Wanted: Dead Or Alive Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
He's the best there is at a job he hates.
Nick Randall is a loner. A legend. A bounty hunter.
The terrorists had nothing to fear but him.
He's America's most lethal weapon, a living grenade waiting to explode. Someone has just pulled the pin.
Nick Randall is a bounty hunter who's built up quite a resume. One notable resume highlight, though, happened before his current career began—as a CIA agent. Malak Al Rahim, an evil international terrorist, shows up on the scene and suddenly there is a new member of America's Most Wanted list. A deadly game of cat and mouse fine Nick as both the mouse and the cat— but has Nick finally met his match?
| Rutger Hauer | Nick Randall |
| Gene Simmons | Malak Al Rahim |
| Robert Guillaume | Philmore Walker |
| Mel Harris | Terry |
| William Russ | Danny Quintz |
| Susan MacDonald | Louise Quintz |
| Jerry Hardin | John Lipton |
| Hugh Gillin | Patrick Donoby |
| Robert Harper | Dave Henderson |
| Eli Danker | Robert Aziz |
| Joseph Nasser | Hasson |
| Suzanne Wouk | Jamilla |
| Gerald Papasyan | Abdul Renza |
| Nick Faltas | Amir |
| Hammam Shafie | Chemical Expert |
| Gary Sherman |
5.50 out of 10 (929 votes)
Visitor Reviews
boring
posted on 31 Aug 2009a bounty hunter(Rutger Hauer)takes on a terrorist(Gene Simmons).while it's refreshing to see Hauer in a non bad guy role,there's not much else to recommend this movie. found it boring and tedious from the get go,right to the final credits.Robert Guillaume is also in the movie and is good,as always,but he is wasted here.Garey Sherman directed the movie.he also directed Poltergeist III and wrote several episodes of the TV series Poltergeist:The Legacy and he co-wrote Wanted:dead or Alive with Michael Patrick Goodman.i wanted to like this movie,but it just doesn't have much going for it in the originality or action and excitement dept.the most i can give Wanted:Dead or Alive is a 4/10
very much wanted
posted on 31 Aug 2009Having only a passing tie to the late '50's/ early 60's Steve McQueen helmed TV show of the same name (Nick is Josh grandson or some such nonsense), this movie is a mean and violent little number has B-movie mainstay Rutger Hauer starring as Nick Randall, a tough talking, no nonsense, 'my way or the highway' type bounty hunter who comes out of retirement at the request of Benson..sorry I mean Robert Guillaume (who always has some of the best lines in the movie as Philmore Walker) to apprehend a nefarious terrorist Arab (played ironically by Gene Simmons). He does so with tactics that would make Jack Bauer whimper in the corner, while at the same time dealing with slimy bureaucratic red-tape. This is a great mindless action flick and holds up well amongst repeat viewings. But the mere fact that the Writer/Director of this great little film went on to write and direct the utterly horrid "Poltergeist III" right afterwards boggles the mind.My Grade: B+
Lacklustre 80s action starring Rutger Hauer.
posted on 31 Aug 2009A rather convoluted and tedious 'action' movie from the 80s, Wanted: Dead or Alive stars Rutger Hauer as Nick Randall, a tough-as-nails bounty hunter on the trail of nasty Arab terrorists (led by Malak Al Rahim played by Gene Simmons), who are out and about in L.A. blowing up innocent people.Hauer is his usual reliable self, and turns in a good performance as the hardboiled ex-CIA operative who makes his living bringing in the bad guys any way he can. Likewise, Simmons (the demon bassist from my favourite rock band, Kiss) makes the most of his part as the head terrorist, sneering and glowering to the max and generally looking very evil. But with its rather dull script and pedestrian direction from Gary Sherman, even they can't save this movie from being a less than average production.Apart from a few bits of nasty violence, and a nifty ending which sees Randall wreaking revenge on Malak Al Rahim in explosive fashion, Wanted: Dead or Alive is a pretty forgettable movie.
