As a movie, it's about a 7 in my mind. Better than most of its type, but not as good as films like Alien, and Predator, which are among the best.
That being said, for pure entertainment, this is a 10! If you enjoy humorous characters battling ridiculous situations, you will enjoy this film. As another reviewer said, this is what Predator 2 wanted to be, but failed at.
Rutger Hauer is what really makes this film work, with his dead-pan delivery and sarcastic comments! The supporting cast is full of great actors that you'll recognize! Plenty of eye-candy in Kim Catrall, that does not distract from the story.
The story and environment is very well done. As with Alien, the killer is rarely seen in the film until the climax. The suspense builds throughout the film as the viewer begins to wonder "is the killer even human?".
Like some of the best movies in its sub-category, ala John Carpenter's classics like The Thing, Escape From NY, and Big Trouble in Little China, this movie excels in great characters that you love giving great sarcastic dialog and the best one-liners! One-liners on par with Carpenter's best! Even the all too brief character of "The Rat Catcher", played excellently by Michael J. Pollard, who you will recognize, is played so well that you feel bad when he is killed later. This is why this movie endures. It's ironic that the only victim that you feel for is the throw-away character of "The Rat Catcher"! The character just comes alive as a nice guy and you feel sad when he's killed.
I've seen this film at least ten times since the 90's and every time I enjoy it.
Hauer has done many B-Movies that are classic because of his character in them: Ladyhawke, Blind Fury, Wedlock, Wanted: Dead or Alive, and this, are a few. These are not considered his best work (maybe with the exception of Ladyhawke), but they are enjoyable re-watchable films that you want to revisit time and time again.
So, seek out this film and enjoy it for what it is, a fun movie that will entertain you for 90 minutes! You'll be quoting this movie for much longer than that! "Police... Dickhead"
That being said, for pure entertainment, this is a 10! If you enjoy humorous characters battling ridiculous situations, you will enjoy this film. As another reviewer said, this is what Predator 2 wanted to be, but failed at.
Rutger Hauer is what really makes this film work, with his dead-pan delivery and sarcastic comments! The supporting cast is full of great actors that you'll recognize! Plenty of eye-candy in Kim Catrall, that does not distract from the story.
The story and environment is very well done. As with Alien, the killer is rarely seen in the film until the climax. The suspense builds throughout the film as the viewer begins to wonder "is the killer even human?".
Like some of the best movies in its sub-category, ala John Carpenter's classics like The Thing, Escape From NY, and Big Trouble in Little China, this movie excels in great characters that you love giving great sarcastic dialog and the best one-liners! One-liners on par with Carpenter's best! Even the all too brief character of "The Rat Catcher", played excellently by Michael J. Pollard, who you will recognize, is played so well that you feel bad when he is killed later. This is why this movie endures. It's ironic that the only victim that you feel for is the throw-away character of "The Rat Catcher"! The character just comes alive as a nice guy and you feel sad when he's killed.
I've seen this film at least ten times since the 90's and every time I enjoy it.
Hauer has done many B-Movies that are classic because of his character in them: Ladyhawke, Blind Fury, Wedlock, Wanted: Dead or Alive, and this, are a few. These are not considered his best work (maybe with the exception of Ladyhawke), but they are enjoyable re-watchable films that you want to revisit time and time again.
So, seek out this film and enjoy it for what it is, a fun movie that will entertain you for 90 minutes! You'll be quoting this movie for much longer than that! "Police... Dickhead"