Excessive Force

R

1993

1 hr. 27 min.

Action

List

20%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

36%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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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

Full Review

dave j

Thursday, August 8, 2013 (1993) Excessive Force ACTION Straight-to-rental movie written, co-produced and starring Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry McCain as a Dirty Harry type of cop who uses 'excessive force' on some of his most hated captures. During a drug bust mayhem which resulted to many bad guys getting killed, someone steals gangster Sal DiMarco's (Burt Young) money of 3 million dollars. And after he was acquitted, he pursues the people he suspects who may have taken it which was McCain's partner. And even though they killed a cop, he was never charged for McCain seeks retribution. Because it's labelled as an action film, I have to say that Thomas Ian Griffith fights pretty good but instead of using sound effects which might've made those fight scenes much more believable, we are given people grunting instead as well as uncharismatic camera angles since the camera sort of just stands their. There are more fight scenes than gun ones which are obviously inspired by John Woo's hard core gun movies. As a matter fact despite the good ending the action in general is mediocre at best despite some good performances by James Earl Jones and Lance Henrickson. 2 out of 4 stars

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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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

Full Review

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

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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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James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Rated: 0.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

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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

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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

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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
Rating: R
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Sound Mix: Surround