A terrorist's enemy who can see, even in the darkness.
posted on 31 Aug 2009This is the type of hero, we all need. Someone who can handle the situation and get the job done! And done indeed, he does as 'Nick Randall', a bounty hunter with a proved ability for survival. I hadn't followed Rutger's rolls very closely until he played a very controlling and virtually unstoppable cereal-murderer. Eric Red's story and Robert Harmon's directed film, 'The Hitcher'. A thriller that makes the hairs on your neck stand straight up, with a strange echoing eeriness. Rutger was 'mesmurizing' in the roll that he just, took over. He was aptly the killers's killer. I walked out of the theater stunned at his absolutely convincing performance. So when I went and saw, 'Wanted' with the reversal of 'rolls' for Rutger, Hell! He goes back and forth through 'Goodguy' 'Badguy' 'Protag' and 'Antag' character rolls better than Sylvester Stallone or Kevin Costner, even better than Harrison Ford for crying out loud. This man has that skilled ability, to lay it out unmistakably. The Hero that Nick Randall is in "Wanted: Dead or Alive" is a 'Snake-Eater'. First zero's in on his target and sets it up, then hit's them hard, knocking them down and then out. He is a 'Patriot', that doesn't want to be 'Snowed' by anyone. He is a strong man and yet he's a caring friend to fellow actor William Russ's character ((the L.A. officer Danny Quintz and even Agent Walker of the F.B.I. who considers him a 'Friend' for over 15 years)) the most impressive part(s) to me are when you can feel the emotionally-loaded response from Hauer's 'Randall'. You see him angry, hot, sweating feeling the strain. He is broken down emotionally with tears in his eyes at the death of his friend and his new love'Terry' whose lives have been brought to an 'abrupt end' by an anti-American group of killers. He still doesn't lose accurate focus under the pressure of his 'cover' being given away to his enemy, 'used as live bait' by those supposedly on his side of the fence (for their own strategic manoeuvrings). Even so, he forces himself not to stop or even slow down but follows his conscience through to the very ending of this Government contracted game, in which they are involved with 'holy-waring' terrorists. Rock group lead-singer Gene Simmons plays a jihad-violent terrorist that is a madman out to appease himself and his killing partners. Even with Simmons who plays well, he knows being an Israeli what it feels like to have a terrorist organization plotting to destroy your very existence.An incredible action movie that blows doors off of many others in this film 'genre'. If you haven't seen this one, but you have seen 9/11 on the television news and the papers...do yourself a favor, rent or buy this on D.V.D, watch it and feel better. This was not four-star acting. But the story can take you through if you're into it. It's like a late night made for television feature to be honest...but its fun. No fear but loss, triggering anger, causing Nick to bring about 'exacting' vengeance and then...comforting relief. (**)
Violent, gross and nothing like the original
posted on 31 Aug 2009Despite the title, this movie really has no similarity to the TV show WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. In fact, it's an incredibly violent and mind-rotting piece of garbage without a single interesting moment. I remember when a co-worker rented this piece of &*@@!*$ when we were both doing an overnight shift at the hospital. He thought it was pretty cool, but everyone else there just was horrified by how violent and stupid the movie was. There didn't seem to be much plot--just Gene Simmons killing a lot of people and the good guy(?) Rutger Hauer doing the same in the name of law and order! And, in the end, we were treated with one of the most gratuitous and violent endings, when he shoved a hang grenade in Simmons' mouth and pulled the pin. I just wish the pin had been pulled a lot sooner and ended this mess! This movie should be of interest only to psychotics and sociopaths--all others, steer clear at all costs. This is exactly the sort of film that demeans our society and desensitizes us to evil. Don't watch this film!PS--Instead of Gene Simmons from KISS, using the actress Jean Simmons might have made this movie a lot more interesting! She could do more than just make evil leers, so she couldn't help but improve the part.
The anti-terrorism movie reaches a new and ludicrous low.
