David Hess (1942 - 2011)

Switching on my PC this morning, I was shocked to read about the death of David Hess.

Hess started his career as a singer, songwriter in the late 50's and was first discovered by Perry Como (Hess' was he first artist to record 'All Shook Up' and subsequently led to him writing a few hits for Elvis Presley, Pat Boone and Andy Williams)

In 1972, his (then) brother-in-law (Martin Kove) persuaded the Hess to give acting a stab (and 'stab' it, he did) as 'Krug Stillo' in Wes Cravens groundbreaking classic The Last House On The Left. Hess also wrote and performed the haunting (sometimes jaunty) soundtrack, that still divides audiences today (personally, I think it's awesome) The Last House On The Left set a new benchmark in movie violence, and although Hess had many roles in different genres, he was best associated (not to mention 'best served') in horror movies. Hitch-Hike (alongside Franco Nero) followed in 1977, and Hess delivered the goods again. But in 1980, his role as 'Alex' in Rugerro Deodato's savage House On The Edge Of The Park, finally cemented Hess as 'The Baddest Bad-Guy In Cinema' (a movie that still suffers 13 minutes of censorship in the UK)

Hess continued to act in bit parts here and then, usually playing bad guys in U.S TV shows, and this steady revenue, enabled him to continue his passion for music. In 2009, he bounced back to the horror spotlight with SMASH CUT, a gory (low budget) tale of a fil-makers descent into madness. IMDB had Hess linked to a Deodato directed update of House On The Edge Of The Park for a 2012 release....But sadly (like Joe Spinell in Maniac 2, before him) the project is just another 'What If' for horror fans. Hess leaves behind a legion of mourning fans (myself included) and a legacy of great movies (and likewise songs)

Rest In Peace David Hess, keep on rocking

HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER 2 (1996) Neil Giuntoli

After my long absence (i.e, watching 90+ back-to-back episodes of PRISONER: CELL BLOCK H with only another 600 to go) I thought I'd return to review a much maligned sequel to one of the best 'Horror' movies ever made. HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER 2 - MASK OF SANITY (Phew...what a mouthful!) has it's flaws (notably no Michael Rooker) but holds up well to it's predecessor, and retains the same 'downbeat' tone. Plus it manages the rare feat of having a rape sequence that gets right under my skin (more on that in a while)

After many shots of murdered victims (indicating that our 'hero' is still keeping active) we see Henry drag a woman into the woods, before killing her as she tries to escape. Given Henry's 'passtime', it's understandable that he has no regular address...therefore he frequents various soup kitchens and homeless shelters. During one visit, a derranged looking pervert, takes a shine to Henry, at the dinner table. Henry ignores him.

("Your carboard box or mine?")

Later in the sleep shelter, the creepy guy lays in the opposite bunk, inviting Henry to watch him whack off ("hey boy....Looky here") Henry turns around (probably not advisable, given his admirers intentions) Undeterred, the pervert casually rapes a older bum in the opposite bunk that Henry is facing. Henry just lays there (as do the other homeless folk) as the old victim screams out for help. This scene freaks me out. It's not particularly realistic (although I'm no expert on 'Gay-Rape'.... despite living in Middlesbrough) It's the hopelessness of it all. Henry (or anyone else) could easily intervene....but no-one does. Henry again, turns his back on the screaming victim and the rapist pervert. Maybe, Henry (a psycho himself) understands that the pervert is just doing his thing, and any intervention would be hypocritical?

(What the fuck?)

Leaving the shelter, Henry goes looking for work, and soon finds employment at a 'Portable-Toilet' delivery yard. He soon makes friends with co-worker Kai (and his wife 'Cricket') but seems wary of the ever-grinning sleazeball manager 'Rooter'. Kai and Cricket invite Henry to move into their spare room (until he gets on his feet, money-wise) And despite his (seemingly) timid nature, Henry forms a semblance of normality with his new housemates. Cricket's niece (the troubled) Louisa, takes a shine to Henry, and sees in him a fellow kindred spirit.

