Good idea lost in the noise

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

"Hit List" is a stellar example to illustrate that an incredibly simplistic and derivative plot concept can nevertheless still result in a compelling and exhilarating little movie as long as the right people are involved. When we were out movie hunting, my mate and I didn't hesitate for a second when we found this late 80's thriller on VHS. We didn't immediately recognize the title, but it would be really stupid to leave behind a movie directed by William Lustig (almighty creator of the "Maniac Cop"-trilogy and the infamous video nasty "Maniac") and starring B-movie icons Charles Napier ("Supervixens", "Body Count"), Rip Torn ("Coma", "Beastmaster"), Jan-Michael Vincent ("Damnation Alley", The Mechanic") and Lance Henriksen ("Mansion of the Doomed", "Near Dark"). And although we were already satisfied with the discovery of the tape alone, the film itself definitely offers decent albeit modest entertainment. Mafia boss Vic Luca orders his best hit man to eliminate a former associate who's about to witness against him in court, but due to a banal misunderstanding the killer relentlessly wipes out the wrong family and takes an innocent kid hostage. The boy's father fights back whilst the obsessive copper Tom Mitchum continues to try and bring the essential witness to court. The screenplay relies on a couple of tiresome and even embarrassing clichéd prime aspects, such as upside down house numbers causing confusion and model house fathers turning into avenging angels, but the surefooted direction and devoted performances make you overlook all this. Also, even though the primary story lines are mundane and familiar, the plot contains enough little surprise twists and imaginative gimmicks to keep even the more skeptical viewer satisfied. The villainous characters are incredibly well worked out, like Rip Torn's boisterous and obnoxious imitation of Al Capone for example. Most effective and even downright petrifying character is Lance Henriksen's psychotic hit man. He appears to be a sympathetic shoe salesman, but that's only until he receives a new assignment and then literally mutates into a cold-blooded and jeopardizing monster with a tattooed back and creepy eyes. "Hit List" isn't very gore, but there's nevertheless quite a bit of suggestive cruelty, like head being crushed between prison cell doors or burned in pizza ovens. The finale is tremendously spectacular and grotesquely absurd at the same time, with a wild showdown inside a parking garage. Jan-Michael Vincent's performance as the civilian hero is arguably quite wooden, but Rip Torn, Lance Henriksen and Charles Napier are fantastic. The latter even gives away one of his best performances ever as the frustrated cop determined to end the mafia business in his district once and for all.

Hit List is an action film that has enough suspense and predictability to keep you on the edge of your seat and cheering at the same time. The story is about a mistaken identity murder and kidnapping that turns Jan-Michael Vincent from caring father, to an unstoppable killing machine. Like all action movies, there are points that are totally ridiculous, but the movie as a whole was adventurous and fun. Action film fanatics are sure to enjoy.

It's too bad that a solid cast of character actors working with a decent genre director can't quite improve upon, or merely disguise, their lead's mumbly, slurring performance. I remember seeing the film and wondering why so much of Jan-Michael Vincent's acting was dubbed, and why there were so many single shots of him by himself, the other actors being cut in for individual lines of dialogue, etc.According to director William Lustig, Vincent was so inebriated they oftentimes had to just prop him up in some of the master shots and let the other actors "act around" the poor guy. One scene he's even lying down on a backyard bench.If anything, it gives Lance Henriksen more room to chew up a lot of scenery, and then, of course, there's the stunts. Lots and lots of them. This is one movie that doesn't necessarily make you disappreciate dynamic car pursuits, but the tire squealing is enough to make you don headphones and listen to good heavy metal for the duration of the chases, especially the parking structure one.All in all, it's a watchable movie. I especially like one of Vincent's decipherable lines (one that he repeats quite a few times) "But he's got my kid!!" because he says it with about as much despair as if he'd just ran out of cigarettes.

"Hit List" is a perfectly acceptable little actioner. Anyone who has seen a fair amount of action pics will agree that the quality of this movie is average, and not nearly as low as it often gets in this genre. An extremely untalented lead is a major disappointment here, but the good supporting roles (particularly a colorful Torn, who seems to slightly imitate De Niro's version of Al Capone from "The Untouchables") make up for that. The script is ordinary, and gets far-fetched at the end, but the slick production values keep the film watchable.