Hero and the Terror (1988)

Director:

William Tannen

Writers (WGA):

Michael Blodgett (novel)
Dennis Shryack (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 August 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime

Tagline:

Heroes hit hardest.

Plot:

Danny O'Brien is back in action fighting the notorious Simon Moon, also known as The Terror. Three years...

Plot Keywords:

Theater | Mayor | Serial Killer | Corpse | Hit With Rock

Cast

Chuck Norris	...	Danny O'Brien
Brynn Thayer	...	Kay
Steve James	...	Robinson
Jack O'Halloran	...	Simon Moon
Jeffrey Kramer	...	Dwight
Ron O'Neal	...	Mayor
Murphy Dunne	...	Theater Manager
Heather Blodgett	...	Betsy
Tony DiBenedetto	...	Dobeny
Billy Drago	...	Dr. Highwater
Joe Guzaldo	...	Copelli
Peter Miller	...	Chief Bridges
Karen Witter	...	Ginger
Lorry Goldman	...	Ginger's Manager
Christine Wagner	...	Doctor

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:15 | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Australia:M | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 (video premiere)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

The last movie Steve James made with Menaham Golan and Yoram Globus, but not with the Cannon film company. That film was American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt (1989)

Quotes:

Man at food stand: [Danny O'Brien is undercover and acting like a short order cook when he gets an unsatisfied customer] These are the worst eggs I've ever had, man!
Danny O'Brien: Wait till you try the toast.

Movie Connections:

References "Meet the Press" (1947)

Soundtrack:

Two Can be One

No, No, No, Not Again...

Standard-issue Cop Vs. Killer movie in which "sensitive" L.A. police detective Danny O'Brien (Chuck Norris) is given the nickname "Hero" by the public and media after he singlehandedly catches brutal, gargantuan serial killer Simon Moon (Jack O'Halloran, who is perfectly cast). However, O'Brien feels guilty because he knows he got lucky ... and he is headed for an inevitable final showdown with Moon (or "The Terror", as he is also known) when the killer escapes.

Mostly average, watchable; Norris is reasonably likable in a change-of-pace role; the movie is less action and fight-oriented than Norris's other vehicles, so some of his fans may not be satisfied. However, the film is thrown out of whack by some serious pretensions and supposedly poignant moments (one set in a restaurant, another one suggesting the circle of life). Gets better as it goes along, with an okay but unspectacular finale and an acceptable supporting cast.

The scene where Moon escapes falls into the "Please Tell Me It's Not That Easy In Real Life" category.