Cold Steel (1987)

Director:

Dorothy Ann Puzo

Writers:

Lisa M. Hansen (story)
Dorothy Ann Puzo (story)

Release Date:

8 January 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

A deadly trap is set in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Plot:

On Christmas Eve Johnny Modine's father is murdered by a psycho cut-throat. The cop swears bloody revenge...

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Christmas Eve | Voice Box | Beautiful Woman | Murder

Cast

Brad Davis	...	Johnny Modine
Sharon Stone	...	Kathy Connors
Jonathan Banks	...	Iceman
Jay Acovone	...	Cookie
Adam Ant	...	Mick
Eddie Egan	...	Lt. Hill
Sy Richardson	...	Rashid
Anne Haney	...	Anna Modine
Ron Karabatsos	...	Fishman
William Lanteau	...	Sam Modine
Mindy Seeger	...	Wanda
Jesse Aragon	...	Gang Leader
Pat Asanti	...	Sgt. Yancy
Robert Cervi	...	Tatoo
Heidi Kozak	...	Gang Girl

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:18 | Singapore:M18 | Norway:18 | USA:R

Company:

Cinetel Films

Quotes:

Mick: I feel bigger with a trigger.

Watchable but pretty standard stuff.

The late Brad Davis is a typical action movie lead here, a headstrong police detective named Johnny Modine whose father is killed on Christmas Eve by a disfigured criminal psychopath dubbed the "Iceman" (the always reliable character actor Jonathan Banks). Naturally, Johnny swears vengeance, while into his life walks mystery lady Kathy Connors (sexy Sharon Stone, in a pre- stardom role), whose big secret isn't too hard to figure out.

In a refreshing change of pace for this sort of thing, the director is a woman, Dorothy Ann Puzo, daughter of "Godfather" author Mario Puzo. She puts this movie through its paces well enough, and it does deliver some highlights: a chase on a racetrack that produces its fair share of vehicle stunts and explosions, and a death by forced ingestion of a poisonous fish (you read that right). And Banks makes for an effectively icy cold and nasty bad guy (his tinny voice, thanks to a voice box in his throat, is an interesting touch), with enjoyably flamboyant support from pop star Adam Ant as his talkative associate. Otherwise, this is a routine B movie that doesn't really do anything to stand out from the pack.

It does have some good gags; Jay Acovone, likable as the partner, has terminally bad luck with vending machines. A good supporting cast certainly helps, with real-life renowned detective Eddie Egan as Modine's superior, Sy Richardson as the Iceman's other accomplice, Anne Haney as Johnny's mother, Nick Savage as a detective, and Gary Littlejohn as the man in the wheelchair. Anthony LaPaglia can be briefly seen in his film debut.

It's fairly entertaining stuff that should amuse B movie fans well enough.

6/10