My review was written in August 1989 after watching the movie on TWE video cassette.
"Out on Bail" tells a standard tale of corrupt Southern rednecks, made unbelievable by lensing this Tennessee-set picture in South Africa with fake local supporting roles. Direct-to-video release faces bleak prospects.
Robert Ginty is comfortably cast as the stranger in town, thrown in Fairfield, Tennessee jail for brawling with thugs involved in a drug deal. Corrupt sheriff (Tm Badal, who also co-scripted) and lawyer (Sydney Lassick) offer him a deal to escape while out on bail if he does a dirty job for them: assassinate the reform candidate for mayor.
Ginty predictably outwits the baddies, cuing some fun chasing around in a stolen hearse with girlfriend Kathy Shower in tow. Gordon Hessler-helmed project, which reportedly went through many changes including a U. S.[-lensed false start called "Johnny Blade" sporting a different cast and filmmakers, plays all right except for the poor attempts at Southern accents by South African supporting players. They all look like ringers and destroy credibility.
For his part, Ginty is solid in a role familiar from his "The Exterminator" pics. Kathy Shower is far too beautiful to be convincing as a lonely, smalltown hotel operator. The sentimental "Shane" subplot involving her little son (Donald Stemmit) is ultra-cornball. Topnotch stunts highlight the tech credits.
