Main Cast: Thomas Ian Griffith, Lance Henriksen, James Earl Jones, Charlotte Lewis, Tony Todd
Release Year: 1993
Country: US
Run Time: 87 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Martial arts hero Thomas Ian Griffith wrote, produced, and starred in this action thriller. Terry McCain (Griffith) is a Chicago police officer who is bent on revenge after his partners are killed by Mafia gunmen. McCain knows that he won't be able to get the justice he demands within the system, so he persuades his boss, Devlin (Lance Henriksen), to keep him off the list of suspects after he kills mob kingpin Sal DiMarco (Burt Young). McCain changes his mind about killing the crime boss, but someone else with a grudge guns down DiMarco instead; however, when he tries to meet with Devlin to explain what's happened, he's met by a squad of killers. McCain learns that his partner Frankie (Tony Todd) is actually still alive and was in cahoots with Devlin to steal $3 million in drug money away from DiMarco, a deal scotched by McCain's desire for revenge. The supporting cast includes James Earl Jones and Charlotte Lewis. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Burt Young - Sal DiMarco; W. Earl Brown - Vinnie DiMarco; Jane Alderman; Steve Chambers - Thug #2; Carl Ciarfalio - Guard #1; Tony Epper - Delivery Man; Tom Hodges - Dylan; Rom Milanovich - Mario; Dick Sollenberger - Judge; Bobby Bass - Limo Driver; Leon Delaney - Hitman #1; Brian Leahy - Irish Leader; James Ryder - Make-up Artist; Antoni Corone - Fat Tommy; Liza Cruzat - Hooker; Danny Goldring - Lt. Landry; E.J. Murray - News Reporter; Sam Sanders - Dexter; Doreen Lane; Charlie Picerni - Thug #1; Mario Roberts - Guard #2; Susan Wood - Lisa
Credit
Charles Lagola - Art Director, Kathryn Morrison - Costume Designer, Jon D. Hess - Director, Allan E. Baumgarten - Editor, Charles Bernstein - Composer (Music Score), Michael Z. Hanan - Production Designer, Donald M. Morgan - Cinematographer, Thomas Ian Griffith - Producer, Erwin Stoff - Producer, Michael Harpster - Producer, Douglas Mowat - Set Designer, Henri Lopez - Sound/Sound Designer, Thomas Ian Griffith - Screenwriter, Grant Morris - Screenwriter
A sequel, Excessive Force II: Force on Force, was released directly to DVD in 1995. It was directed by Jonathan Winfrey and produced by Lisa M. Hansen.
Reception
Malcolm Johnson, of The Hartford Courant, says that "about the best that can be said for this tale…is that Griffith exhibits a mournful Irish dash to go with his high karate kicks and that Todd shows a far different side of his acting talent than he revealed in Candyman."[1]
