IMDb RATING
6.8/10
16K
YOUR RATING
An F.B.I. Agent teams up with a tracker to pursue a murderer after he vanishes into the mountains and infiltrates a hiking group.An F.B.I. Agent teams up with a tracker to pursue a murderer after he vanishes into the mountains and infiltrates a hiking group.An F.B.I. Agent teams up with a tracker to pursue a murderer after he vanishes into the mountains and infiltrates a hiking group.
- Awards
- 2 nominations total
Sam Hiona
- Superintendent Hsu
- (as Samuel Hiona)
Ken Camroux-Taylor
- Denham
- (as Ken Camroux)
Featured reviews
It think whoever wrote the script for this movie had the first half all planned out, but then didn't know where to go afterwards. The first 40 minutes or so is riveting, one of the greatest openings to a film you'll ever likely to see because it keeps you guessing, there's decoys thrown in and it throws up one big question, which one of the fishermen is the bad guy? I guessed wrong. Once his identity is revealed it all becomes a bit stock standard, other users have said that the bad guy question was answered too soon and i tend too agree, another 20 minutes or so would've helped, the fishermen tour is a fun part of the movie.
Despite it's slight decline in power at this point the directing and cinematography remain first class. The characters are believable, realistic, give good feedback and are easy to relate to. Character development in Shoot to Kill isn't matched by many others, simply first class. The script is laugh out loud witty at times and Poitier and Berenger gel well, but the acting does have it's poorer moments, as does the script. A couple of plot holes don't help. But look past some minor flaws and the movie is great, the curiously catchy soundtrack adds to the movies feel, and the scenery is documentary spectacular and also gives a good sense of it's intimidation. Definitely a must watch for thriller fans. Everyone I've shown it too loved it, and everyone I know who's seen it loved it. Highly underrated, yet highly enjoyable.
Despite it's slight decline in power at this point the directing and cinematography remain first class. The characters are believable, realistic, give good feedback and are easy to relate to. Character development in Shoot to Kill isn't matched by many others, simply first class. The script is laugh out loud witty at times and Poitier and Berenger gel well, but the acting does have it's poorer moments, as does the script. A couple of plot holes don't help. But look past some minor flaws and the movie is great, the curiously catchy soundtrack adds to the movies feel, and the scenery is documentary spectacular and also gives a good sense of it's intimidation. Definitely a must watch for thriller fans. Everyone I've shown it too loved it, and everyone I know who's seen it loved it. Highly underrated, yet highly enjoyable.
After an eleven year absence from the screen, Sidney Poitier chose to return in an action/adventure film where he plays an FBI agent in search of a killer.
He's got good reason to want this guy bad. His quarry is ruthless and kills without mercy. Poitier loses a hostage and the ransom he's asked for. But some good detective work has traced the man to a remote part of the Pacific Northwest.
Where the perpetrator has killed again and joined a party of dry fly fishermen being guided by Kirstie Alley into the rugged mountains. No place for a city kid like Poitier, says mountaineer/hermit Tom Berenger who has the prerequisite skills to get the job done. These two are forced into an alliance of inconvenience.
The best thing I liked about Shoot To Kill is the guessing game we play for the identity of the perpetrator. Any one of the five men in Kirstie Alley's party could have been the killer. Look at the cast list and you'll recognize a few names who've played some pretty loathsome villains in the past. The identity is revealed suddenly and quite shockingly.
What I didn't like with Shoot To Kill is the fact that the final confrontation with the perpetrator is in big city Vancouver where he's escaped with Alley. He needed her in the woods, not any longer, she should have wound up dead. And Berenger and Poitier should have confronted him in the woods.
That script decision made the climax a rather ordinary one that you see in a whole lot of police chase films. Still all the players do fine here, my favorite being Kirstie Alley as the woods smart guide.
He's got good reason to want this guy bad. His quarry is ruthless and kills without mercy. Poitier loses a hostage and the ransom he's asked for. But some good detective work has traced the man to a remote part of the Pacific Northwest.
Where the perpetrator has killed again and joined a party of dry fly fishermen being guided by Kirstie Alley into the rugged mountains. No place for a city kid like Poitier, says mountaineer/hermit Tom Berenger who has the prerequisite skills to get the job done. These two are forced into an alliance of inconvenience.
The best thing I liked about Shoot To Kill is the guessing game we play for the identity of the perpetrator. Any one of the five men in Kirstie Alley's party could have been the killer. Look at the cast list and you'll recognize a few names who've played some pretty loathsome villains in the past. The identity is revealed suddenly and quite shockingly.
What I didn't like with Shoot To Kill is the fact that the final confrontation with the perpetrator is in big city Vancouver where he's escaped with Alley. He needed her in the woods, not any longer, she should have wound up dead. And Berenger and Poitier should have confronted him in the woods.
That script decision made the climax a rather ordinary one that you see in a whole lot of police chase films. Still all the players do fine here, my favorite being Kirstie Alley as the woods smart guide.