posted on 31 Aug 2009First there was a TV show called Wanted Dead Or Alive, made in the late 1950s, with an upcoming young star named Steve McQueen playing heroic Wild West bounty hunter Josh Randall. Here, in this 1987 actioner, the events take place in modern times and Rutger Hauer's character is named Nick Randall. He is, in fact, revealed as the great-grandson of McQueen's character from the old TV show, but the link is barely mentioned and has absolutely no relevance to the plot of this film. Still, that wouldn't matter if the new and updated Wanted Dead Or Alive was any good…. maybe if the action was exciting, or the storyline had a few new ideas and angles, or even if the film as a whole had any sense of pace and purpose. But no! Wanted Dead Or Alive is an ultra-mindless, ultra-pointless offering that makes one grind one's teeth with despair.Ex-CIA operative Nick Randall (Rutger Hauer) now works as a lone-wolf bounty hunter in L.A. He lives in between jobs in a huge warehouse full of motorcycles and gym equipment. His knife-edge existence teeters even closer to the edge when Arab terrorist Malak Al Rahim (Gene Simmons) starts blowing up buildings and people in downtown L.A. First 140 people are slaughtered in a cinema bombing; later Rahim proposes to destroy a chemical plant, wiping out some 30,000 innocent lives in the process! One of Randall's old CIA colleagues, Philmore Walker (Robert Guillaume), approaches our moody hero and pleads with him to track down Rahim. Randall agrees, but is initially unaware that the authorities intend to double-cross him as they have reason to like him even less than the terrorist! Rahim doesn't take too kindly to the interference of this bounty hunter and kills a few of his nearest and dearest, leaving Randall so angry that he forsakes his money and goes after his adversary purely for the personal satisfaction of it….Wanted Dead Or Alive is a pretty awful movie on most levels. It doesn't deliver for action fans, because the action has a cheap, amateurish feel about it. It doesn't deliver for suspense fans because there is no excitement, just lots of noise and mayhem. It doesn't deliver as a "thinking-man's" thriller because of its insistence on mindlessness. And it doesn't deliver for those who fondly remember the old TV show because it has virtually nothing in common with it other than the fact that it features a bounty hunter named Randall. The script by Michael Patrick Goodman, Brian Taggert and director Gary Sherman goes nowhere - it doesn't even build up an interesting contrast between the hero and the villain. In a movie like Die Hard, which came a year later, the cat-and-mouse psychology played out between hero and villain gives the story a sense of focus and creates real tension. In this one, there's none of that….. Rahim and Randall have barely any scenes together, and their battle against each other carries no interest for the audience at all, other than an all-too-brief final showdown in which the good guy comes up with an admittedly novel way of disposing of his nemesis. Gene Simmons as the Arab terrorist looks suitably wild, but beyond that it's a nothing of a role. Hauer is similarly wasted as the hero – he wears a cool leather jacket and lives in a pretty mean bachelor pad, but that's about as deep and meaningful as the character gets! As anti-terrorism action movies go, this is one BOMB in urgent need of detonation, preferably on some island as far from intelligent civilisation as possible.
Good guy Rutger fighting arch villain Gene Simmons
posted on 31 Aug 2009An exciting movie if you're a Rutger Hauer fan. I enjoyed the story line. So it's predictable? I didn't predict seeing Gene Simmons as a middle eastern terrorist with a diabolical scheme to take over the world! Rutger fans know his acting talents aren't like Tom Cruise, but they're not like Steven Seagal either. This movie was entertaining and certainly ahead of it's time. Of course, we had no idea that the level of domestic terrorism demonstrated in this movie could happen. It was incomprehensible. So it fits the bill for me for excitement in it's continuity, dialog's, ubiquitous explosions, and kept me on the edge of my seat. I like action movies and this movie delivers action.
Classic slice of Rutger Hauer
posted on 31 Aug 2009I recently revisited "Wanted Dead Or Alive" after a period of almost 20 years. The film's really stood the test of time and it's a shame there weren't any sequels produced. Rutger Hauer's time as an action hero was short-lived.The film's low budget roots can't be missed but there are enough strong performances from the cast to carry the movie. Hauer's bachelor loft is the ultimate guy pad and, in my opinion, worth watching the movie for. To say his crib is cool is the understatement of the year.Gene Simmons delivers the goods as a thoroughly nasty baddie.Great '80s "B"-movie fun.
