Marked For Death
release year: 1990
genre: action
viewing setting: home DVD, 12/29/08
synopsis: DEA agent John Hatcher gets burnt out at work and takes some time off...but when Jamaican drug dealers barge into his home life, he systematically destroys them.
impressions: This was Steven Seagal's third movie, and one of his best. I had no idea that there even were Jamaican drug dealers, but what do I know. The action is almost non-stop, and of great variety. Seagal doesn't get upset until they shoot up his house and injure his niece, at which point he comes out of the emergency room with this look on his face...that Seagal look where you just know someone's about to get f-ed up. From there, he breaks wrists, necks, and even a back. He puts one bad guy through multiple glass jewelry showcases just because he can. He gouges someone's eyes out, and also fights with swords. At one point, he's interrogating one bad guy and another charges at him, and Seagal just casually deflects the second guy and goes on with his interrogation. He just doesn't give a damn. Another time, he has a bad guy aiming a gun at him and in one smooth motion, he draws his own gun and shoots the guy in the forehead. The main bad guy, Screwface, is pretty capable too, though he beats up his own people when he gets mad. He must be pretty fearsome, because one of his guys jumps out of a 10-story window rather than rat him out to Seagal. There's also plenty of gunfire all around, and also some black magic. This is good stuff.
something this movie has that no other movie has: Seagal breaking someone's back over his knee
acting: You can already tell what I think of Seagal's performance. Basil Wallace is the evil Jamaican drug king Screwface. But that's not all - this movie has a plethora of notable co-stars and guest-stars. Keith David is his old buddy who helps him take on the bad guys. Elizabeth Gracen (former Ms. Arkansas who went on to a starring role in the Highlander TV series) is Seagal's sister. Danielle Harris (the little girl in Halloween 4 and Halloween 5) is his niece. Joanna Pacula is some professor who knows the Jamaican magic ways. Danny Trejo (best known for his knife-throwing role in Desperado) is some random punk who Seagal chases at the beginning of the movie. Earl Boen (who played the disbelieving Dr. Silberman in all three Terminator movies) is an ER doctor here. Teri Weigel (former Playboy Playmate who went on to a whole different kind of career) is a random whore here.
final word: Outstanding classic Seagal action.
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