DEADLY FORCE

US, 1983, 95 minutes, Colour.
Wings Hauser, Joyce Ingalis, Paul Shenar.
Directed by Paul Aaron.

Deadly Force is a violent action film geared for cinemas - but is strongly reminiscent of a pilot for a television series. The television series, however, would have to be 'R' rated.

The film's plot is a familiar one: a murder, multiple murders - with a cover-up for the real murderer by killing others to distract the police. The incompetence of the police is highlighted - and the hero dismissed from the force for his violent and relentless tactics, comes to the rescue.

Wings Hauser (vice Squad) seems a very young hero for this kind of relentless violence. His wife (in the style of the times) is a television reporter. Paul Shenar (Orson Welles in The Night that Panicked America) is effective as the smooth-talking villain. There is a touch of explicit sex and some fast-paced violence. Otherwise, the material is regular television series. Direction is by Paul Aaron who directed such films as the Chuck Norris vehicle A Force of One. The film raises questions about justice, the effectiveness of the police, the hypocrisy of self-made American messiahs and their control - and the continued use of car chases, violence.