Louisa's 'attachment' to Henry is strengthened, when Henry saves her from bullying neighbourhood kids, that taunt her 'mental stability' Henry manhandles her young tormentors, who vow to "Tell their daddy" and low and behold, later that night...The young Hoodlums family arrive on Kai's doorstep, baying for blood (and trading foul-mouthed expletives at each other, in easily the movies funniest sequence)

("Tell me where this guy is, or I'm gonna start busting heads!")

Henry sneaks a peak in Kai's basement to find a stack of alarm clocks and a book labelled 'Incendiary Devices' (a red-hot read, I'll wager) before he can put two and two together, Kai confronts him, and proceeds to explain his 'after-hours' work as a 'fire-bomber' for insurance claims. Kai brings Henry into the business, and the two men set off to set a controlled inferno at a warehouse. With petrol bombs set to ignite, Henry hears a noise, and uncovers two homeless guys sleeping rough in the warehouse. Pulling out a revolver (which shocks even Kai) Henry ties up the two guys, puts them in the trunk of his car, and drives away before the warehouse is engulfed in flames (I don't know why he didn't leave them there to burn, truth be told?) Henry now plans to bring Kai into HIS 'after-hours' work......by insisting to Kai, that they shoot a homeless guy each. What's worse is, Kai seems to enjoy it....

(watt the fuck?)

Many more 'firebomb' (not to mention, portable shitter) jobs ensure, and 'arsonist-in-command' Rooter (already on Henry's shit list) incurs further wrath, when he jokingly states "Fuck up, and I'll kill ya" to our lovable serial killer. Later that night Henry (pissed off that Kai has spilt the beans to Rooter) teaches his landlord a brutal lesson in 'Shut-your-fucking-mouth'ness' by randomly killing another homeless guy (who had the Gaul to try clean his windscreen) This freaks Kai out, but he's too far into it to back out now.

(Henry: Portrait of a fucked up horse)


Louisa tries to bond with Henry (boy, can she pick em') with examples of her morose artwork (i.e, a lot of sub-par 'goth figures impaled on scythes' bullshit) which leads to Henry putting pencil to paper (resulting in a bizarre, yet strangely touching picture of a horse) Referred to as "Rocks" as it was a horse Henry had as a child, that only ate rocks (don't ask) This leads to a conversation about suicide, between our two 'would-be' starlets (as you do) Louisa looks determined to take 'it' to the next level with Henry, but (luckily for her) Henry makes his excuses an leaves.

Kai is set upon by the disgrunted father (plus two of his buddies) from earlier, who proceed to give Kai the 'Ike Turner' treatment. Battered, bruised (and feeling not quite a 'Real' man) Kai confides to Henry that he'd like to (quote) "Get all those bastards, burn all their fuckin' houses down") to a dissinterested Henry. In fact, our pint-sized serial killer suggests that Kai get revenge, by killing some random guy at the spare of the moment. And pulling up at a gas station, the two men do just that. Kai kicks the shit out of a hapless mechanic, before stabbing him, and Henry finishes him off by slitting his throat.

Despite his reservations, murdering a bunch of winos works wonders for Kai's flagging marriage to Cricket, as it seems to increase his libido (which in turn, disgusts Henry) Armed with a revived sexlife, and wanting to protect her (already obsessed) neice, Cricket wants Henry to move out, and tells Kai to turf him out. Henry (surprisingly) agrees, but suggests that they both go out for one last night of fun. Which means breaking into the house of an elderly couple (decapitating the male, suffocating the woman) This is the final straw for Kai (fucking hypocrite he is) and afterwards the two men come to blows (with Henry getting the upper hand)

(Redneck)

A (now besotted) Louisa attempts to woo Henry, who rejects her...causing our disturbed heroine to call him (quote) "A fucking fag" before threatening to (quote) "Blow my own fucking brains out" Henry flees, but a distraught Louisa rummages through Kai's kit-bag and finds his revolver. Meanwhile Henry, Kai and Cricket attend a party at Rooters house. Rooter mocks the fact that both men have been fighting each other (casting further aspersions on their sexuality) and then proceedes to make matters 16 times fucking worse by spiking Henry's beer with LSD (bad idea) Henry returns later on, and repays the favour by 'spiking' Rooters nose (with a big-ass screwdriver) Kai witnesses this, and helps Henry cut up Rooters corpse (and even offing a bystander that's snooping around)

With the corpses bagged and burnt, Henry returns home with Kai (and cricket) to find a hysteric Louisa, with a gun barrel to her head. Despite the pleas of the trio, Lousia blows her brains out. This upsets Henry enough, to make him realise that now is the time to 'move on'. But not before he shoots both Kai and Cricket. Dumping all three bodies in the basement (and utilizing the arsonist skills his friend taught him) Henry douses the house in petrol (caring little that Kai is still alive) and throws a flare into the house.

