My expectations were pretty low when I sat down to watch "Under Oath", since it was a Roger Corman production, and in the '90s Corman produced a lot of cheapie stinkers. But I was surprised by this movie. While it's clearly low budget, it doesn't look as cheap as other Corman movies of the period; director Dave Payne clearly squeezed every last penny from the budget. But the real strength of the movie is the screenplay. It is far from predictable, with several good surprise twists, and until the end I kept wondering if the central figures would get away with their scheme or not. The acting is also pretty decent, and you get to see Richard Lynch in a rare good guy role. If you want to see a movie that overcomes its low budget to become genuinely compelling, this sleeper is a good bet.
7 Reviews
Impressive hard to find low budget thriller
kuner-5902910 August 2021
While the low budget is apparent in every scene, and the acting isn't quite up to par sometimes, overall this movie achieves very much with very little. Most importantly, it keeps up the tension. You want to know how it ends. The plot is engaging. It's not great cinema, but a fine example of how far a good plot can carry a film.
Has the "wow" factor going for it....
merklekranz14 May 2008
Out of nowhere comes "Under Oath", with a clever script, fine acting, and believability. This is DVD gold for those seeking an unknown movie to "wow" your friends. The fast moving story has plenty of action, twists and turns, and well developed characters. The low budget never gets in the way, and the camera work is totally acceptable. My only objection, and is not a big deal, is that several of the stunt scenes are marginal at best (can you really miss that many times with an automatic weapon?). For all the times you took a chance on an unknown noir, and were disappointed, "Under Oath" should regain your faith, and encourage your quest for those hidden gems. Highly recommended. - MERK
Simply a good movie (*SOME SPOILERS*)
rm9194529 January 2003
Warning: Spoilers
I don't believe that this movie got a wide release or a lot of publicity. It's the kind of film that usually finds it's audience on video. That said, I enjoyed this movie, a lot. It had everything you'd want from a simple little cop thriller, hot guys, intriguing plot with several twists and lots of gun play.
The story revolves around two cops, played by Jack Scalia and Eddie Valez, who are less than thrilled that their promised raise has been nixed by city hall. Grousing about how the bad guys always have cash and they never do, they decide to get in on their action. They plot to sell some guns they've recovered in a bust by stealing them from the police property room and doing a deal with a local gun runner.
What they don't know is the gun runner is really an ATF officer and when they discover this, they take off, with the officer as their hostage. Things go from bad to worse when, while struggling over a handgun, the ATF officer is killed. But things start to look up for the partners when their captain assigns them to the case! They decide to make all the evidence against them disappear, but as they try to cover their tracks, other ATF officers, bent on revenge, tighten the noose around their necks.
The acting in this was great, not one actor did a bad job, even the Huggy Bear want-to-be was good. Scalia was at the top of his game as the tougher of the two cops while Valez elicits sympathy from the audience in his guilt ridden actions. It was interesting to see Richard Lynch play a good guy as he RARELY gets that opportunity. He was very convincing as Saltarelli, the boss of the ATF cops. Nice to know he can play a good guy as well as he can play his bad guy psycho roles.
Won't spoil the ending for you but it's one of the best!
The story revolves around two cops, played by Jack Scalia and Eddie Valez, who are less than thrilled that their promised raise has been nixed by city hall. Grousing about how the bad guys always have cash and they never do, they decide to get in on their action. They plot to sell some guns they've recovered in a bust by stealing them from the police property room and doing a deal with a local gun runner.
What they don't know is the gun runner is really an ATF officer and when they discover this, they take off, with the officer as their hostage. Things go from bad to worse when, while struggling over a handgun, the ATF officer is killed. But things start to look up for the partners when their captain assigns them to the case! They decide to make all the evidence against them disappear, but as they try to cover their tracks, other ATF officers, bent on revenge, tighten the noose around their necks.
The acting in this was great, not one actor did a bad job, even the Huggy Bear want-to-be was good. Scalia was at the top of his game as the tougher of the two cops while Valez elicits sympathy from the audience in his guilt ridden actions. It was interesting to see Richard Lynch play a good guy as he RARELY gets that opportunity. He was very convincing as Saltarelli, the boss of the ATF cops. Nice to know he can play a good guy as well as he can play his bad guy psycho roles.
Won't spoil the ending for you but it's one of the best!
An excellent film noir.
shark-1017 May 2001
Every once in a while you rent something you've never heard of with the off chance that you'll discover an unheralded masterpiece. This one comes awfully close. This tight thriller concerns two cops who decide to get their hands dirty and profit on one of their drug busts. When the dealer is accidently killed and turns out to be an undercover DEA agent, the cops are assigned to the case. They must bury the trail leading to them as they create new evidence to pin the crime elsewhere. This movie sucks you in. Great performances by James Russo, Eddie Velez and Jack Scalia.
Pleasantly surprised.
Marcus-Aurelius9028 August 2017
I bought this on DVD for much less money than it is actually worth. It currently sits proudly in my DVD shelf next to movies like Heat, Manhunter and Narc and deservedly so. Standout performances from Eddie Velez, Robert LaSardo James Russo and Jack Scalia drive what is a really lean and mean movie. Its as though the ghost of Don Siegel (Dirty Harry) came back and directed this fine crime flick. Police corruption, action, violence, disloyalty and paybacks are the name of the game and it really works well here.
I liked it and I return to watch it from time to time.
I liked it and I return to watch it from time to time.
Surprisingly good!!!
TytianaCSReborn1 May 2003
I saw this movie last year on cable and being an Eddie Velez fan for many years (18 yrs. and growing!) and recently, a Jack Scalia fan from his 'All My Children' run and a Robert Davi flick, I thought that the movie deserved much more publicity and a much wider audience!
It had to of been the best I've seen Mr. Velez do as far as acting goes since his scenes on the UPN defunct show, 'LiveShot' as 'Ricardo Sandavol'. He was very good on 'LiveShot' that was yanked too early before anyone had the chance to really actually catch on. And his work here was much more better!
His conflict was original and absolutely believable and I pray that one day soon that someone will discover or should I say 'rediscover' the find in Eddie Velez that his fans see.
Sharon R.
It had to of been the best I've seen Mr. Velez do as far as acting goes since his scenes on the UPN defunct show, 'LiveShot' as 'Ricardo Sandavol'. He was very good on 'LiveShot' that was yanked too early before anyone had the chance to really actually catch on. And his work here was much more better!
His conflict was original and absolutely believable and I pray that one day soon that someone will discover or should I say 'rediscover' the find in Eddie Velez that his fans see.
Sharon R.
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