Terminal Force

This film doesn't let you forget that "it's only a movie." So often it depicts people behaving as just doesn't happen in real life. It's about a cop who has been suspended while his alledged over-zealous use of his gun is investigated. His boss, however, prevails upon him to help in the interim with a case wherein the daughter of a police-protected witness against an accused racketeer is kidnapped. Another gal in the picture has been (or is she still?) a pretty floozie for the villain. Certainly nothing terribly original here...not annoying; but only mildly amusing.

My review was written in October 1990 after watching the movie on New World video cassette.

"Terminal Force" is a 1987 action potboiler from Fred Olen Ray. Dull pic was released direct to video last year and is reviewed here for the record. Known for his fantasy pics and latterly comedies, Ray is in the soup in this venture into Al Adamson low-budget gangster plotting.

Expatriate actor Richard Harrison returns to Hollywood after many years in Europe to play a burnt-out case, suspended from the police force after he wastes a robber in a liquor store. His off-the-books status gets him an assignment involving squealing mobster Jimmy Williams, whose daughter Angela Prrcell is kidnapped by evil Jay Richardson.

There's lots of talk and little action as double crosses lead to a poorly staged final shootout.

Harrison is okay. Heroine Porcell is on display in endless seminude footage. Dawn Wildsmith delivers her reliable tough babe characterization.

Despite his billing, Troy Donahue has a nothing part as a bartender. The late Fox Harris is fun doing a bugged-out impression of Dennis Hopper circa "Apocalypse Now" as a comical informant to Harrison. Cleve Hall's turn as a bloodthirsty henchman is right out of the audience at a "Rocky Horror Picture Show" screening.

Tech credits are poverty row.

Renegade cop Nick Tyree (Richard Harrison) gets suspended after blowing away a liquor store robber who interrupts his alcohol purchase. Naturally, his hot headed chief wants him back when the young daughter of key witness against mob boss Johnny Ventura (Jay Richardson) is kidnapped because Tyree's law pushing ways are the only solution. Poor Richard Harrison never got a fair shake in the US. After traveling the globe from the 1960-1980s, he ended back up in America and got stuck in this Fred Olen Ray disaster. Not much really happens in this flick and Ray proves that sometimes he is only a step above Nick Millard when it comes to shoddy action. If the film is worth seeing for any reason, it is to watch the completely terrible performance by FX man Cleve Hall, currently on SyFy in his own reality series, as demented stooge Leonard. Sporting a GODZILLA t-shirt and teased hair, it is truly one of the worst performances I've ever seen. Troy Donahue shows up for two scenes as bar owner Slim. FOR's wife Dawn Wildsmith is the female lead and Angela Porcell, who provides the film's only nudity, is the kidnapped girl. And poor Joseph Pilato (DAY OF THE DEAD) gets one scene as a detective being tortured and has his name butchered in the credits (as Josef Piato).

Another trash fest from Fred Olen Ray, this time cashing in on the tough cop thriller genre of the late '80s. This one begins with Richard Harrison wasting a crim in an attempted convenience store robbery (straight out of COBRA) before moving into a tawdry tale of kidnapping and justice. Harrison, one of my favourite screen presences, is wasted here and the whole thing feels cheap and forgettable - no surprise given that it was made in just five days. Expect tons of nudity from a supporting actress just made to sit around with no top on.

Great cinematography, cheesy moments. Don't take this film seriously just enjoy the journey.