Henry drives off, the house explodes, the titles roll.

HENRY PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER 2 is probably hated by about 95% of Gods-blue-and-green-misery-orb. Despite it's lead actor being at least foot shorter than Michael Rooker (and resembling the love-child of Art Hindle and John Heard) the movie is filled with enough sleazy offbeat carnage to please fans willing to overlook the absence of original star and director. It retains the gritty, urban feel of it's predecessor (plus touches of offeat black humour) The murders are a little more gruesome, but just as upsetting. Neil Giuntoli aquits himself well and convinces in the quieter scenes as well as the 'bat-shit' sequences. The other actors (no academy favourites amongst them) play their roles well enough. Cricket (Kate Walsh) has clearly been to the Gaylen Ross school of acting (which is no bad thing in a movie as nihilstic as this) Whilst Rich Komenich (bearing an uncanny resemblance to Jeffery Dean Morgan in WATCHMEN....albeit in the 'Comedians' later, washed up years) certainly doesn't phone it in either as Kai, the slightly pathetic arsonist, murderer and impotent redneck anti-villain.

(Salvation Barmy)

Director Chuck Parello seems to have a thing for serial killers. He directed the (dire) ED GEIN in 2000...before redeeming himself with in 2004 the (insanely hilarious) HILLSIDE STRANGLERS (starring C. Thomas Howell and Nicolas Turturro) which would make a great double-bill. I would advise anyone not familiar with these two movies to seek them out. And as great as the John McNaughton 'HENRY' is, this sequel is a lot better than it has any right to be (plus a must for lovers of low rent, high sleaze urban horror movies)

Memorable quote:

Kai "Son of a fucking bitch"

Happy Birthday Sylvester Stallone

Not had much time of recent to post up any reviews (working on a few...and finally located my SHARK ATTACK 3 dvd) and what with the sad passing of Peter Falk, it's never a better time to celebrate my favourite actors Birthday.

Not much to say about Stallone, other than his rise to fame inspired billions (let alone his movies) For all the slick pumped up action flicks, he'll be (rightfully) associated with the ROCKY movies (those movies are a template to my life...regardless of what heights you actually reach) Add to his acting, writing, producing, and singing abilities (come on...."Too Close To Paradise" is a classic song) he also comes across a genuinely warm and witty guy, not afraid to mock his own image and mortality. And at 65 years of age (today) the guy is still built like a piece of steel.

He briefly dipped his toes into DTV land in the late 90's early 2000's....but has since bounced back with ROCKY BALBOA, RAMBO and THE EXPENDABLES (which is great, because quite frankly, I'm sick to death of so-called 'action stars' like Matt Damon and Orlando Bloom) With many other projects lined up, Stallone shows no signs of slowing down. Long may be reign as the finest action hero in history (not to mention, a great actor)



Happy Birthday Sly

Peter Falk (1927-2011)

Genuinely saddened at last nights news of Peter Falk's passing. Not that he made many Straight-To-DVD movies in his illustrious career (although Walter Hill's underrated UNDISPUTED was granted such treatment in the UK)

Born in 1927, Falk lost an eye (to cancer) at three years old. Not the best start to any young life (let alone, someone who would go onto achieve the worldwide accolade and fame that Falk did) But (as Sammy Davis Jr, before him) true talent shines through any disability.