Quite disappointing that my rock idol Gene plays in this dull movie!
posted on 31 Aug 2009The main reason that I bought this movie was that Gene Simmons is my most beloved rock idol. As well, I'm proud that my tiny little country has the honor to be asked for an actor like Rutger Hauer in a big American movie. The title of this movie sounds full of suspense and the description on the back of the cover sounds lethal, full of nuclear terror and L.A.-wide fear...But I didn't like the movie at all; the tension of the confrontations between the main players hardly ever wasn't built up in a creepy way. The main enemies even hardly ever met each other in the movie. This wouldn't be a real problem if other players would have had fierce clashes with each others, but they mostly remained far away; the one in the police station, the other hidden in the oil warehouse. When they prosecute each other in the factory, the scenes seemed pretty predictable to me. A good thriller ought to be quite unpredictable with a complicated plot. The story was just humble, could be compared to many other thrillers. Even the personalities were neither eccentric nor very expressive. It's a tragedy that the love scenes in the movie were the most beautiful. This ought to be a real thriller, not a romantic movie!! Gene, you should run away back to your far better movie 'Runaway' and Rutger, welcome back to Holland!
Hauer oozes machismo in his best 'good guy' role
posted on 31 Aug 2009"Wanted: Dead Or Alive" was by no means an Oscar worthy film (or even an especially well made one), but it marks Hauer's peak in the late 80's before he ran his career into the ground by appearing in an endless string of 3rd and 4th rate films in which he was often the only thing worth watching. These days his films are often direct-to-video schedule fillers, although I have hope he could yet regain the prominence his talent deserves (in his favor, he's had a meaty role in "Surviving the Game" and a powerful three minute scene in "Sin City" that practically steals the film.) But "Wanted" is a lot of fun due to its setting, its lead character, and its renegade machismo atmosphere. Hauer gets to wear black leather jackets, pistol whip fugitives, drive an enormous truck, keep a cache of oiled-and-ready guns and knives and blackjacks. And he gets to live in a huge warehouse full of motorcycles and weights and electronics that he can play with ANYTIME HE WANTS - it's the ultimate Boy's Club Treehouse/Fortress of Solitude. He's essentially an loner and an outlaw who makes a living by supporting the law - a Lone Ranger for modern times. Any young man between the ages of 15 and 65 wanted to BE this guy at some point in his life - either this guy, or else Batman. So this film practically gets over on the lead character alone.So all the movie has to do is give him something to do, and someone to be against. For that, the film-makers chose to cast Gene Simmons as a terrorist who is, of course, completely despicable, cowardly, opportunistic, etc., etc. It's an OK choice, I guess, since Simmons has a nice sinister cast to his features, and he looks appropriately mean and hateful and gleefully sadistic in his role. In fact, it's the exact same performance that he put on in a similar role in "Runaway" about the same time. Really, though, it's nothing a dozen other character actors couldn't do better, especially with such a cardboard, unsympathetic character. (I can't help but wonder what M. Emmett Walsh could have done with this role - he could have come across as both lots funnier and 10 times more sociopathic if he'd been given the chance).So anyway, Hauer is put on Simmon's trail, Simmons get a hint of who is tracking him and decides a preemptive strike is in order, and hijinks ensue. Loved ones are killed or injured, Hauers gets madder and madder, Simmons leers and capers, it turns out that the authorities are double crossing our Hero, giving him even more reason to take off the kid gloves...any one who has ever watched 'renegade cop on the edge' movies can predict how this one will end. One nice touch here is that Hauer ends up stuffing a grenade in Simmon's mouth and pulling the pin, a 'coup de grace' that had not been used yet (to my knowledge).In spite of the formulaic nature of the plot, and the fact that Simmons is obviously only in this because he was a member of KISS, the film is much better than it should be. There is some kind of alchemy going on here - the director knows how to use his lead actor, and the pacing is good, and lots of little details work out and lines of dialog are given effective readings, etc. Maybe it was the spirit of Steve McQueen hovering over the set...who can say? I am sorry there was never a sequel to this movie with this character, but then again, it might have sucked, so I guess I should count my blessings. After all, I hoped for a sequel to "Lethal Weapon" and got it, only to watch that franchise become a mockery of itself. In summary: good viewing for anyone into Chuck Norris movies or 'renegade cop on the edge' movies, or action/thriller movies in general. If you like Rutger and haven't seen this yet, change your viewing plans for next Friday night and find yourself a copy.
