Wanted: Dead or Alive

January. 16,1987      R
Rating:
5.9
Trailer Synopsis Cast

Nick Randall is a Los Angeles-based bounty hunter and an ex-CIA operative who is asked by a former co-worker to help track down terrorist Malak Al Rahim. However, Malak Al Rahim is also looking for Randall, and Randall's employers tell him where to find him. This results in the death of his best friend, Sgt. Danny Quintz, and his girlfriend, Terry, eventually forcing a showdown on the waterfront.

Rutger Hauer as  Nick Randall
Gene Simmons as  Malak Al Rahim
Eli Danker as  Robert Aziz
Nick Faltas as  Amir
Robert Guillaume as  Philmore Walker
Dennis Burkley as  Farnsworth
Mel Harris as  Terry
Jerry Hardin as  John Lipton
Robert Harper as  Dave Henderson
William Russ as  Danny Quintz

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Reviews

Perry Kate
1987/01/16

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

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SnoReptilePlenty
1987/01/17

Memorable, crazy movie

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Console
1987/01/18

best movie i've ever seen.

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Beystiman
1987/01/19

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

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videorama-759-859391
1987/01/20

When hearing of this, I expected another Invasion U.S.A of non stop action, but came up pretty short sheeted. I love Rutger and I liked him here and Simmons playing international terrorist, Malak Al Re Haeim, whatever, was even better here than in Runaway. This cool kick arse movie has a visual rawness, some scenes that tend to be upsetting, like seeing a family enter a cinema, where minutes later it becomes a obliterated pile of shrapnel. Terrorism is not a joke, and tends to be more a sensitive subject nowadays. As being a year underage to see WDOR, that scene could of had me running out the cinema, and in no way this film was a hit in Adelaide. Rutger plays bounty hunter, Nick Randall, the son of legendary hero Joshua Randall, from the t.v show, whose lifestyle is far from normal, as is his cleaning habits (check out his silverware and glasses and his houseboat, while cooking his girlfriend, brekkie). Benson's Robert Guiliamme as Nick Randall's (Hauer) old friend and agency buddy, enlists him to take down Malak, offering a big fee, of course, and when it becomes personal, we so much want Rutger to dispose of this piece of s..t in one unforgettable bit of dialogue, in unforgettable finale, the minutes lead up, compulsive viewing. I expected much more action from this, but one gets the feeling it chooses to be more than that, or truthfully, this is what unintentionally unfolded, but really that isn't much of a bad thing. I found it remarkably tame, as in the violence department, but still it has a lot of coolness to it. Rutger pulling into his car elevator, taking him up into his big impressive loft, while listening to a rock track, I still keep playing in my head from time to time, was one cool scene, as was him taking down a wanted roughneck, robbing a liquor store, that had Hauer trailing him, prior. The chase scene was cool, ending with another terrorist, making his suicidal choice. Rutger's Hauer's stereotypical line, he delivers to a fat Vietnam Vet, he confronts at home, who's been selling armament, detonators, unaware of the consequences, was a moment of "der Fred". Meanwhile the vet's trashy wife is making him some mystery meat. Interesting. Still WDOR equals an undemanding standard, that joins the Norris's, Bronson's, whatever, and I'll tell you, the onus is definitely not on the script. It's just how the film's materialized. Hauer as always is good, much a far cry, for his legendary "never live it down" role in The Hitcher prior. Yet still there's a coolness and rawness about the whole film that's also appealing, where I've got my viewing's worth, with this many times. But I will tell you, if you are seeking gore from this, keep walking. It must be hard for Simmons, showing wife, the Shannon Tweed who's the better thespian.

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Woodyanders
1987/01/21

Rugged bounty hunter Nick Randall (Rutger Hauer in top two-fisted form) gets used as bait by the CIA so they can apprehend nefarious terrorist Malik Al Rahim (well played with deliciously wicked relish by Gene Simmons). After Rahim kills two people close to Randall, Randall decides to get Rahim on his own terms. Director Gary Sherman, who also co-wrote the hard-edged script with Brian Taggert and Michael Patrick Goodman, keeps the involving story moving at a brisk pace, maintains a tough gritty tone throughout, and stages the thrilling action set pieces with rip-roaring aplomb. The fine acting by the super cast gives this movie an extra sparky buzz: Hauer makes for a strong and engaging rough'n'tumble hero, Simmons portrays the chillingly ruthless villain with commendable restraint, Mel Harris radiates real warmth as Randall's sweet girlfriend Terry, plus there are sturdy contributions from Robert Guillaume as the suave Philmore Walker, William Russ as Randall's jolly cop buddy Det. Danny Quintz, Jerry Hardin as the shifty John Lipton, Hugh Gillin as the no-nonsense Patrick Donoby, Robert Harper as slimy fed Dave Henderson, and Dennis Burkley as scuzzy redneck arms dealer Farnsworth. The grenade in mouth climax is a doozy. Alex Nepomniaischy's slick cinematography provides a neat glossy look. Joe Renzetti's bluesy score hits the right-on groovy spot. A really cool flick.

