Lightdeossk Captivating movie !

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Bea Swanson This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Freeman This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Comeuppance Reviews Danny O'Brien (Chuck) is an L.A. area cop who is still reeling from his encounter with a psychopathic, murderous maniac named Simon Moon (O'Halloran). O'Brien exorcises his demons pumping iron in the weight room. Moon is so scary, he's been nicknamed "The Terror" by the press. However, O'Brien has also been nicknamed. To the residents of L.A., he's "The Hero". Starting to see where this is going? Anyway, Chuck hates his nickname, and just wants to spend time with his lovely wife Kay (Thayer), who is pregnant. But the Mayor of L.A. (O'Neal) wants results on The Terror case. So O'Brien calls in his buddy Robinson (James) to help out. The two suspect that the baddie is hiding out in the bowels of the Wiltern Theater, which sets the stage for the final battle. Who will prevail: The Hero or The Terror? Find out today… Simply speaking, The Hero and The Terror is classic 80's Chuck. It might not be one of his more talked-about titles, but it's well worth seeing. It's kind of like a better version of Silent Rage (1982), insofar as it's about a psycho killer and Chuck's chasing him, while doing minimal Martial Arts. If you have to see one of those two movies, see this one. It's a quality production: it's excellently shot, with very nice cinematography, the cast is top-notch, and it all exudes an aura of professionalism. It's not at all junky, and it would have been very cool to see this in the theater in '88.Chuck puts in a great performance, that of a troubled hero haunted by The Terror, while still striving to be a rock of stability and companionship for his wife. Fan favorite Steve James is as charismatic as ever, and is always a joy to watch. He even wears the same WrestleMania hat as he does in McBain (1991). That must make us truly hardcore Steve James fans to notice a detail like that. Ron O'Neal does a decent job as "The Mayor", and Billy Drago has a glorified Cameo as a doctor. Come to think of it, it's not all that glorified.We very much enjoyed the slower pace of this film. Slow pace doesn't equal bad: bad equals bad. We're against the notion that MTV-style fast cuts and ADD-afflicted editing should be the standard we all have to now live by. So by that logic if a movie isn't moving at a breakneck pace, it's no good? We reject that entirely. Bring us back to the days when a pace was meant to draw you in and you could get to know the characters. So we applaud director Tannen for that. He went on to be a co-director of Inside Edge (1992), which also featured Branscombe Richmond, as does HATT, as all the cool kids call it (i.e., this movie).For straight down-the-line and above board Chuck, Hero and the Terror is a great choice.

Filmfandave This came out in the last years of the Cannon Group, which had produced numerous fun B-action flicks. I saw it at the cinema and liked it. Having watched it again, I couldn't help but associate it with another similar Norris's earlier vehicle SILENT RAGE.Detective Danny O'Brien (Norris) is haunted by his past after single-handedly capturing a psychotic killer Simon Moon a.k.a. the Terror (Jack O' Halloran). Several years later, Moon escapes from a sanitarium and returns to the city he once stalked to unleash terror again. This time his 'turf' is a newly renovated theater in downtown Los Angeles that is about to be re-opened. As victims start to fall and the opening date of the theater is approaching, the Mayor calls for detective O'Brien to track him down and put an end to his terror.This action thriller, at times, plays like a pilot episode of a TV series. One of the key scenes even borders on becoming nonsensical, like Simon Moon's escape.Billy Drago is miscast as Moon's doctor. Drago plays well as an antagonist: a psycho (FREEWAY) or a henchman (THE UNTOUCHABLES) or any other typically eccentric bad guy, but not a good doctor!On the other hand, Jack O'Halloran (Non in Superman 2) portrayal of the Terror is menacing - he doesn't speak, only growls, and looks creepy. The music, especially when the Terror strikes, performed by the same musician who scores Norris's CODE OF SILENCE is effective to create tension.What sets this film apart from other Norris's films is that we get to see him act a lot more than he usually does. Norris is not a one-man army like his role in the MISSING IN ACTION trilogy. Here he tries to act and play more drama: he is a cop but a father-to-be and a sensitive lover too, which is shown in a scene when he has a romantic birthday dinner with his girlfriend and in another scene when he faints upon arriving at the hospital after hearing that his pregnant girlfriend is about to deliver. Overall, this cop thriller is one of Norris's better films where fans can see more of his acting than just his fighting skills.

lost-in-limbo Out of the ordinary for Norris? In a way it does feel like it, but still those sweaty and muscle-bound elements are still evident but in a lesser tone. Norris does kick some ass, but he plays a scarred, guilt-ridden and unsure character that doesn't see himself as some sort of hero (the media portrays) with the main focus being on the welfare of his girlfriend and their expected baby. Some might say that it's a sombre performance with little emotion, but it's a heartfelt turn that you feel every aching and haunting thought. Complementing that broad complexion is David Michael Frank's score, which is always there and holds a sorrow edge. The story builds upon its material with a humane angle, as Norris battles the demons (spares us some wry relationship humour) while the killer (the terror) is mainly a lumbering shadow that emits terror in the most basic and raw way. It's primal and old-fashion police-killer premise, but stays stimulating throughout. That's not discarding some repetitive and contrived inclusions, and how the killer does feel secondary to Norris. William Tannen's direction gradually forms suspense and moves quick enough (even with some useless spots). The action isn't eye-opening, but it's a sturdy display with moments of atmospheric lashings and the setting in a renovated movie theatre is a nice touch. The violence is quick, with the killer providing a sure cure for neck problems. An above-par cast do a sound job. Brynn Thayer excels as Norris' girlfriend. Jack O'Halloran's animalistic, brute physique is his performance and Steve James is enjoyable too. Rounding the cast off; Ryan O'Neil, Jeffrey Kramer, Murphy Dunne and a short, but important see-in for Billy Drago (this guy has presence) who explains the creepy and unsettling nature of the wanted killer.

Frank Markland Chuck Norris stars as Danny, a cop who took down a hulking serial killer however when said killer escapes, Danny knows he is the only one able to stop the terror. However Danny harbors a secret, he knows that it was sheer luck that got the terror arrested and even more luck that Danny survived, now a final battle is waged but is Danny ready? Right there in my description tells what the problem of this movie is. Norris is playing a wimpy hero who still suffers from psychological trauma. In the hands of a better actor, this concept would be interesting and could make for a great thriller. In the hands of a Norris thriller it just makes it ridiculous and hopelessly unheroic. Also on board is American Ninja's Steve James and Superfly's Ron O'Neal but any attempt at character development is defeated by the atrocious script. Also there is hardly any action and I always preferred a Norris movie with more fighting and less talking. Given the rating on this website, I must not be alone.* out of 4-(Bad)