Slayground (1983) User Reviews

Slayground

[Scarecrow-88 · 4/10 · 27 August 2010]

This is one of those movies where a robbery leads to an accidental murder(the driver's reckless speeding causes a car crash resulting in the death of a little girl; the dead girl's father sending out the hit on those responsible)with those involved paying a steep price for the hit and run. Peter Coyote is Stone, your garden variety criminal who is on the lam after a hired assassin kills his partners. Stone is shot in the back, when the assassin almost guns him down in a seemingly abandoned service station, which leaves metal in his spine that needs surgical repair or else he'll be confined to a wheel chair. He heads for London after sending his wife to Mexico for her own safety. In London is an old pal of his Terry Abbatt(Mel Smith), once an "associate"(in other words, the two worked on certain robberies together), who owes Stone for saving his life. But, the hit-man will follow suit which concludes in Terry's amusement park late at night.

Cold, uninvolving thriller with even Peter Coyote, oftentimes quite reliable, failing to register. Lone asset, in my opinion, is the moody photography by Stephen Smith and Herb Wagreich, particularly the night sequences featuring the enigmatic killer in his hat, where the director keeps, for the most part, his face concealed. The violence is left off-screen and all we get are murky "after the act" shots of the victims.

If your a Parker Novel Fan..skip this one***BIG SPOILERS

[nomoons11 · 4/10 · 20 August 2010]

its pretty obvious that before you even watch this, just by looking at the cast of the film at IMDb, that this is not an A class film. The budget was pretty small to say the least but more frustrating was it seemed that the film was just missing a lot of parts that could have helped out the watch-ability of it.

The first part right off was the mysterious guy who comes after the three robbers to kill em all for the bad thing they did (kill a little girl by accident). They give you no indication at how he figures out who killed the girl and how he always finds where everyone's at so he can go kill all the perpetrators. The villain is no mystic and can't see the future so it's like, "how does he know who did it?" They could have added 15 to 20 minutes of filler to this film and it would have helped quite a bit on my rating of it but to make us believe this assassin/hit-man appears in all these places with no way of knowing at how he finds the guys is just a "gimme a break" type of deal. The bummer is at the end where our "parker"esque actor (Peter Coyote) kills the villain, like you'd expect, it's no-one we know throughout the film. It's just a weird guy.

In the middle of the film the Peter Coyote character is sprayed with bullets from a machine in the back and he's placed in the hospital. A few scenes after he escapes the hospital and you see the scar he has on his back, it's the entire length of his spine. My first thought was "geez, this guy is superman". There's no way on this earth anyone could have gotten up a few days after this and just walked away.

I'm a huge fan of the Parker series but this was a total let down. This one begs to be remade but I can't see that happening. For better Parker goodness, try Point Blank or Payback or The Outfit. You'll be well rewarded.

Some definitely accurate filming locations locals might enjoy!!!

[bigschup50 · 5/10 · 12 October 2005]

With respect to the movie "Slayground" which starred Peter Coyote (1983): I was present at the filming of several scenes in Slayground. As past 1st lieutenant and Emergency Medical Technician (for many years) with Nyack Community Ambulance Corps, I had occasion to be on stand-by service, on scene, for the filming crew's safety. The opening scene which is scored with George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" was shot on route 9W in Haverstraw, New York,USA. One of the murder scenes (with the fish tank) was shot at a restaurant (no longer in existence) at the foot of Main Street (along the Hudson River) in Nyack, New York,USA. Another murder scene was shot in an Auto Body Repair Shop on ROUTE 9W (if I remember correctly it involved chickens) in Congers, New York,USA. The scene that shows a phone call from a Public Booth and shows, in the background, the L.H. Martin store at Samsondale Plaza shopping center was shot along Route 9W in West Haverstraw, New York,USA. The scene that involved the attempted escape and crash of the stolen armored truck was shot in the Tilcon Industries stone quarry in West Nyack, New York,USA. The film crew had their meals catered at our Corps building meeting room. Hence my review may be a little slanted toward the positive, but it was a film that was anything but boring!

Throwing Stones @ Parker!

[spookyrat1 · 3/10 · 19 May 2019]

I've read a few of Donald Westlake's Parker series, but not the one that this movie of the same name is based upon. I'm quite sure however it bears little relationship to this weird movie, with the Parker character having a name change to Stone for some reason.

Slayground was strangely marketed more as a slasher film, rather than crime genre. But upon release it tanked spectacularly even given the fact that it was never likely to be splash release material. There is simply no disguising the poor production standards of the film, especially the sound and ordinary lighting. But the worst sins occur with the "story", though calling it that, is almost giving it too much of a compliment.

Stone is part of a gang who rob an armoured car in the most unlikely of places. In escaping, their driver hits another car killing it's occupants, a mother and her ice skater child. The vengeful husband and father contracts a relentless hit man only identified as Shadowman to take revenge on the gang members. And the story carries on from there, climaxing naturally enough with Stone facing off against Shadowman in the Slayground, which is bizarrely in England, after a switch in continental locations , half way through the movie. (I'd just about bet my house on this not occurring in the original novel.)