I haven't watched this since I was 15 years old in 1990 and I liked it then and 30 odd years later it's still a good watch. Much better than action/thrillers being made these days.
Well, this movie's a pleasant surprise; pretty much on every front. "Shoot to Kill" is a taut thriller to to bottom, but I think what sets this apart from other buddy movies is that it crosses genres. It's not just two disparate men on a dangerous mission, but there's also a manhunt and a wilderness movie thrown in for good measure. Still, Poitier and Berenger have a solid chemistry, and their road to mutual acceptance is a rocky one. It's a good cast throughout with a charming Kirstie Alley (to be fair, I haven't (yet) seen "Cheers" and I only really know her as a Vulcan). NIce scenery, too; I got a real "First Blood" feeling with that Pacific Northwest locale. I'm not sure why I hadn't heard of this movie until today, but either way, it's great.
7/10
7/10
Thriiling and moving thriller with unstopped action from start to finish . It deals with a streetwise FBI agent determined to track down a cruel series killer who at whatever cost wants to get a valuable loot , including killing and kidnapping . Vengefully , Poitier follows the trail up into the remote mountains on the Canadian border, a far place where a polish cop is comically out of water . As the chase against the homicidal maniac leads to the mountains of the Pacific Northwest , where the tough Inspector teams with tracker Tom Berenguer , while his sweetheart , Kirstie Ally , another mountain guide is held hostage .
This tense and nail-biting thriller is packed with as much taut action as the storyline will allow , but let down at times . Sidney Poitier returns to the big screen after a ten-year absence to portray a city-wise FBI enforcer similar to his previous Inspector Tibbs , and here as the urban fish unfamiliar with the rural pond . While Tom Berenguer does well as the two-fisted mountainer who will stop at nothing to find his kidnapped girlfriend : Kirstie Alley . All the clichés clock in , characterisation is simple and cardboard, but the film works enough . It contains an agreeable chemistry between the two leads : Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenguer providing sympathy and humor . They are very well accompanied by a fine support cast with plenty of familiar faces, such as : Kirstie Ally, Clancy Brown, Richard Masur , Andrew Robinson, Frederick Coffin, among others .
It packs a picturesque cinematography shot on stunning locations in Vancouver , Briitsh Columbia , Canada , Norhwest Pacific , splendidly photographed by cameraman by Michael Chapman. As well as atmospheric and stirring musical score by John Scott , though composed by means of synthesizer . The motion picture was competently directed by Roger Spottiswoode though it draws some flaws and gasps in about equal number . Robert has made nice and successful films of all kinds of genres , such as : Terror Train, Under Fire, The Best of Times , Turner and Hooch, Air America, Stop or My Mother will Shot , And the Band Played On, Tomorrow Never Dies, God's Favorite, The 6th Day and several others . The flick will appeal to Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenguer fans . Well worth seeing
This tense and nail-biting thriller is packed with as much taut action as the storyline will allow , but let down at times . Sidney Poitier returns to the big screen after a ten-year absence to portray a city-wise FBI enforcer similar to his previous Inspector Tibbs , and here as the urban fish unfamiliar with the rural pond . While Tom Berenguer does well as the two-fisted mountainer who will stop at nothing to find his kidnapped girlfriend : Kirstie Alley . All the clichés clock in , characterisation is simple and cardboard, but the film works enough . It contains an agreeable chemistry between the two leads : Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenguer providing sympathy and humor . They are very well accompanied by a fine support cast with plenty of familiar faces, such as : Kirstie Ally, Clancy Brown, Richard Masur , Andrew Robinson, Frederick Coffin, among others .
It packs a picturesque cinematography shot on stunning locations in Vancouver , Briitsh Columbia , Canada , Norhwest Pacific , splendidly photographed by cameraman by Michael Chapman. As well as atmospheric and stirring musical score by John Scott , though composed by means of synthesizer . The motion picture was competently directed by Roger Spottiswoode though it draws some flaws and gasps in about equal number . Robert has made nice and successful films of all kinds of genres , such as : Terror Train, Under Fire, The Best of Times , Turner and Hooch, Air America, Stop or My Mother will Shot , And the Band Played On, Tomorrow Never Dies, God's Favorite, The 6th Day and several others . The flick will appeal to Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenguer fans . Well worth seeing
Did you know
- TriviaSidney Poitier's first acting role in eleven years.
- GoofsDuring the car chase, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is already damaged in most side-on shots, despite not crashing into the taxi and light pole until later.
- Quotes
[as Knox prepares to cross a gorge]
Warren Stantin: What are you doing?
Jonathan Knox: I'm going to get the basket.
Warren Stantin: Oooh, shit!
- How long is Shoot to Kill?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Shoot to Kill
- Filming locations
- Buntzen Lake, Anmore, British Columbia, Canada(Seaplane landing)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $15,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $29,300,090
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,781,628
- Feb 15, 1988
- Gross worldwide
- $29,300,090
- Runtime
- 1h 50m(110 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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