The Evil That Men Do (1984)

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

R. Lance Hill (novel)
David Lee Henry (writer) ...

Release Date:

14 September 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

In the execution of justice there is no executioner like BRONSON

Plot:

A professional killer comes out ot retirement to investigate and avenge the brutal murder of an old friend.

Plot Keywords:

South America | Bounty Hunter | Death | Torture | Assassination

Cast

Charles Bronson	...	Holland / Bart Smith
Theresa Saldana	...	Rhiana Hidalgo / Nancy
Joseph Maher	...	Dr. Clement Molloch
José Ferrer	...	Dr. Hector Lomelin
René Enríquez	...	Max Ortiz, Holland's contact in Nicaragua
John Glover	...	Paul Briggs, U.S. Embassy
Raymond St. Jacques	...	Randolph, Molloch's Bodyguard
Antoinette Bower	...	Claire, Molloch's Sister
Enrique Lucero	...	Colonel Victor Aristos
Jorge Luke	...	Cillero, Molloch's Chauffeur
Mischa Hausserman	...	Karl Haussman
Roger Cudney	...	Cannell, Hitman Hired by Briggs
Constanza Hool	...	Isabel Lomelin, Dr. Lomelin's Wife
Joe Seneca	...	Santiago
Jorge Zepeda	...	Victim

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Mexico | USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (2002) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1984) | West Germany:16 (nf) (cut version) | West Germany:18 (nf) (original rating) | France:-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Norway:15 (DVD rating) | Norway:(Banned) (1984-2003) (cinema release) | Norway:16 (video premiere) (1985) (cut)

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Company:

Capricorn

Trivia:

This is the only film that Charles Bronson didn't do for the Cannon Group since he begin there.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the opal mine, Holland/Smith cocks his gun twice without firing a round in between.

Quotes:

Randolph, Molloch's Bodyguard: This is not your usual tourist attraction.
Holland: We're not usual tourists. You know what I mean?
Randolph, Molloch's Bodyguard: Aha... Life just gets dull and nothing like a little variety to spice things up.
Holland: That's right. Nancy and me, we come from a small town up in Nebraska. And we always have to go someplace else for excitement and variety, you know?
Randolph, Molloch's Bodyguard: Bart, just what kind of excitement are you looking for?
Holland: You know, me and Nancy, we've been into a lot of things. We learned tricks you wouldn't believe. We've been into things like wife-swapping... You married?
Randolph, Molloch's Bodyguard: No, I'm divorced. But remember, three's a company and four is definitely a crowd. Man, I am down for anything or anybody.
Holland: Three is all right with me.
Randolph, Molloch's Bodyguard: It's definitely all right with me.
Randolph, Molloch's Bodyguard: You got a place?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in My Best Friend's Birthday (1987)

Blinded by the evil.

In recent times I've been watching the collaborations between director J. Lee Thompson and actor Charles Bronson with pretty decent results. "The Evil that Men Do" was somewhat an interesting, and cynically effective little shocker. From the very beginning you realise this gritty b-grade fodder is looking to simply shock you with its sadistic subject of torture for political ground, and the hidden acceptance of it in the governments that makes Maher's pitiless character believe his actions of the trade to be far from evil. The material stays powerful, scathing and covered with moral questioning. It's always seems to be about retribution, and finding it in themselves to take that next step. Even when it isn't visually hard-hitting, the despairing oral context can get under your skin. Strictly the tone and style Thompson opts for is unpleasant, rough and ice-cold.

I was engrossed, but then the formula (but still packing an excessive sting) changed to a by-the-numbers revenge spin and an unconvincingly irate Theresa Saldana floods the screen. I just didn't buy her, and the chemistry with Bronson felt weak. Joseph Maher easy performance drips with a strangely subtle intensity of callousness that's purely evil. He's not some demanding, towering presence but those vile sadistic acts, and unflinching cruelty comes second nature for this character, that just listening to his softly spoken voice is very uneasy. Charles Bronson's calculated, stalwart and quite mystique turn is hard to switch off because he makes this character an all-out professional killer with a more humane view of things, and managing to keep his self-righteousness intact.

Thompson's raw, tactical direction utilises the low-budget, and working in its favour is the grimy, fade-out look from the authentically seedy urban consolidations to the sparse desert locations. A harrowing music score by Ken Thorne has a slight and edgy tinge, and Javier Ruvalcaba Cruz's tight, voyeuristic cinematography hit's the mark. When called upon the tension stays hard-boiled, and some scenes pack an abrasive bite as the meaningful violence is highly explicit and explosive. However it's not an all-out torture parade full of senseless snapshots. Antoinette Bower, Jose Ferrer and Max Ortiz offer strong support.

Rather a effortless manner by all, but certainly it does the daring job it sets out to do.