Excessive Force

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Excessive Force

R

1993

1h 27m

Action

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Popcornmeter

20%

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5 Reviews

35%

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1,000+ Ratings

Chicago policeman Terry McCain (Thomas Ian Griffith) is determined to put away mobster Sal DiMarco (Burt Young), who always gets acquitted on technicalities. While monitoring a drug sale, a shootout ensues, and one of Terry's fellow officers gets away with $3 million of Sal's money. Suspecting Terry took the cash, the mobster sends his men to kill Terry's brother, Dylan (Tom Hodges), and partner, Frankie Hawkins (Tony Todd). Furious, Terry sets out to take his revenge by any means necessary.

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Succeeding only in living up to the brutal expectations of its title by delivering the goods.

Rated: B_

Feb 29, 2016

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 2/5

Aug 11, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 1, 2005

Full Review

Scott Weinberg

eFilmCritic.com

The movie that failed to turn Griffith into the next big action star.

Rated: 1/5

Jul 25, 2002

Full Review

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Rated: 0.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Audience Member

Definitely a so bad it's good movie. Definitely Thomas Ian Griffith trying to align himself with action stars like Segal, Van Damme and the like. Needless to say it didn't work. The good parts are seeing the supporting cast like James Earl Jones, Tony Todd and Burt young and the types of roles they have them playing. It's Griffith that doesn't work here he's not gruff enough to play this kind of part he's just not the right man for the job. Highlights of the movie is seeing Burt Young playing a mafia godfather and James Earl Jones playing saxophone. And no matter how many high kicks Griffith throws and there are many he just can't land the performance that's needed for a gritty cop action movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Cliched maverick cop thriller. It's not great, but is a great example of a lower-budget film from this genre from the early 90's era, including the constantly dramatic soundtrack that would only be used for parody nowadays.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Pretty good film about a cop battling a mobster and police corruption. James Earl Jones shows up for a cup of coffee to add credibility to the cast.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Starring, written, and produced by Terry Silver.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

Very very bad. Unoriginal, predictable plot, what little there is. Lame, paint-by-number direction. Wooden acting (what was James Earl Jones thinking, being in this? - clearly he needed the money). Even the production values are appalling - the movie looks like it was made in the 1950s, not 1993.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A cop with a short fuse lets personal vendetta get in the way of good old-fashioned police work (described by the judge as excessive force). Griffin is adequate but not the next action superstar as hyped. Helped out by supporting presence of Lance Henrikson and James Earl Jones.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Jon Hess

Director

Thomas Ian Griffith

Terry McCain

Lance Henriksen

Devlin

James Earl Jones

Jake

Charlotte Lewis

Anna Gilmour

Burt Young

Sal DiMarco

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Synopsis

Chicago policeman Terry McCain (Thomas Ian Griffith) is determined to put away mobster Sal DiMarco (Burt Young), who always gets acquitted on technicalities. While monitoring a drug sale, a shootout ensues, and one of Terry's fellow officers gets away with $3 million of Sal's money. Suspecting Terry took the cash, the mobster sends his men to kill Terry's brother, Dylan (Tom Hodges), and partner, Frankie Hawkins (Tony Todd). Furious, Terry sets out to take his revenge by any means necessary.

Director: Jon Hess
Producer: Erwin Stoff, Thomas Ian Griffith, Oscar L. Costo
Screenwriter: Thomas Ian Griffith
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Ian Page Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 27m
Sound Mix: Surround