stage presence is immpecable.The movie itself didn't do an awful lot for me but again Sutherland is the real star here .Another role he played similar to this was Truth and consequences New Mexico .He looks exactly like he does in this and plays a perfect bad guy.I have always claaified Sutherland with actors like Ray Liota and Micheal Keaton because they are amazing actors who don't get the right roles.They all play spectacular villains and for some reason they never do enough of them.This movie is great in the way it highlights Sutherlands best features as a actor and as a character you love to hate.

Derivative revenge drama with the usual excellent performance by Sally Field as a devastated woman seeking justice for her daughter's rapist-killer.

Kiefer Sutherland plays beyond a disgusting bad guy, a true horror. The first scene will give you nightmares. The family is planning a birthday party for the victim's sister when the rape occurs, as Field listens in her car.

Field does a tremendous job, exhibiting her pain and anger and really making the audience feel every second of her suffering.

Parts of this were very disturbing.

Sam Harris does a good job as her husband, and Joe Mantegna is effective as a frustrated police officer.

Keeps one interested.