Here's the thing. There is never any explanation given whatsoever as to how Shadowman tracks down, let alone knows who the gang members are. This just happens and it's on with more important things besides logic. The action, by the way is poorly filmed and choreographed, with many of the murders occurring off screen. We are just privy to the less than shocking results. Characters just exist primarily as cannon fodder, with few given much in the way of back story, including Stone. Oh Yeah! He has an ex-wife.

Peter Coyote better known for his supporting characters, rather than lead roles plays Stone unexceptionally. British comedian Mel Smith pops up as a past Stone associate who was thought to be dead (Don't ask!) by all and sundry, except Shadowman (of course) and actually does a pretty convincing job as an ex-crim trying to go straight. But this is real bottom shelf stuff. The best Parker adaptions I've seen are the 3 starring respectively Lee Marvin (Point Blank). Mel Gibson (Payback) and Jason Statham (Parker). I wouldn't really bother getting involved with this stinker.

This movie stinks

[rlyman59 · 1/10 · 22 December 2014]

The movie is based on Donald Westlake's (Writing under the Pseudonym Richard Stark) classic crime suspense novel SLAYGROUND, featuring the sociopath profession criminal, Parker, from a series of books with that same character. The director of the movie apparently decided he didn't like the books or their main character. In this stupid and clichéd thriller, he uses neither. More or less, the director or producer, whoever made this inept decision, simply took the title of the novel and cooked up a script bearing no relation to the book or any in the series, in order to suite what they believed would be something better. If you're looking for the Parker from the Richard Stark PARKER novels, forget about it. He's been replaced by a small time hood who spews out lines like, "I'm a thief, not a killer." "I'm afraid." "I've never killed anybody." I'm sure if you're a fan of those novels you don't need to hear anymore. I've saved you from wasting your money on this abysmal take on SLAYGROUND. It's a shame, too, because the book would have made a classic movie, but they chose to film something else.

Lacklustre British crime film

[lor_ · 4 February 2023]

My review was written in January 1984 after a Times Square screening.

"Slayground" is an unengaging, overly episodic British crime thriller suitable for undiscriminating action audiences.

Self-conscious direction by debuting helmer Terry Bedford, with experience as a cinematographer and tv commercials pilot, recalls in mood and look the flurry of stylish MGM British films noirs of 1970-71 such as "Get Carter" and "Villain". Peter Coyote toplines as Stone, a criminal at the end of his tether after an armored car robbery in pstate New York goes awry, leaving a little girl dead. Her dad vindictively hires a sadistic executioner (Philip Sayer) to kill Stone and his compatriots.

Degerating into a series of barely-connecte stalk-and-terror setpieces, "Slayground" segues mid-film to England, where Stone flees and takes up with an old pal Terry (Mel Smith), who has given up crime and now lives with Madge (Billie Whitelaw), owner of a Blackpool amusement park. After another heist (this time stealing funds from a casino), Stone defeats the executioner in a dull but photogenic final reel set against the fun house backdrop of the empty amusement park.

Maintaining a grim mood of overcast skies, unsympathetic characters and general hopelessness. Bedford and screenwriter Trevor Preston fail to flesh out this tale beyond mere functional requirements. The overlay of backlighting, silhouette shot and gimmickry such as a blood-red color filter over the camera lens during the killings fail to enliven a perfunctory assignment.

Acting is adequate, with Mel Smith making a good impression as Coyote's pudgy pal. Tech credits, particularly the car stunts and special effects explosions, are good.

Good story

[QueenoftheGoons · 4/10 · 23 March 2021]

This had a good story, the movie made sense, and of course Peter Coyote was easy on my eyes. i always liked his voice, he does a good job on here though his best is still southern comfort.

Underrated

[Driver-5 · 7/10 · 27 March 1999]

Starting in New York and ending in Blackpool, SLAYGROUND is an unusual crime thriller which was quite a flop when first released (it was one of the few films Thorn EMI not only distributed but produced also) and was never seen by that many people. Based on one of the "Parker" novels written by Richard Stark (POINT BLANK and PAYBACK were also based on this series), SLAYGROUND stars Peter Coyote, British comedian Mel Smith (from Smith and Jones), in a rare dramatic role, and Billie Whitelaw. If you like tough crime thrillers, track it down.

Slayground gets my positive vote!!

[petasaveslives · 10/10 · 31 January 2011]

I am one of the few,proud and lucky folks that was able to see this great film on opening weekend.Sadly that theater in Cedar Knolls,NJ is no longer standing.This is a film that I read both negative and positive comments on but mine are all of a complimenting nature.First off,the cast is perfect and I would not have made any changes.peter Coyote was a very sympathetic character as Stone.One problem this film had to overcome is people most likely thought this was going to be a horror movie rather than a most interesting crime thriller and my favorite in this genre.I also was thrilled to see familiar locations from when my father,brother and I used to travel Route 9W through West Haverstraw on the way to New Jersey.A few of these places are the Hi-Tor bowling alley,Shop with the Bix Furniture Stripping and some various highway locales.I only wish that I knew where more of the scenes were filmed and would be able to stand where scenes were filmed.To me this is the holy grail film and never get tired of watching it.Sadly,this seldom is on cable or regular TV,only indie channels may show it from time to time.If you are a fan of crime drama/thrillers,do yourself a favor and give this one a chance and see what you think.They are fairly inexpensive on DVD on merchant websites.In closing,I wish every one who had anything to do with this film the very best of wishes and thank you for giving the world such a superb film.

