Zona pericolosa

This was one of those films I constantly saw on the video previews of ex-rentals and each time I saw it pop up my hunger only grew to watch it. Produced by Charles Band's Empire pictures, "Enemy Territory" was a nice surprise (strangely not on DVD yet) and truly a sock 'em urban action survival romp that is compulsively brutal, raw and relentless in its tightly constructed surges.

Barry (Gary Frank) a struggling insurance salesman heads out to a rundown complex building the Lincoln Towers late one evening for a client (Frances Foster) to sign some very important papers for his company and especially for himself. However he gets caught in an altercation which sees him fighting for his life against a savage gang called the vampires, who rule the building at night. Also getting involved is Will (Ray Parker, Jr) a telephone repairman who comes to his aid. It's going to be one long night for the pair, as they try seeking help from the buildings tenants or it would be their blood for the vampires. They hunt at night for blood.

A low-budget, but well-pulled off enterprise by director Peter Manoogian. He creates a gritty edge from its surroundings (plenty of taut corridor running), where the pacing is fast, the tension is on boil and the claustrophobic build-up has you biting your finger nails. A simple-minded script keeps it tough, especially with its biting wit and a bit of social commentary lingers on urban decay. Still just take it as caught in the wrong place, at the wrong time situation. Coming to the forefront is the potent performances by the cast. Gary Frank is fittingly good in his meek portrayal and Ray Parker, Jr is affably brought across. Their chemistry simply crackles. The tremendous standout would be aggressively hammy and towering Tony Todd as the count, the leader of the gang. His speeches are pure poetry and he eats it up. A spunky Stacey Dash adds plenty of kick to her role and also Frances Foster. Jan-Michael Vincent would appear in a small part as a grizzled, resentful paraplegic Vietnam veteran. In the background is a pounding soundtrack.

This flick is a good representative of the 80's underrated B-movies, that gets you not by the quality, but specially by the lack of it. The best thing is when a movie does not take itself seriously, the essence of a nice low-budget production. The acting is poor and over the top, the surroundings are clearly used from another pictures done before, very goofy lines and involuntary humor. And you gotta love it! All these are present here, helped by the reverse Midas touch of the prolific producer Charles Band, notorious for his Roger Corman wannabe personality, that guarantees the fun for a penny. In the story, a phone company worker (Ray Parker Jr., whose sole glory was the making of the hit song "Ghostbusters", in his acting debut) is caught up in the middle of a crisis with a violent street gang called the Vampires, that control a project building where a rundown insurance salesman played by Gary Frank stepped on the wrong toe by touching a gang member after dark; the Vampires leader, The Count (Tony Todd), wants blood to make amends and the duo must fight for their lives until the sun comes up, with the helping hand of some courageous inhabitants. This suspense is OK, the situations are OK, I am OK and you are OK. Be OK by watching this OK movie. You'll feel just OK after.

A late 80's action thriller that has a yuppie insurance salesman visiting a housing project apartment building in New York at night. While in the building to collect a premium he has a mishap with a gang member from a group that all themselves The Vampires. This sets off a war between the gang and the tenants in a place the police won't go.

This flick was awesome. The Vampire gang was led by a young, skinny Tony Todd which he did just after Platoon. I met Tony Todd a couple years ago and meant to ask him if he had this on DVD because he did tell me he collects DVDs and I've never seen an official release of this one yet.

As well as Tony Todd you have Ray Parker Jr. helping the insurance guy get out of the apartment alive and playing a Vietnam vet in a wheelchair was Jan-Michael Vincent kicking ass. The film reminded me of Tenement: Game of Survival (1985) which the writer probably watched with elements of Assault On Precinct 13. The tension just keeps building in this one. An enjoyable film that's not too heavy.

I saw this movie a looooooooooooong time ago. At that time I didn't like it. But I decided to try it again to see whether I like it better now. I think that when you re-watch a movie after a few years the possibility is there that you will like it even more or hate it even more. The more movies you watch the more you broaden your horizon and the more your opinion on movies changes. Well, after re-watching this movie my conclusion was "Oh my god, this is great stuff". And it is. It's very 80ies and has a lot of suspense. You are into it very fast and then it's a long ride till the end. Just awesome.

I was put on to this film by a friend of mine. It's a great flick with a good pace and interesting characters. Admitted some of the acting is a little shameful, but Jan Michael Vincent supplies us with a solid performance as the gruff ass kicking paraplegic with Knives in his wheel chair (how cool is that?). If you enjoyed the Warriors than this is definitely worth a watch.

But why is this not on DVD? Have searched high and low and can't find it anywhere.

Had to watch in poor VHS quality with German subs which was a little annoying, but did not detract from my enjoyment of the film.