Eye of the Tiger (1986)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Richard C. Sarafian

Writer:

Michael Thomas Montgomery (written by)

Release Date:

28 November 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

'Nam was hell... Prison unbearable... But coming home meant murder.

Plot:

Gary Busey plays Buck, a former Vietnam veteran/ex-con recently released from the state prison. He returns...

Plot Keywords:

Biker | Murder | Decapitation | Animal In Title | Rape

Cast

Gary Busey	...	Buck Matthews
Yaphet Kotto	...	J.B. Deveraux
Seymour Cassel	...	Sheriff
Bert Remsen	...	Father Healey
Denise Galik	...	Christie Matthews
William Smith	...	Blade
Kimberlin Brown	...	Dawn
Judith Barsi	...	Jennifer Matthews
Eric Boles	...	Doctor (as Eric Bolles)
Joe Brooks	...	Jake
Douglas Dirkson	...	Jimmy
Kathryn Fuller	...	Bingo Lady
Jorge Gil	...	Jamie
Amelia Haas	...	Melody / Mini-Cam Reporter
Ray Habercorn	...	Police Officer
Cooper Huckabee	...	Roger
Ted Markland	...	Floyd
Brigitte Muller	...	Kidnapped Girl
Thomas Rosales Jr.	...	Jamie's Relative (as Tom Rosales)
James Staszkiel	...	Raider-Napper
Timothy Scott	...	Deputy
Nicholas Testa	...	Rolls Royce Driver
Michael S. Walter	...	Ray (as Mike Walter)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Daniel Cameron	...	Biker gang member

Directed by
Richard C. Sarafian

Writing credits
Michael Thomas Montgomery		(written by) (as Michael Montgomery)

Produced by
Michael Thomas Montgomery	....	co-producer (as Michael Montgomery)
Herb Nanas	....	executive producer
Ben Scotti	....	executive producer
Tony Scotti	....	producer

Original Music by
Don Preston

Cinematography by
Peter Lyons Collister

Film Editing by
Gregory Prange

Casting by
Jerold Franks
Al Onorato

Art Direction by
Wayne Springfield

Set Decoration by
Kurt Gauger

Costume Design by
Barbara Inglehart

Makeup Department
Kathryn Logan	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Claude Binyon Jr.	....	unit production manager
Ed Forsyth	....	post-production supervisor
Angela P. Schapiro	....	executive in charge of production (as Angela Schapiro)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter C. Graupner	....	second assistant director (as Peter Graupner)
Scott Maitland	....	first assistant director
Claudia Sills	....	second second assistant director
Leo Zisman	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Marc Berline	....	carpenter
Sandy Corner	....	assistant art director
Stephen Reece	....	construction coordinator
Everett D. Wilson	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Dennis Carr	....	sound mixer
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Jon G. Belyeu	....	special effects
Richard O. Helmer	....	special effects
James D. Schwalm	....	special effects

Stunts
Max Balchowsky	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Nick Dimitri	....	stunts
Gene Hartline	....	stunt coordinator
Steve Kelso	....	stunts
Steven Lambert	....	stunt coordinator (as Steve Lambert)
Paul M. Lane	....	motorcycle stunts
Gene LeBell	....	stunts
Neil Summers	....	stunts
Michael S. Walter	....	stunt actor

Camera and Electrical Department
Ismael Araujo Jr.	....	grip
Luc G. Nicknair	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lori DeLapp	....	costumer
Kim Myer	....	key costumer (as Kim McClellen)

Music Department
Don Preston	....	conductor

Other crew
Victor A. Haddox	....	production office assistant
Pilar Stallworth	....	production coordinator
Sharon 'Mae' West	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Action Brothers
• IVE

Distributors

• Scotti Brothers Pictures (I) (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Filmwelt (1987) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Creswin Distribution (198?) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1989) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 (nf: 16) | Australia:R | USA:R | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Norway:(Banned) (1987-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Valencia, California, USA

Company:

Action Brothers

* * * Out Of Five

Gary Busey stars as Buck Matthews a reformed ex-con and ex-Vietnam vet who wages war on bikers responsible for the murder of his wife, Busey resorts to the usual manner in dispatching these bikers, often playing grisly practical jokes that involve using wire at neck level, to decapitate his foes. The fight really reaches the boiling point when the bikers snatch Matthews' daughter (Judith Barsi) and therefore even Buck Matthews turns to his fellow Vietnam vet buddy J.B Deveraux (Yaphet Kotto) and together they blitz the biker's stronghold in this more fun than you would expect one man army thriller. If you really need an accurate description, just picture Death Wish 3 with Gary Busey instead of Charles Bronson. However what makes this biker entry so much fun is watching the traps Busey sets up for the bikers, which always have grisly (and hilarious) results.

3/5 Matt Bronson