Falk made a name for hmself on stage, before slowly working his way up the hollywood ladder. He clocked up some memorable supporting performances in movies like Murder Inc, Pretty Boy Floyd, It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Castle Keep and Anzio. In 1968 he signed up for a NBC MYSTERY MOVIE called Prescription Murder, playing a rumpled detective named Columbo. Although not a huge hit with audiences, the character of Columbo was recommissioned 3 years later (with another one-off episode, Ransom For A Dead Man) leading (later that year) to a seven episode season....the rest as they say is history, and the character made Falk instantly recognizable around the world.

And the movie roles didn't stop there. Now a huge 'name' actor, Falk starred in many classic movies (during his 32 tenure as Lt Columbo) including, Husbands, A Woman Under The Influence, Murder By Death, Mikey And Nicky, The Cheap Detective, The In-Laws, The California Dolls, Wings of Desire, The Princess Bride and (David Mamet's enjoyable) Lakeboat.

Although he'll be forever associated (and rightfully so) with Columbo, Pater Falk not only leaves a eclectic back-catalogue of movies, he also leaves millions of fans mourning at the passing of one the few greats. R.I.P Peter Falk


Got the full set of Columbo DVD's...time for a complete re-watch, methinks?

DIRECT CONTACT (2009) Dolph Lundgren

As much as I enjoyed THE PUNISHER, ARMY OF ONE or MEN OF WAR, I've gotta' be honest here, and say that I've always found Dolph Lundgren to be the 'eternal bridesmaid' of action cinema, and found his recent movies rather dull. Be it my old age (or the fact that he killed 'Apollo Creed') I've found most of his DTV work to be 'lacking'. He sure looks the part and at 53 years young, 6' 5" tall, he certainly looks after himself....but (as with Wesley Snipes) his DTV work is littered with more duds than hits. None of this stops me from watching his movies.....but truth be told, I'm sick to death of reading stuff like "The Russian Specialist is a kick ass movie" (when it clearly isn't) or PR blurb stating "Command Performance rocks" (only to find a dull and plodding Die Hard Wannabe, hidden behind an otherwise great trailer) So it's with indifferent displeasure (?) that i review the latest Lundgren 'masterpiece' to hit UK shelves (despite it being already 2 year old...which is never a good sign) But looking at the DVD case...it seems to have some plus points, it's an 18 Certificate Nu Image movie, featuring Michael Pare......What could go wrong?

(Quite a lot....it seems)



DIRECT ACTION sees Lundgren as lunk-headed (ex-US Special forces) Mike Riggins , residing in an Eastern Europe prison for gun-running. Amidst the many beatings from the wardens, fights with inmates, or the blood drinking Rats, Riggins seems oddly at ease with his predicament. Enter shadowy U.S envoy Clive Connelly (Michael Pare) who offers Riggins a full pardon (plus $200k) to rescue an kidnapped American woman, Ana Gale (Gina May) who is being held by a ruthless criminal, Vlado Karadjov (surely a name worthy of a 90+ score at Scrabble?) Connelly also mentions that anna may be suffering a touch of 'Stockholm Syndrome' and may resist being rescued.

("Ray Liotta was busy filming BEE MOVIE 2")

Riggins gets $20k upfront, a mobile phone and (like any self respecting paroled inmate) heads to the nearest disco/titty bar to arrange a meeting with Karadjov. Of course, as with most Eastern European titty bars...the swarthy types soon betray Riggins, and
he is beaten up (but spared death) by Karadjov and his men. Undeterred, Riggins pays a visit to the local fire-arms seven/eleven...and heads back to Karadjovs base to bring da ruckas to all those muthafuckaz.

(The budget wouldn't stretch to 3D, but Dolph gave it his best shot)

Much fence cutting, bomb planting and knocking out inept guards later...Riggins finally locates Anna...who thanks him for his troubles with a swift kick to the knackers. Our hero punches her in the stomach to keep her from screaming (nice) and despite her protests of "Not being kidnapped", Riggins gets her out of Karadjovs base, much to the displeasure the sadistic General Drago (surely a knowing namesaked 'wink' at Lundgrens most iconic role?)

(EH?)

