When a cunning murderer vanishes into the rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, pursuing FBI agent Warren Stantin must exchange familiar city streets for unknown wilderness trails. Completely out of his element, Stantin is forced to enlist the aid of expert tracker Jonathan Knox. It's a turbulent yet vital relationship they must maintain in order to survive... and one that becomes increasingly desperate when Knox's girlfriend Sarah becomes the killer's latest hostage!
Similar titles
You May Also Like
Reviews
People are voting emotionally.
Fantastic!
A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
***SPOILERS*** After a ten year absence Sidney Poitier is back in front of the cameras as big time FBI Agent Warren Stantin with a new pair of thermal underwear as he searches in the great American North-West not for "Bigfoot" but for a killer whom he let escape or slip out of his fingers after a kidnap murderer back in San Francisco. In what looks like a re-make of the 1958 film the "Defient Ones" but as good guys and not being handcuffed together Poitier as Agent Stantin and his partner rugged mountain man Jonathon Knox played by a very fit and in tip top shape, for what's expected of him in the movie,Tom Berenger are out looking for an escaped murderer and kidnapper Steve-no last name given in the credits-played by Clancy Brown who hooked up with a group of people out to climb the mountains and enjoy the wonders of nature.With the movie being filmed in the politically correct 1980's the fact that Stantin is black as well as the boss and Knox is white and a bit of a redneck race was almost totally absent in the two mens relationships but replaced with Stantin being a big time city FBI man and Knox being an almost hermit like mountain or country boy. This caused a lot of tension between the two who earned each others respect by saving each others lives by the time the movie ended.****SPOILERS**** After Steve murderer all the hikers he was with he took their guide Sarah Rennell, Christie Alley, not just hostage but to help him find his way to Canada where he plans to spend the some $3,000,000.00 in diamonds that he stole back in SF. As we soon found out Sarah is Knox's girlfriend that makes his tracking down Steve a very personal matter. The movie end up in Vancouver Canada with both our hero's after getting a shave shower and new clean set of clothes, the old ones stunk like hell, finally tracking down the elusive Steve that results in a wild car chase as well as shoot out on a ferry that ends almost at the bottom of Vancouver Bay. With Knox again saving, for the second time, Stantin life who was about to go under for the third time.
Shoot To Kill (also known as Deadly Pursuit) is notable for signalling the cinematic return of Sydney Poitier, who was absent for a little while preceding this one. It's also a knockout thriller featuring a genuinely frightening antagonist, gorgeous pacific northwest wilderness cinematography, and a taut, well drawn plot. Poitier plays FBI agent Warren Stantin, who tracks a heinous jewel thieving murderer from the big city out to a rural patch. Then, the criminal disappears into the mountains, disguising himself in plain sight amongst a group of hikers touring the wilderness. Stantin enlists the help of rugged outdoorsman Jonathan Knox (Tom Berenger), whose girlfriend (Kirstie Alley) happens to be leading the hikers with the killer in their midst. And so the two embark on a bicker laden trip into the vast mountain ranges to track the party, before the killer starts turning on them. Berenger's belligerent, anti social demeanour towards Poitier provides amusing camaraderie as they both discover that between the survival know how and the criminal profiling, they both need each other. There's solid work from Richard Masur, Andrew Robinson and Clancy Brown as well. It's all shot in the British Columbia area as well and we get to see some truly stunning photography, including an end sequence not only filmed but actually set in Vancouver (lol its adorable that Americans think the seabus is a huge ferry). A lean, mean thriller with a lot of natural beauty to behold, and a cast that elevates that slightly generic narrative into a flick that holds our attention with its resolve and cunning thrills.
After 24 years of missed chances, I finally got to see Shoot to Kill on YouTube. Having previously spent the last 10 years directing only, Sidney Poitier was back on screen doing this mostly excellent thriller as his FBI character pursues a diamond thief and killer through the Canadian mountains with cabin dweller Tom Berenger in tow as he's trying to save the villain's potential next victim: Berenger's girlfriend Kirstie Alley. While there are many exciting chases, there's also some good humorous sequences too like those concerning Poitier's attempt to mount a horse or his encounter with a moose or his and Berenger's close call with a bear. This was as good a comeback for the man known for playing Mr. Tibbs, so on that note, Shoot to Kill is highly recommended. P.S. Berenger is another I'd like to cite as a native of my birthtown of Chicago, Ill.
I enjoyed this film very much upon first viewing and I've must have watched it hundreds of times since and never get bored! Deadly Pursuit is a nail-biting, intelligently thought out action thriller made all the more stronger with its excellent cast and mountainous settings. It is certainly a welcome return for the legendary Sidney Poitier after a decade away from the screen.The intrigue regarding which of the five members of Kirstie Alley's (as Sarah) hiking group is a deranged jewel thief and killer is there in abundance; perhaps all have something to hide, you just don't know! This point is heightened thanks to the casting of actors well known for portraying bad guys, namely Andrew Robinson and Clancy Brown. When we do find out who the killer is, the cat-and-mouse game reaches new heights.Deadly Pursuit is a simple title for a simple film, but it does move along at a good pace, and adds full-on tension and interest to keep the viewer entertained; for example the turbulent yet vital relationship between Poitier's Stanton and Tom Berenger's Knox, two very different individuals coming together for one and the same purpose; the sometimes humorous moments (Stantin's struggles with a horse, a scene where he and Knox have to shelter from a snowstorm as well as their encounter with a grizzly bear), mixed with great action that doesn't go over-the-top as proved with other similar movies.Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenger are a pleasure to watch together. Despite their character's sometimes volatile relationship, the two actors do share a certain chemistry, while Kirstie Alley performs well despite limitations to her character.I enjoyed Deadly Pursuit to the full. Roger Spottiswoode directs a well crafted action thriller that can be watched again and again. 8/10