Deadly Prey (1987)

A group of sadistic mercenaries kidnap people off the streets and set them loose on the grounds of their secret camp, so the "students" at the camp can learn how to track down and kill their prey.

Director:

David A. Prior

Writer:

David A. Prior (screenplay)

Stars:

Cameron Mitchell, Troy Donahue, Ted Prior

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cameron Mitchell	...	Jaimy's Father
Troy Donahue	...	Don Michaelson
Ted Prior	...	Michael 'Mike' Danton
Fritz Matthews	...	Lt. Thornton
David Campbell	...	Col. John Hogan
Dawn Abraham	...	Sybil
William Zipp	...	Jack Cooper
Suzanne Tara	...	Jaimy (as Suzzane Tara)
Thomas Baldwin	...	Hillbillie
Leo Weltman	...	Hillbillie Will (as Leonard Weltman)
Peter Aston	...	Soldier
Charles Venniro	...	Soldier
Timothy Elwell	...	Soldier (as Jimi Elwell)
Jasper Collins	...	Soldier
Brian Edward O'Connor	...	Soldier (as Brian O'Connor)

Storyline

Colonel Hogan is a ruthless former military officer who trains a large group of former U.S. Servicement as mercenaries by having them hunt down and kill people they abduct off the streets of Los Angeles. Hogan's greedy financier Michaelson threatens Hogan to speed up the mens training or he will pull the plug on Hogan's training camp. However, Hogan and his men meet their match when their latest kidnap victim turns out to be a tough gung-ho marine named Mike Danton who despite being unarmed and hunted, he manages to decimate Hogan's men in detail. Frustrated Hogan, his tough right-hand man Thornton and personal assistant Sybil kidnap Danton's wife Jaimy to force him in the open, while Jaimy's retired police detective father tries to track down her and Danton who finds an unlikely ally in the form of a former marine buddy named Cooper who wants to help him take on all of Hogan's men.

---

Plot Keywords:

most dangerous game | death of wife | cat and mouse game | dead | woodland | 

---

Taglines:

In Vietnam, he was the best... He still is!

---

Genres:

Action | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Featured in Rob Hill's The Bad Movie Bible.

---

Goofs

About a second elapses between shots from the tank's main gun. Main guns of U.S. tanks cannot be reloaded this fast.

---

Quotes

Col. John Hogan: Join me dammit!
Michael 'Mike' Danton: No way.

---

Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: Ninja Movies (2014)

---

Soundtracks

Never Say Die
Written by Steve McClintock and Tim James
Vocalist: Steve McClintock
Recorded by Steve Kempster

User Reviews

"Them city folk'll eat anything." B movie gold.

Beefcake "actor" Ted Prior (brother of writer & director David A. Prior) stars as Mike Danton, a former Marine, in this B level gem. It's about as far as you can get from high art, with a whole lot of completely inept action sequences and hilariously lame performances. Obviously owing a heavy debt to that familiar old plot of "The Most Dangerous Game", it's also clearly inspired by "First Blood" and its sequels, as well as "Commando".

Colonel John Hogan (David Campbell) leads a group of mercenaries. They're hired for a gig by an unscrupulous "businessman" named Michaelson (Troy Donahue). The thing about these guys, though, is that they like to have thorough training sessions before the actual missions. So they abduct guys like Mike, and chase them through the California woods. But they've made an extremely dumb move in selecting Mike this time around, and he's going to give them what-for in a major way.

Top billed Cameron Mitchell, who plays a former cop and the father to Mikes' wife Jaimy (Suzanne Tara), is very much just here for his name value. He has little to add to the plot. Instead, the action focuses on the studly Ted P., who for much of the running time darts around in short shorts. Ted may not be Olivier, but his emoting near the end still needs to be seen to be believed. Campbell is amusing as the money hungry villain, as is Fritz Matthews as Lieutenant Thornton, his main henchman.

"Deadly Prey" can boast a steady supply of violence and a respectably high body count, but it might not be gory enough to suit some tastes.

The absolute best moment of this epic occurs between Mike and Thornton. You'll know it when you see it, and may howl with appreciative laughter.

"Deadly Prey" is deliciously daft nonsense, with an ultra corny theme song to serve as perfect accompaniment.

Seven out of 10.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 November 1987 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Deadly Prey

Filming Locations:

San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Action International Pictures (AIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1