Bleak > bleaker > bleakest > "Slayground".

[Coventry · 7/10 · 1 July 2019]

"Slayground" is truly one of the bleakest, most distant and coldest thrillers I've ever seen, which is probably why I found it so intriguing and compelling. The grim and nihilistic atmosphere is definitely the film's strongest asset, because the pacing is wildly uneven and the screenplay - adapted from a novel by Richard "Point Blank" Stark - is quite implausible most of the time. Still, any film that starts to the tunes of George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" is worth my full and unbiased attention! With this great and legendary song playing over the opening credits, we first follow a man who picks up a juicy street flower by the name of Jolene, but he gets robbed and killed by her. The man was supposed to be the getaway driver during a carefully planned heist of money-transporting truck, and thus Stone and his associate Sheer are forced to hire a young, inexperienced and reckless driver instead. The escape goes wrong and results in a nasty road accident and the death of an innocent 9-year-old ballet girl. Her grieving father, an implacable businessman, hires the enigmatic but deadly efficient contract killer Shadow Man to trace down his daughter's killers and settle the score. "Depressing" is definitely the keyword to describe this film. The story is already bleak, but so are the characters and the filming locations. Peter Coyote has an almost natural aura of melancholia over him, and Mel Smith is exceptionally well cast in a rare serious role. Fleeing from his mysterious hired killer, Stone travels from the most downbeat suburbs of New York to the utmost depressing Blackpool in England, where the climax takes place in an abandoned funfair. There is nothing more petrifying than a forsaken carnival, I assure you! None of the brutal executions are shown on camera, but "Slayground" is the rare type of film where this works more effectively, and has a far more shocking impact. The "Shadow Man" killer is an incredibly fascinating supportive character that is seldomly shown or mentioned, but he's omnipresent and nightmarish. Of course, it's highly implausible - and even slightly preposterous - that he has all the knowledge and resources to trace his targets so quick and easily, but you'll gladly accept this for the sake of entertainment. Recommended, if you have the stomach for it.

"I'm the shadow man, Mr. Stone".

[Hey_Sweden · 6/10 · 23 June 2020]

Peter Coyote ("E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial") plays Stone, a criminal who participates in the theft of an armoured car. Unfortunately, he and his accomplice (Bill Luhrs, 'Ryan's Hope') are forced to hire a young punk / speed demon (Ned Eisenberg, "The Burning") as a last-minute replacement for their original getaway driver. Then, after the theft, the punks' reckless driving results in the death of a young girl. Her father is understandably furious, but he doesn't go through any normal channels. His first thought is VENGEANCE, and to that end he hires a hitman to eliminate the three men. But this is no ordinary hitman. Just killing people is not enjoyable enough for him; he must first taunt his victims and toy with them, before turning them into macabre works of art. Stone flees to England, to hook up with an old friend (comedy legend Mel Smith, "The Princess Bride"), but the hitman naturally follows him there.

Directed with some competence but no real style by cameraman Terry Bedford, "Slayground" is no great shakes when it comes to the cult crime thriller genre. Loosely adapted from a Richard Stark (Donald E. Westlake) novel, it does benefit from its very bleak atmosphere and its use of locations. The amusement park finale delivers some good suspense and imagery, and the action scenes in the beginning are well executed. The violence isn't overdone, but it is potent and effective. The film, however, earns some debits for a screenplay that is only so-so, and a music score that is at times terrible.

Coyote is good in the lead, with Smith scoring in a change-of-pace dramatic role. Billie Whitelaw, Mrs. Baylock in the original "The Omen", *is* admittedly wasted in a minor part as the proprietress of the amusement park, who feels protective of Smiths' character Terry. Familiar faces in supporting roles and bits include David Hayward ("Nashville"), Kelli Maroney ("Night of the Comet"), Clarence Felder ("The Hidden"), and P.H. Moriarty ("Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"), but it is the late Philip Sayer ("Xtro") who is the most memorable element of the picture. He gives us a truly creepy and twisted pursuer who often speaks in a whisper, and we never do get a good look at his face. He truly becomes a relentless "shadow man".

This remains somewhat obscure 37 years later, but fans of crime fiction might want to seek it out and give it a try. It's flawed, but still fairly interesting.

Six out of 10.

Slayground

[ingbri9-63-209570 · 6 August 2021]

Roughly based on one of Donald Westlake's crime novels, a businessman hires a hitman to track down and kill a trio of robbers responsible for killing his daughter in a hit-and-run accident during an escape from one of their heists. Stylized cinematography but short on plausibility, which is typical of these 1980s low-budgets.