Death Collector (1988)

User Rating:

3.1/10   

Director:

Tom Garrett

Writer:

John McLaughlin (writer)

Genre:

Action

Tagline:

In the not too distant future there is no justice ... just insurance.

Plot:

In a future time, when things have reverted back to the days of the Old West, a man goes after the gang that murdered his brother. |

Cast

Daniel Chapman	...	Wade Holt
Ruth Collins	...	Annie Northbride
Loren Blackwell	...	Hawk
John Pierce	...	Kid
Karen Rizzo	...	Star
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Garrett	...	Prison Guard (as Tom Gniazdowski)
Philip Nutman	...	Tough
Guy Perrotta	...	Prison guard
John Skipp	...	Splatterpunk #1
Craig Spector	...	Splatterpunk #2
Frank Stewart	...	Jack Holt
Debi Thibeault

Also Known As:

Tin Star Void (USA)

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

New Haven, Connecticut, USA

A very neat and enjoyable sci-fi/action/Western hybrid winner

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The time: The bleak near future. The place: The desolate town of Hartford City. Noble lawman Jack Holt (the solid Frank Stewart) gets killed by several goons who work for Hawk (a perfectly sinister Loren Blackwell), an evil insurance company mogul who governs over the burg with an iron fist. Jack's easygoing musician brother Wade (excellently played by the amiable Daniel Chapman) tries to avenge his death, but gets arrested and spends five years in jail. After he gets sprung from prison, Wade returns to Hardford City to settle the score with Hawk. He's assisted by gutsy gal pal Annie Northbride (a nice'n'sexy turn by fetching blonde looker Ruth Collins) and loyal former cellmate Bunky (a wonderfully engaging portrayal by John Scott). Director Tom Garrett, working from a clever and inspired script by John McLaughlin (said script mixes elements from the action, Western, and science fiction genres into a pretty tasty and imaginative synthesis), makes the most out of a limited budget: he stages the thrilling action set pieces with considerable flair, maintains a steady pace throughout, and, most of all, does an expert job of crafting a funky, hazy, impressively hip style which oozes 50's type rockabilly cool from every snazzy frame. This film further benefits from fine acting by an appealing cast: Chapman does well as the supremely likable reluctant hero, British novelist and former "Fangoria" magazine film journalist Philip Nutman almost steals the whole show with his spot-on performance as Hawk's mean, gum-chewing right-hand man Tough, and Karen Rizzo makes a favorable impression as friendly bar owner Star. Adam Goldfine's crisp cinematography gives the picture an attractively polished look. Chapman's twangy, harmonic countryish score also hits the tuneful spot (Chapman even wrote and sings a few tuneful songs that are featured on the soundtrack). 80's splatterpunk horror writers John Skipp and Craig Spector briefly pop up as a couple of -- what else? -- splatterpunks. Offbeat and original, this quirky little number sizes up as a highly worthwhile and unjustly neglected sleeper.