I love the Movie and Music
posted on 31 Aug 2009I am posting this in hopes of contacting a Wanted Dead or Alive trivia buff. I have a real challenge for you. I have been searching and searching. Yet I am unable to find the name of a song in the movie. I have searched for the name of this song, the artist who performs it and even the soundtrack. Yet, can't find anything. I need your help. It's the song playing when Nick Randall (Rutger Hauer) drives his Caddilac Seville into his secret loft, gets out and shoots a basketball. Then the song ends. Anyone out there think they can take on this task and find the song for me and post it? I really like this movie. My son Nick loves it as well. But we can't find our VHS tape of it. We miss watching it. We both love that song too. He asked me to try and get another copy of the movie and find the soundtrack. So first I thought I'd post my plea first, see if anyone might help us out! Please try.Thank you,Wendy
Confusing. (spoilers)
posted on 31 Aug 2009As much as I love Rutger Hauer, I just couldn't enjoy this movie. Because some of the cops looked alike and because the filmmakers only attempted to explain half of an interconnected story in order to preserve the final surprise element, I wound up confused in the beginning (until they make it totally obvious that Hauer is being set up).Hauer is Nick Randall, a slick bounty hunter who is visited by Philmore Walker, an old partner (Robert Gillaume), who persuades Randall to take on a risky job involving Arab terrorists (I think they need the feds, not one bounty hunter for a job of this size). Only problem is, that Walker is in cahoots with the city police officials are actually working with the terrorists to bring Randall down. In constructing the story, the filmmakers try too hard to make some of it, but not enough of it known (at least sequentially), and for me at least, it turned out to be a difficult mess to sort through (again, until they make it obvious through at least half of the second act). Furthermore, there just wasn't enough develop among the characters (possibly, because there are too many people involved) that you never really get a real sense of anything.The only saving grace, however, are the action sequences. Plenty of car chases and explosions if you're in the mood for them.
Good Rutger Film!
posted on 31 Aug 2009Rutger's the MAN! I found this film at Best Buy about 4 or 5 months after September 11th, and it just hit the spot! I had never heard of the movie but being a Rutger fan I usually will spend the money to add his films to my ever growing collection. Sometimes he's the only thing that adds to the life of some very dreary films and he's in a bunch of them. The '80's however seems to have been his decade and this film is a pretty good outing for him.It is in the B-Movie range, for sure, but it works well. Gene Simmons plays a great villain. The action and pacing of the film works well, and frankly the subject matter couldn't be more up-to-date.I wish they were making more movies like this today where the terrorists get what they deserve and the audience can enjoy the pay back and feel like they are participating in the action.The very end of the film is great and it certainly is a statement that works even better today. I think most people would feel the same way as Rutger does at the end of this movie and want to do the same thing. I certainly did!For fans of action and/or Rutger hunt this movie down!
During the 80's I saw every Rutger Hauer Movie
posted on 31 Aug 2009and this is one of my favorites, although he look really big and out of shape he adds some real gravity and feeling to the lead role and his nemesis played by Gene Simmons is very effetive.Full of sensational one-liners, delievered with an absolute straight face by all involved, it is fast, furious, 80's action.My personal favorite (used it the other day) "next time give me a kiss before you f*ck me".In fact I'm off to the video store to rent it right now.Jimbo
A B-Movie Full of Clichés
posted on 31 Aug 2009Nick Randall (Rutger Hauer) is a bounty hunter. He chases `very bad guys', gets the reward and is saving for buying a vessel. He intends to retire and travel around the world with his girl friend. He is assigned to catch an evil terrorist, Malak Al Rahim (Gene Simmons), who has killed more than 140 persons in his last explosion of a movie theater, and intends to blow-up a chemical facility and kill thirty thousand persons. This is an authentic B-movie full of clichés. The plot is totally predictable, but supported by good actors. It may be watched only for killing time. My vote is five.
Hauer is the good guy this time
posted on 31 Aug 2009After making his mark playing vicious characters in NIGHTHAWKS, THE HITCHER and FLESH + BLOOD, Rutger Hauer plays the hero in a solid action thriller,set in LA. While it is not as slick as the first LETHAL WEAPON movie, it is still quite witty and entertaining. Gene Simmons gives an understated, menacing performance as the terrorist and there's some good action.
