Kevin Scannell

Afteranelevenyearabsencefromthescreen,SidneyPoitierchosetoreturninanaction/adventurefilmwhereheplaysanFBIagentinsearchofakiller.He’sgotgoodreasontowantthisguybad.Hisquarryisruthlessandkillswithoutmercy.Poitierlosesahostageandtheransomhe’saskedfor.ButsomegooddetectiveworkhastracedthemantoaremotepartofthePacificNorthwest.WheretheperpetratorhaskilledagainandjoinedapartyofdryflyfishermenbeingguidedbyKirstieAlleyintotheruggedmountains.NoplaceforacitykidlikePoitier,saysmountaineer/hermitTomBerengerwhohastheprerequisiteskillstogetthejobdone.Thesetwoareforcedintoanallianceofinconvenience.ThebestthingIlikedaboutShootToKillistheguessinggameweplayfortheidentityoftheperpetrator.AnyoneofthefivemeninKirstieAlley’spartycouldhavebeenthekiller.Lookatthecastlistandyou’llrecognizeafewnameswho’veplayedsomeprettyloathsomevillainsinthepast.Theidentityisrevealedsuddenlyandquiteshockingly.WhatIdidn’tlikewithShootToKillisthefactthatthefinalconfrontationwiththeperpetratorisinbigcityVancouverwherehe’sescapedwithAlley.Heneededherinthewoods,notanylonger,sheshouldhavewoundupdead.AndBerengerandPoitiershouldhaveconfrontedhiminthewoods.Thatscriptdecisionmadetheclimaxaratherordinaryonethatyouseeinawholelotofpolicechasefilms.Stillalltheplayersdofinehere,myfavoritebeingKirstieAlleyasthewoodssmartguide.