EYE OF THE TIGER
US, 1986, 90 minutes, Colour.
Gary Busey, Bert Remsen, Yaphet Kotto, Seymour Cassell, William Smith.
Directed by Richard C. Sarafian.
Eye of the Tiger is a very violent vengeance thriller. The title comes from the song used in Rocky TIT. The director is Richard C. Sarafian, who made such interesting films in the '60s and '70s as Run Wild, Run Free, Vanishing Point, Man in the Wilderness.
Gary Busey is a Vietnam veteran from a small town, imprisoned unjustly, released only to find his wife killed and his child injured by drug-dealing bikie gang backed by the sheriff of the town. He enlists the help of an ex-prisoner and begins to eliminate the gang - ultra-violently. The film raises the questions about communities, corrupt sheriffs, bike gangs terrorising communities and the community feeling helpless. It highlights the individual rising to the occasion - but taking the law and vengeance into his own hands. There is a good supporting cast including Yaphet Kotto and Seymour Cassell. However, many will find the film repellent in its details of the vengeance wrought by the hero.
1. Vengeance and vigilante thriller? American justice? The failure of law and order? Drugs? Fearful communities?
2. The small-town locations, the desert - locations of beauty for ugly action? Title song? Musical score?
3. The title, the lyrics, the focus on Buck and his mission?
4. Buck and his leaving jail, the film's explanation of his background, growing up in the town, Vietnam and his ideals, the return and marriage and daughter, the clash with the sheriff, imprisonment, the clash with the bikie gang, returning and not wanted, his friendship with Devereaux? The attack on his wife and daughter? His grief, confrontation with the sheriff, help from the ex-prisoner and the equipment? His beginning to execute the gang: the trip-wire, the explosions, the chases? The help from Devereaux? Concern about his daughter, the help from the nurse, his friends looking after the daughter, their deaths and her kidnapping? The decision to storm the camp? A military operation and explosions? The confrontation with the leader of the gang? With the sheriff, the explosion in the car? His vengeance? His future?
5. The corrupt sheriff, his reaction to Buck in the past, not welcoming him back, on the take from the bikie gang, wanting to get rid of Buck. the attitudes of his underlings, racist attitudes towards Devereaux, the deaths, his being caught up, Buck taking him to the camp, killed in the explosion?
6. Devereaux and his friendship, administering justice. getting out, with machines, moral support, helping him in the siege, flying the plane, enjoying the attack?
7. The nurse and her support, the memories of his wife, his daughter and her being kidnapped?
8. The bikie gang, so large, their encampment, drug deals, terrorising the town, violence and rape? The confrontation, their deaths?
9. Themes of the proper administration of justice? The corruption of the law? The American West tradition and the hero taking the law and the execution of justice into his own hands? For the late 20th. century?