They should have had Steve McQueen in it.
posted on 31 Aug 2009This movie is about a man who is the descendant of the character, Josh Randall from the television series, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE, who was played by Steve McQueen. In most movies that were inspired by television series, they try to have one of the actor's from the original series in a cameo or supporting role. Like Ernest Borgnine of McHale's Navy, James Garner of Maverick, and John Forsythe of Charlie's Angels. Or like in the case of Sgt. Bilko which starred Phil Silvers, his daughter, Cathy appeared in the movie. Now the only star and regular on the show was Steve McQueen, and he had already departed, when this movie was done. But except for a brief reference, there was no other mention of the character of Josh Randall. As I said, he was already gone, as were most of the actors who worked on Dragnet, but it was interesting that the picture of the show's star, Jack Webb was on the desk of the movie's star Dan Ackroyd. So, why could they have had a picture of Steve McQueen, somewhere like on his boat or his office or the gun that Steve McQueen used on the series. So there could be some kind of link to the show.
Glad the western title didn't put me off
posted on 31 Aug 2009Because of its title I expected this movie to be a dumb, lame, vendetta movie with nothing but Rutger Hauer to carry the film along to its drab conclusion. I was pleasantly surprised then, to find it was actually a good film and well worth buying. I like Rutger Hauer, he's a fine actor and I enjoyed him in Blade Runner. Here, Hauer is the good guy, and he played it very well. It's a gritty thriller about terrorists in Los Angeles and has some excellent action scenes and bounty hunts that take advantage of Hauer's unique ability.The director, Gary Sherman, borrowed some scenes out of Walter Hill's The Driver which helped to add to the tension and the story was convincing and well played out by the cast. I liked William Russ as Randall's buddy on the force and Jerry Hardin was great as the scheming Lipton, who I recall had a similar role in The X-Files. Robert Guillaume and Robert Harper were also great. As said in another comment, the background of Nick Randall was well developed, but I disagreed that nothing important was done with it. The story had plenty of meaning to it, the guy slips up and he gets his revenge.If you decide to get this, don't read the back cover, just watch it and you'll find that it's a good action picture and worth seeing.
If only...
posted on 31 Aug 2009Good setup of character, background and current predicament of hero but there's nothing of importance done with any of it, as things lead only to pursuit of a cardboard villain. Political correctness would probably not approve, but this could have been a premise for a series about bounty hunting. At least we get to see Hauer pull his motorcycle into the greatest 'guy' loft on film.
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Wanted:Dead or Alive
posted on 31 Aug 2009Rutger Hauer stars as Nick Randall, a bounty hunter, ex-CIA, called into a case to capture(..dead, preferably alive)a wanted terrorist, Malak Al Rahim(..played by Gene Simmons, an undeniably good heavy)whose Arab organization is bombing selected locations across Los Angeles. When Malak kills Randall's girlfriend and cop buddy(..a boat bombing intended for him), it gets personal.The premise is pretty much a by-the-numbers actioner, a skilled hunter after a dangerous terrorist and his dedicated followers while the CIA often look foolish in their attempts to capture their quarry themselves. The real fun for me, being a Rutger Hauer fan, is seeing the man do his thing..he's perfect for a role such as this, a specialist at hunting down and securing the dregs and lowlifes of society, dangerous criminals the police have a hard time capturing, often earning a wealthy pay day in the process. Simmons, while limited to a small number of scene, is quite effective as a cold-blooded Islamic extremist who bombs a theater full of innocent people(..leaving behind his hand print on the window of a phone booth, teasing the authorities)just to make a point..a chilling moment shows Malak greeting a little girl who was walking into the theater with her parents. Robert Guillaume is a CIA officer, Walker, who lures Randall into taking the job of nabbing Malak, helping him along the way with certain information to assist in the search. William Russ, in a thankless role, ably portrays Randall's best friend Sergeant Danny Quintz..his tragic fate, in an effort to help out his pal, certainly amps the frequency, adding extra motivation for Randall to take out the Arab scumbags. Jerry Hardin has the stereotypical role of incompetent CIA leader, Lipton, needing the help of others to catch the bad guys..how he uses Randall as bait in an attempt to get to Malak bares extra emphasis on the joy of seeing him fail at his job. There's always a tug-of-war between Walker and Lipton, over the treatment of Randall.The real fun is watching Randall evading Lipton's men on the street while also successfully uncovering Malak's operation through the various underlings who work for him. Randall is indeed a role tailor-made for Hauer, whose effortless cool and charisma transcends the rather so-so material. Pretty predictable outcome, but satisfying conclusion as Randall gets his revenge and then some. Pretty violent, with lots of people getting shot.