The chase is on (replete with usual NU-IMAGE second hand action scenes/explosions) Our hero and heroine make it to (brief) safety in a nearby hotel. Riggins phones Connelly (who reveals himself as C.I.A, but little else) and arranges a meeting place for the girl to be handed over and the cash to be exchanged. Riggins smells a rat, attends the meeting alone...and tells Connelly to eat the bird, before buggering off (on another chase sequence.....this time on a motorbike!) leading to more recycled action scenes.

(Dolph was on page 6 of 'The Fatty Arbuckle-sexual Etiquette manual')

Returning to the hotel, Riggins finds that Anna has escaped, but tracks her down to a train station. They both board the train (cue footage from Van Damme's 'Derailed') but Drago's men are there to (badly) shoot the shit out of innocent bystanders, in their quest to miss Riggins with every single bullet they fire. With several thousand rounds of ammo easily dodged, Riggins and Anna leave the train at the next station (which rather inexplicably seems built directly to a sewer filled with homeless people...but wide enough to accommodate a military hummer vehicle)

("No way did Streets Of Fire outperform Masters Of The Universe?")

Evading the army once again, our heroes steal a taxi, leading to a further chase scene (some ropey back projection and further sequences from 'Derailed' ) Fleeing their captors again (god this is getting repetitive) Riggins and Anna head to a nearby cafe. A news story on the TV indicates that Anna is in fact the daughter of (recently deceased) billionaire oil and Shipping magnate Allister Roberts. Now the picture is looking a little clearer about the real motives behind Conellys offer.

(Mmmmm, I wonder who gets shot....The Hero or the The Waiter?)

Anna tends to a graze on riggins stomach (fuck me...a bullet actually got within a yard of Dolph!) and the pair go to meet Karadjov (who it turns out IS a good guy) at a nearby football stadium. Unfortunately, General Drago and his army arrive on the scene...leading to another shoot-out (yawn) and the demise of Karadjov. Connelly arrives in a helicopter and (amazingly) keeps his end of the deal with Riggins (by giving him the money, as promised) in exchange for the girl. Anna (suitably pissed) berates our hero for selling out, but off he drives...leaving the heiress at the mercy of Drago and Connelly.



It turns out that Anna's naughty Uncle Trent is behind the whole shenanigans, and wants her to sign the rights of the company over to him. Connelly treats Anna to a bit of the 'Ike Turner First Date Workout', but (wahey!).....Riggins returns, armed with guns and rifles (plus the worst hand grenade explosions since For Your Height Only) leading to more chase footage (from Out For A Kill) to enliven proceedings (i mean WTF, we haven't had a shootout in the last 2 minutes)

(And the soldiers still fucking miss)

Outrunning the badguys again (for a fucking change!) Riggins figures out that the mobile phone Connelly gave him, is a tracking device (no shit sherlock!) Seeking shelter in a nearby woodshed, Riggins and anna finally get down to (an awkward looking scene of) Rumpy-pumpy. The next morning we see Riggins getting all McGuyver-like on his getaway vehicle (actually we see him lift a small panel of pig-iron...hardly an A-Team montage) This is inter-cut with General Drago and his army shooting the living shit out a group of villagers in his search for our heroes. Heading for the gates of the nearest American Embassy, our heroes are shot at by their own side (Realism at last!) So whats a former ex-US Special forces/gun runner/jailbird/mercenary/suspected terrorist to do...he simply drive into the building NEXT FUCKING DOOR to the embassy for a showdown with Drago/Connelly and various inept soldiers. Although Connellys demise is quite an 'explosive' scene (hint, hint) The movie still ends on a shit-eating grin fest, as Riggins looks at Anna and utters "God Bless America" ("Try lensing a movie there, every now and then Dolph" I say)

(Too hot for cinema)

DIRECT CONTACT is 20 years too late for an action movie (in terms of acting, plot and production values) and rather plodding (despite it's many action scenes) even for a low budget DTV release. Releasing stuff like this after THE EXPENDABLES, won't do Lundgren (and his career) any favours. Any moments of cheesy charm is few and far between (although I chuckled a little at Lundgren spitting up blood in his cell, only for a passing rat to gobble it up) And given the extensive BU-IMAGE back catalogue, they could have recycled much better action scenes (those OPERATION DELTA FORCE movies are also 'pilfered' throughout) Dolph still aquits himself well in the fight scenes, but they're nothing to write home about. Gina May comes across as a second rate Megan Fox (if such an entity exists?) and only Michael Pare walks away from this without any damage (and probably another Uwe Boll movie to make, that very weekend)