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Comeuppance Reviews
1987/01/22

Nick Randall (Hauer) is an ex-CIA agent and bounty hunter. He is asked to track down an extremely dangerous and ruthless terrorist, Malak Al-Rahim (Simmons), who has been killing lots of people and only planning to do more damage. Randall will stop at nothing to track down Al-Rahim, especially after an attempt on his life kills some people Randall cares about. Will Randall succeed? As you can see from the brief plot description above, the storyline here is pretty cut-and-dry, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the movie should have been shorter, and with Rutger killing more goons. That would have livened things up. But as it stands, Wanted: Dead or Alive has some good 80's atmosphere and un-PC moments. So that's a good thing, and they tried to give Nick Randall a bit more character development than usual, which is also good. He gets plenty of snappy lines and loves the harmonica, which mirrors on the soundtrack. He even has what may be the first car GPS seen on a movie screen.It was also nice to see Gene Simmons looking slick, and while he himself is Jewish, he plays an Islamic terrorist. The terror aspect of the film is still relevant, but this movie has too much padding and needed more action. Interestingly, in the movie theater scene, they are playing the movie "Rambo" - and while there are many Rambo references in many other 80's and 90's action movies, the filmmakers here should have known there was no such movie by that title at that time.Naturally, it all ends in a classic Steam Factory shootout. So while WDOA has some good moments, the movie should have been tightened up and had some edge added to it. It's not bad at all, but it's not very memorable either.For more action insanity, please visit: www.comeuppancereviews.com

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Benjamin Wolfe
1987/01/23

This is the type of hero, we all need. Someone who can handle the situation and get the job done! And done indeed, he does as 'Nick Randall', a bounty hunter with a proved ability for survival. I hadn't followed Rutger's rolls very closely until he played a very controlling and virtually unstoppable cereal-murderer. Eric Red's story and Robert Harmon's directed film, 'The Hitcher'. A thriller that makes the hairs on your neck stand straight up, with a strange echoing eeriness. Rutger was 'mesmurizing' in the roll that he just, took over. He was aptly the killers's killer. I walked out of the theater stunned at his absolutely convincing performance. So when I went and saw, 'Wanted' with the reversal of 'rolls' for Rutger, Hell! He goes back and forth through 'Goodguy' 'Badguy' 'Protag' and 'Antag' character rolls better than Sylvester Stallone or Kevin Costner, even better than Harrison Ford for crying out loud. This man has that skilled ability, to lay it out unmistakably. The Hero that Nick Randall is in "Wanted: Dead or Alive" is a 'Snake-Eater'. First zero's in on his target and sets it up, then hit's them hard, knocking them down and then out. He is a 'Patriot', that doesn't want to be 'Snowed' by anyone. He is a strong man and yet he's a caring friend to fellow actor William Russ's character ((the L.A. officer Danny Quintz and even Agent Walker of the F.B.I. who considers him a 'Friend' for over 15 years)) the most impressive part(s) to me are when you can feel the emotionally-loaded response from Hauer's 'Randall'. You see him angry, hot, sweating feeling the strain. He is broken down emotionally with tears in his eyes at the death of his friend and his new love'Terry' whose lives have been brought to an 'abrupt end' by an anti-American group of killers. He still doesn't lose accurate focus under the pressure of his 'cover' being given away to his enemy, 'used as live bait' by those supposedly on his side of the fence (for their own strategic manoeuvrings). Even so, he forces himself not to stop or even slow down but follows his conscience through to the very ending of this Government contracted game, in which they are involved with 'holy-waring' terrorists. Rock group lead-singer Gene Simmons plays a jihad-violent terrorist that is a madman out to appease himself and his killing partners. Even with Simmons who plays well, he knows being an Israeli what it feels like to have a terrorist organization plotting to destroy your very existence.An incredible action movie that blows doors off of many others in this film 'genre'. If you haven't seen this one, but you have seen 9/11 on the television news and the papers...do yourself a favor, rent or buy this on D.V.D, watch it and feel better. This was not four-star acting. But the story can take you through if you're into it. It's like a late night made for television feature to be honest...but its fun. No fear but loss, triggering anger, causing Nick to bring about 'exacting' vengeance and then...comforting relief. (**)

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