Site icon Film Combat Syndicate

EXCESSIVE FORCE (1993) Retro-Review: Thomas Ian Griffith’s Failed Attempt At Reaching Stardom

Is such a pity that this film bombed in the box office because is more than a decent action thriller cop, but the 90’s were a dark era for this type of films and for all those talented guys who tried to become martial arts movie stars…

Produced, written and starred by Thomas Ian Griffith, under the direction of Jon Hess, this was supposed to be Griffith´s breakthrough to stardom but that never happened and he remained in movie history just as the bad guy from The Karate Kid 3. Role that recently has granted him a new popularity for the Netflix generation, in the spin- off of the saga, “Cobra Kai“… Coincidentally on this film, his character is also named Terry as in the Karate Kid, just coincidence? Or he was trying exploit that early success on his career?  Only he knows..

What he really did well, was surround himself by a bunch of good veteran actors such as Burt Young or James Earl Jones, finding and good charismatic actor as Lance Henrikssen to portray a ruthless villain..

The plot revolves around a cop (Griffith) who’s targeted by a corrupt police chief and the Italian mob…

The final result is a good action spectacle with great doses of martial arts that showcases in a very bright way the charisma and skills of Griffith as screen fighter and action hero

It really deserved a better luck, but we live in a hopeless world and the film was condemned to the only thing in life that is eternal, oblivion…

 

Available on DVD by New Line Home Video

 

Exit mobile version