(Insert haemorrhoid gag here:)

If my review sounds dire and repetitive...it's because the movie is (oh, yeah, and because I'm a lousy reviewer as well) But the almost non-stop action and messy squib-work, doesn't change my opinion on Dolph Lundgren as a genuine action star...neither is DIRECT CONTACT jaw-droppingly bad enough to warrant a 'So-bad-it's-good' quality. It just sits there for 80 odd minutes, then finishes (like a fairweather friend, you've foolishly invited to your house) Although hardcore Lundgren buffs will probably find plenty to enjoy, nontheless. But given that i watched this movie as a double bill (alongside 'Los nuevos extraterrestres') and found DIRECT CONTACT to be the duller of the two...really says it all.

Then again, it might just be me...I can't stand Michael Dudikoff either?

(Although I didn't hate it, as much as this guy?)

GAME OF DEATH (2010) Wesley Snipes

This is the first 'Wesley Snipes' movie I've reviewed here. To be honest, I've not been impressed with his previous DTV outings (although i did enjoy the 'off-beat' HARD LUCK...which most people seem to dislike?) So it's with brave trepidation that I dived head-on into his latest release GAME OF DEATH. The title alone is enough to make any self-respecting Bruce Lee fan piss-shit out their a-holes.....But it would be interesting to see if Snipes could invest a bit more time and effort on this project, with jail looming over his head (plus i picked it up 'new' for 99p)

Snipes plays 'Agent Marcus' a tough as nails CIA operative, who (together with his elite team) does the 'dirty-work' for the government, by eliminating those undesirable kingpins/drug barons/gun-runners/czars (blah, blah, blah...Kneecap Hill) Marcus' team includes Zander (Gary Daniels) and Flora (Zoe Bell) and the movie opens with the team taking out an arms dealer in New York. But for all his ruthless efficiency, Marcus seems 'Burnt-Out' (tm) and in need of 'Redemption' (tm)

("Are they taxes in heaven, father?")

We cut to Detroit, and see Marcus hiding out in a car, watching a kindly neighbourhood Reverend, Clarence (Ernie Hudson) playing basketball with the local kids. Marcus follows the Rev to his church, and offers him a cool million dollars, if he'll sit and listen to his confession. Clarence admits that the neighbourhood could do with the money, and lends a sympathetic ear to Marcus' problems.

("Your place or mine?")

Snipes goes into flashback mode, and we see him being congratulated for the earlier New York 'hit' and given new instructions for the next job. It seems the CIA want Marcus to infiltrate the world of 'finance-dealer/Gun-Runner' Frank Smith (Robert Davi) which will lead up the corporate ladder to 'backer' Redvale Industries. Upon earning their trust, he is ordered to terminate both parties (forewarned with the usual CIA failure/unaccountability bullshit)

(Deplorable Flora & Zander meander)

Marcus briefs both Zander and Flora on the details, and (six months later) he is soon in the employment and confidence of Smith. During a flight, Marcus realises that despite the many scare stories....Smith may not be the "Mean Bastard" the CIA have painted him to be. Marcus escorts Smith to a meeting/payoff ($100m) with Redvale. But greed has gotten the better of both Zander and Flora who (sick of playing second fiddle) decide to doublecross Marcus and bag the money for themselves.

("Must be weird not having anyone come on ya'?")

Matters are made worse when Smith has a heart attack in the back of the limo, and Marcus rushes him to the hospital (strange, given his objective?) whilst dodging gunfire from Zander and Co, who want him alive and well for his payday with Redvale. Marcus has his guns confiscated by hospital security...But Zander and his goons are fully armed, and ready to kill anyone that gets in their way.....Let the 'Game' begin.


