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Released by: Kino Lorber
Released on: June 16th, 2015.
Director: William Tannen
Cast: Chuck Norris, Jack O'Halloran, Steve James, Billy Drago, Ron O'Neal
Year: 1988
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The Movie:
When William Tannen's 1988 Cannon Films production Hero And The Terror begins, we learn how a Los Angeles based cop named Danny O'Brien (Chuck Norris) was credited with stopping a murderous psychopath named Simon Moon (Jack O'Halloran), dubbed 'The Terror' by the local press. Though he was lauded as a hero for his efforts, in reality Moon feel to his death during a chase - the fact is, Danny got lucky. As such, he's plagued by nightmares when he sleeps AND visions when he works out with his good pal Robinson (Steve James).
Danny's pregnant wife, Kay (Brynn Thayer), tries to comfort him - after all, she used to be his shrink! - but once it appears that Moon not only back, having busted out of the psych ward where he was locked up, but once again on a killing spree it doesn't do him much good. The mayor (Ron O'Neal) convinces Danny to go along with his cover-up so as not to encourage copycat murders and the cop begrudgingly agrees, but soon enough Danny has to face his fears - both as a cop out to stop a maniacal killing machine hiding inside a neat old theater AND as a father to be…
This one gives leading man Chuck Norris a bit more to do in the acting department than the typical films he was making for Cannon Films during his eighties heyday. Based on the novel of the same name by Michael Blodgett (the same guy who wrote Turner And Hooch and who once starred in Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls!), the script here has as much to do with Norris' macho man character coming to terms with the changes in his life as it does with him spin kicking bad guys or shooting his way out of trouble. Norris, often (and fairly) disregarded as a one note actor who rarely emotes or really builds a character of any depth in his films, actually handles this material surprisingly well. He looks a bit weathered here, a bit beaten down by the odds that are becoming increasingly stacked against him. He's got a lot on his plate and he's able to reflect that in his portrayal here. Yes, ladies and gentleman, this is the rare movie where Chuck Norris gets to act - and he doesn't do a half bad job of it either.
There are some fun supporting characters here - Steve James is a blast to watch as Danny's pal. The scene early in the movie where James and some other gym rat are encouraging Norris to lift a massive weight while Norris is having horrible flashbacks to his past is plenty funny, though for the wrong reasons. Ron O'Neal makes for an unlikely mayor, given that to pretty much everyone in the world he'll always be Superfly, while Brynn Thayer is likeable, if a little dry, as the wife coming to terms with the changes in her body brought about both by age and pregnancy. Billy Drago has a small supporting role here as the bad guy's doctor but it's Jack O'Halloran who steals the show as Moon. He's a big, hulking man who has no trouble throwing his weight around as he zips around Los Angeles snapping one pretty neck after the next. He definitely puts his all into the role and while the movie drags in spots when it gets too dramatic for its own good, when O'Halloran is on screen doing his thing it's a lot of fun to watch.
So yeah, maybe not the most action packed of Norris' eighties run but Hero And The Terror does a decent job of creating some believable characters while simultaneously delivering some decent moments of tensions and suspense. It's an 'outside the box' movie for Norris, which is interesting to see, and while it could have tightened the pace in spot, it's a pretty entertaining watch that builds to a satisfying conclusion.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Hero And The Terror debuts on Blu-ray properly framed at 1.85.1 widescreen in AVC encoded 1080p high definition. This movie has always looked more than a little soft in spots and that look carries over to this disc but having said that, detail and texture definitely get a nice uptick compared to the previous DVD release. Colors are well reproduced here and while there are some scenes where the brightness looks a little hotter than it has in the past, it's not really to the presentation's detriment. Print damage is never more than minor white specks and skin tones look good. No compression artifacts or edge enhancement here of any note, and the image is naturally grainy enough that it never looks like there's any noise reduction either. This feels true to how the movie has always looked, and that should be plenty fine by the film's fans.
The only audio option on the disc is an English language DTS-HD 2.0 track is serviceable if never mind blowing. The dialogue is clean, clear and properly balanced while the score does show frequent moments of depth. The sound effects are strong without becoming overbearing and the track is free of any hiss or distortion.
Extras include a trailer for the feature, a trailer for An Eye For An Eye, static menus and chapter selection.
The Final Word:
Hero And The Terror holds up pretty well. If it's obviously a product of its time, so be it, but it's a good mix of action and suspense with elements of horror slasher films mixed in to nice effect. If the film isn't always scary per se, it is at least pretty entertaining stuff thanks to Norris and a strong supporting cast. Kino's Blu-ray offers fans of the film a nice upgrade if not with the minimal extras but with a very solid presentation.
Click on the images below for full sized Blu-ray screen caps!
