Review: Shoot to Kill/Deadly Pursuit

In this buddy movie/serial killer flick hybrid, big city cop Sidney Poitier must rely on stubborn and anti-social mountain guide Tom Berenger in tracking down a hunting party that includes a dangerous killer/thief, as well as Berenger’s girlfriend and fellow guide Kirstie Alley. Needless to say, the big city cop is way out of his depth in the rugged outdoors, and constantly butts heads with the surly mountain man. The hunting party includes familiar faces like Clancy Brown (“Highlander”, “Extreme Prejudice”, “Starship Troopers”), Richard Masur (“My Girl”, “Stephen King’s IT”), Andrew Robinson (“Hellraiser”, “Dirty Harry”), and Frederick Coffin (“Hard to Kill”).

Featuring Poitier’s first starring role in a decade, this 1988 Roger Spottiswoode (“Under Fire”, “The Best of Times”, “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot”) crime-thriller is nearly a bullseye (sorry!), but never quite gets there thanks to the killer’s identity being revealed way too soon , though the killer sure is ruthless! Casting several actors known for playing untrustworthy-types, was a nice touch but it would’ve been even better if the reveal wasn’t so early. However, it’s ultimately not about that I guess. Well-acted by Poitier (who is effortlessly authoritative and even funny at times), Berenger (perfectly-cast as an uncommunicative prick), and Brown.

Ultimately very watchable thriller, but why did Poitier choose this rather inconsequential project for his return? Scripted by Daniel Petrie Jr. (writer-director of the teens vs. terrorists flick “Toy Soldiers” and screenwriter of “Beverly Hills Cop”), Harv Zimmel, and Michael Burton (the underrated kids flick “Flight of the Navigator”), from a story by Zimmel, the film was originally released in Australia under the British title “Deadly Pursuit” (changed in the UK due to a spate of killings, they didn’t want a film with the word ‘Shoot’ in the title, apparently).

Rating: C+