Marcus rumbles the double cross and takes out several of Zanders henchmen (in probably the movies standout fight, a brutally efficient 'Seagal-like' snap fest in a psychiatric ward, replete with 'off-key' piano playing and screams from it's frightened patients...reminiscent of the 'Crazy Village' segment from GYMKATA) Flora chases Marcus all around the hospital (probably the most deserted 'institution' since HALLOWEEN II) offering up "Join Us" (tm) remarks, whilst at the same time, trying to shoot the shit out of him.

(Davi pondered his stay at he 'Bond-Villain-Retirement-Home')

Zander finds Smith, and forces the head nurse, Rachael to keep him alive (by fair means or foul) long enough to complete his meeting with Redwood. Rachael (under Zanders threat of "You either give him a shot...or take one yourself") explains that the cardiac catheterization procedure will take 30 minutes, before Smith can be moved (allowing more time for Marcus to fuck up more henchmen in the meantime)

(Wesley and his cell-mate)

And fuck-them-up he does, but after another round of shoot-outs, Flora gets the upper-hand and captures him. Zander gives Marcus the old "We could have been great together" bullshit, and despite having the opportunity to kill him....doesn't! (which ruins a lot of well built-up credibility, at this point) instead Zander decides to frame Marcus for all the hospital carnage, leading the CIA on a wild goose chase....whilst giving himself time to get Smith to his payday with Redvale.

("Are those Argyle socks?")

Redvale (replete with 'goombah' mafioso demeanor) smells a rat at Smiths new concerned chaperone's, but is soon outgunned, and forced to proceed to the vault, for the $100m. However a framed and furious Marcus steals an ambulance and heads over to Redvales for a final showdown with Zander and Co. Rachael gets caught in a 'Mexican Standoff'.....Smith takes a stand...and Revdale takes a knife in the back. Marcus ploughs through the remaining bad guys, before chasing Zander up to the rooftop for a tasty rumble...which barely leaves the badguy a leg to stand on (literally)

("Where's Woody Harrelson when I need him?")

With the 'Game' over (but our hero still wanted by the CIA) we then flash forward back to the church, where father Clarence implores Marcus to "Have faith" before launching into a (well-needed) Lords Prayer (Amen to that...you fucking atheists!) Marcus leaves the money with the padre, and returns to watch the neighbourhood kids play basketball as therapy for his 'redemption' (and probably for Snipes to reflect on his prison-less 'Box-Office' days of WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP)



GAME OF DEATH is a pretty kick-ass movie (and I think my low expectations only helped matters) The cast is good (about time someone had a bit of faith in Daniels) and it's great to see Robert Davi again. I don't know if Snipes' IRS troubles plagued him during filming, but it added to his performance of a troubled, haunted man. And the fight scenes were brutal (and as mentioned, 'vintage-Seagal-Like') and despite my preference towards the psychiatric ward rumble...the final scrap between Daniels and Snipes didn't disappoint either.


The negatives being the (almost) non-stop 'avid fart'/black and white filters/overlays/slo-mo/speed-up techniques that pepper the first half (but thankfully wane off at the 40 minute mark) And Zanders plan/motives were also full of confusing plot holes:

A) Why did he open fire on a guy he (ultimately) had to keep alive?
B) Why not wait utill Smith had the money, before attempting the sting?
C) Why not kill Marcus when he had a clear chance?


Plot holes aside, the movie has enough plus points to outweigh the negative aspects. The 12 minute 'Making-Of' also highlights the fact that (cash-struck) Detroit has great 'Tax Incentives' for film-makers (wow.... an action movie that Michael Moore could be proud of?) and it's basic one (or two) main settings adds to the claustrophobic tension, that most Wesley Snipes films lack. Plus his IRS problems prevented the star from leaving the country, meaning this movie was NOT filmed in Romania.


Final thoughts: If you watch only one GAME OF DEATH, make it the 1978 Bruce Lee (cut-and-paste-ploitation) classic (which is still light years ahead of any 'homage' from any 'lantern-jawed hack director') However, if you want a brutal, good looking action thriller (despite early headache inducing avid farts) with a above average DTV cast....Wesley Snipes finally delivers the goods. I'm now looking to acquire the movie on Blu-Ray (if that's any kind of recommendation?) despite having 50+ discs and still not owning a player

(The 'Money-Shot' of the movie)