Rigged (1986) User Reviews

Brief plot outline, my reactions to the film, the novel upon which the film is based.

[james_trevelyan · 3 April 2004]

'Rigged' is essentially a mediocre film adaptation of James Hadley Chase's excellent 1958(?) pulp crime novel 'Hit and Run'. The dangerously bland Ken Roberson stars as Mace Morgan, a young, up-and-coming employee of a successful oil drilling firm (hence the film's title). When Mace's boss, played by George Kennedy, breaks a leg, he invites Mace to his home to discuss various work-related matters. It is here that Mace meets Monique, his boss' nubile young wife. Monique begs Mace to teach her how drive, and he does so in his expensive sports car. But one night, after Monique takes exception to Mace's romantic overtures, she takes off in his car and perpetrates a hit and run (hence the novel's title). Her victim is a motorcycle cop, and the heat comes down big-time. But, as Mace soon discovers, things are not at all what they seem. 'Rigged' is pretty obscure and, because of this, very hard to find. Do yourself a favour and, instead of searching for the movie, introduce yourself to the work of James Hadley Chase, who was quite a prodigious author until his death in 1985. I recently read another of his books, entitled 'The Whiff of Money' (1969), which was, like 'Hit and Run', very cool. Chase reminds me of an ersatz Raymond Chandler or perhaps James Ellroy. 'Rigged' is painfully eighties - check out the wonderfully cheesy music! And the character of Monique, who is facile and whiny, is rather grating. Anyhow, that's my two cents' worth!