Shadow of Death

Lyle Alzado is...The Destroyer. The box to this movie claims it to be an action/thriller. Nope, it's a slasher flick. It's also an April Fool's Day reunion for Clayton Rohner and Debra Foreman. The late, great NFL monster Alzado is a psychotic rapist and murderer who is executed minutes before a prison riot breaks out. After the riots are over, the prison is forced to close and Alzado's body is never found. Years later, Foreman, Rohner (sporting one of his famous haircuts), and Anthony "Psycho" Perkins are filmmakers shooting a movie in the famed prison. It all makes for an odd little slasher entry. I wouldn't say Destroyer's great, but it does have its moments of hilarity. It's just fun to watch Alzado go to work on people with an over-sized jackhammer...or to hear Perkins say the words "shower scene."

'Destroyer' is a late 1980's prison slasher that features a solid cast, some cool kills and a fantastic setting, but suffers from poor pacing and a weak climax. The movie is well-shot with decent production values and some impressive camera work. The combinations of both action and horror elements was a fun idea, but neither of these elements were explored enough to make this more enjoyable.

The plot begins with prisoner Ivan Moser (Lyle Alzado) whose about to be executed for the murder and rape of 23 victims, he avoids death due to a freak accident when a prison riot breaks out and he seemingly disappears presumed dead. 18 months later a film crew uses the prison location to shoot an exploitation flick, until one by one they meet a grisly end.

The movie has first glance has all the makings for a great slasher flick and while there some fun moments to be had such as the awesome effects, cheesy yet entertaining set pieces and interesting characters, but the movie squanders a lot of its potential by lacking any real atmosphere and could have done with a tighter script and the sluggish pace. Plus there was way too many off-screen kills and no attempt at any real suspense despite having an awesome killer, but even he wasn't developed in the slightest.

The cast is what saves this from being a total misfire, Anthony Perkins lends some credibility to this flick as the sleazy director, he's fantastic in the role and steals every scene he's in. Deborah Foreman makes for a reliable final girl and a strong leading lady. Clayton Rohner is also decent as the boyfriend and very charismatic, then Lyle Alzado is fun as hell as the killer, he's got the hulking physical presence and chews every scene he's in with such delight.

Overall 'Destroyer' is not terrible by any means, it has some fun moments, but it is a little lacklustre in its execution (pardon the pun).

In DESTROYER, a movie is being made in an abandoned prison, where a riot had killed dozens of guards and inmates a few months prior. Said riot had started after the execution of enormous, musclebound serial murderer, Ivan Moser (Lyle Alzado). Now, as the film crew gets rolling, the real, hideous deaths begin.

Has Moser returned from his gargantuan grave?

This is one of those cheap, cheeezey movies that would have played well on the drive-in circuit of its era. It takes a while for this one to get going, and even then it sort of drags along like a tranquilized turtle. By the time we actually get to see Mr. Alzado's character, it's half over. This is a shame, since he's the only dynamic aspect about this entire project!

On a positive note, Anthony Perkins is rather humorous as the Director of the ill-fated movie being made.

Extra Points For: The aforementioned Mr. Alzado, whose cackling maniac character almost saves this film from its own dullness. Almost...

This movie is worth watching (and buying) for one reason: Lyle Alzado!! Of course he plays a maniacal killer-who would expect otherwise? One of his best lines: Girl about to be killed-"Why?" Alzado (with a confused, quizzical look)-"Why not?" Another great scene is when Alzado clothes-lines the guy off his motorcycle, smashing the windscreen for effect! Classic! OK it's not fine cinema, but it is entertaining and interesting if you are an Oakland Raiders fan. Compare to John Matuszak in North Dallas Forty, Caveman, and Weird Science. Too bad those two never worked together on film, they could've provided some over-the-top bad guy scenes in plenty of B action flicks.

This horror movie is very similar to others of the time such as Prison (1987), The Chair (1988) and The Horror Show (1989) but this is much more fun.

A movie titled "Death House Dollies" begins filming in what the crew believes to be a deserted prison unaware that a former inmate, Ivan Moser- who raped and murdered 23 men and women, had survied the electic chair years earlier and is still in the prison and he is very angry!

There's plenty of humour, decent kills and gore and there is an entertaining scene from the film within the film showing a group of girls fighting naked in a shower.

Stand out performances go to Lyle Alzado as the demented Ivan Moser and legendary actor Anthony Perkins as the direstor of the tashy "Death House Dollies".