Director: Andrew Davis
Starring: Chuck Norris, Henry Silva
Running Time: 100 minutes
Synopsis: After a violent gang-on-gang drug den raid, Chicago mobster Luis Comacho (Henry Silva) seeks revenge on the rival outfit of Tony Luna (Mike Genovese). Tough-as-nails Police Sergeant Eddie Cusack (Chuck Norris) anticipates the wave of violence and tries to protect Luna's innocent daughter Diana (Molly Hagan). His job is complicated by tensions within the police force, where past-it Detective Cragie (Ralph Foody) has planted evidence to cover-up the accidental killing of a bystander.
What Works Well: The casting of Chuck Norris and Henry Silva on opposite sides of the law creates an epic duel of the expressionless stonefaces, adding macho joy to the bouncy vibe of this action-packed thriller. Director Andrew Davis rises well above the acting talent, budget, and plot, using numerous Chicago locations to stage competent and sometimes clever set-pieces, stunts, and chases. The likes of Dennis Farina and John Mahoney lurk deep within the cast list, although they are upstaged by a clunky-but-still-cute and heavily armed police robot on wheels.
What Does Not Work As Well: All the characters are in-you-face stock representations of good and evil without a visible morsel of depth, context, background, or self-awareness. It's never quite clear if the relationship between Eddie and Diana is supposed to be parental or something ickier.
Key Quote:
Eddie: When I want your opinion, I'll beat it out of you.
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