I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Stoney Cooper (The Wingman) is an ex-cop who was kicked off the force for his rogue ways. Now living in New York, he is called back to L.A. by his old buddy Sam (Ruscio). It seems a serial killer is on the loose, killing people seemingly at random and leaving an X on their forehead. This "X Killer" claimed Sam's granddaughter as a victim, and he wants revenge. Meanwhile, Stoney sees this as an opportunity to get back in the good graces of his estranged wife Eddie (Ingalls). The three unlikely partners all team up to put an end to the X Killer's reign of terror, whilst dodging gangsters, lowlifes and the killer himself.The ever-charismatic Wings Hauser once again shows why we keep coming back to his movies. He doesn't disappoint - his likable and personable nature are shown off well in this film. Like other Wings movies such as Reason to Die (1990), the simple plot is basically Wings chasing a serial killer. His personality certainly carries this film. He's backed up with some solid support, notably Al Ruscio and an amusing cameo from none other than Estelle Getty.We'd be remiss if we left out Lincoln Kilpatrick as Hoxley, the disgruntled, classic stereotype: the Black Yelling Chief. He also played the BYC in the Gary Busey vehicle Bulletproof (1988). He's had a long career (he's since passed away) , no doubt filling the role he was born to play (the BYC) many times over the years.The soundtrack deserves special mention, especially the driving main theme, and the equally pounding end credits tune, "Keep On Fighting" by Jesse Frederick. Only in the 80's could you get the car chases, seedy city scenarios, and music such as this, all tied together in a nice bow with Wings at the helm. It truly was a golden age.Released on VHS in the U.S. on the Embassy label (later re-released under MGM's budget-priced "Movie Time" banner), while this movie doesn't have a ton of originality, it nevertheless should be on the Wings Hauser fan's short list.For more action insanity, please visit: www.comeuppancereviews.com

What we have here is a typical run-of-the-mill eighties crime/action/thriller from the somewhat lower budget regions. The plot involves a (very active) serial killer running amok in L.A. One of the apparently random victims, being killed at the very start of the movie, is the granddaughter of an ex-thief. Granddaddy then calls in the help of Stoney Jackson Cooper (Wings Hauser), a former hard-boiled cop from the L.A. police force who doesn't like playing by the rules. When he arrives in L.A., the authorities, local criminals as well as his (soon-to-be) ex-wife are not too happy with his return. But Stoney doesn't care. He's got a job to do and a promise to keep: track down the vile killer and put a stop to his activities.The story bounces to the left & the right at an uneven pace, but still manages to be quite coherent and even turn in a twist at the start of the third act (albeit one you'll probably see coming). Wings Hauser is in top shape in this one and pretty much owns the movie. One scene has him relaxing in a bath tub, and then going after the killer butt-naked after the whole loft has been shot to pieces during the killer's surprise attack. Even a pretty decent but obviously very standard climax is added to the mix (Wings vs. the killer, after his true identity is exposed). Other forms of entertainment, aside from shooting & killing, are included also, like a soft-core sex-scene (Wings & Joyce Ingalls) and an obligatory car crash/explosion. Yes, "Deadly Force" does its best to play it right.Sadly, one of the worst aspects of "Deadly Force" is the musical score. The main theme - if you can call it that - doesn't work at all. It's too rocky & funky and is used too often & inappropriately (even during the climactic fight & chase scene at the end). It gives the film a much sillier & dated vibe than it should have. A more gritty & tense analog synth score would have worked wonders, I'm sure. But in the end, "Deadly Force" is much more entertaining than it's poor rating on here would lead you to believe. And it's mainly thanks to Wings Hauser and a typical B-movie script that at least tries to make things work.

A customarily vanilla, but rather violent and tawdry action thriller joint with a colourfully explosive Wings Hauser performance as an ex-cop returning to Los Angeles to find the serial killer that murdered his friends' granddaughter. He's a rogue who believes the system doesn't work and would go about any way to get the job done ("Your crazy man!"). Because of this, he's not welcome by the local authorities, then there's the ex-wife and also the local criminals who he had a past with when he was a LA cop. There's no surprises here, but it's well made in workman-like manner by director Paul Aaron ("A Force of One"). Fundamental is how you can describe the b-grade story, but it did somewhat change route in the back-end after what I thought was going to be your typical stalk and slash outing with a (ex-maverick) cop after a psycho serial killer. In away I probably would have preferred if stuck to that formula (something similar to Charles Bronson's "10 to Midnight"), then where it actually headed. Even the added love-interest with Joyce Ingalls's character felt like nothing more than padding. The narrative does have a scattered pattern going on, but everything is thinly examined when it comes to its finale. Pacing can be very uneven, but the action is physically tough and breakneck (as well as that pumping soundtrack)… but you end up wishing there were more extreme dynamics than what's produced. Also showing up in the cast is Paul Shenar, Al Ruscio, Lincoln Kilpatrick and Arlen Dean Snyder. Middle-of-the-road entertainment. "You leave L.A, I'll have your ass!"

This is Wings Hauser's follow-up to his star making role in VICE SQUAD (1982) but with him playing the cop this time. Ex-cop Stoney Cooper (Hauser) returns to L.A. to track down the X Killer, whose latest victim was an old friend's granddaughter. Immediately upon his arrival Stoney runs afoul of his old enemies - cops and killers alike - and his ex-wife. The plot is a bit convoluted and full of convenience but the film moves at such a quick pace you hardly have time to contemplate things. Hauser exudes on screen charisma (the opening cliché bit where he disarms someone in a standoff is really good) and it is a shame he never got any further in theatrical vehicles. Surprisingly, not a lot of the supporting actors are well known. Lincoln Kilpatrick does show up as the angry police Captain and Estelle Getty has a bizarre 5 minute cameo as a foul mouthed cabbie.