Sudden Impact

It's at this point that the 'Dirty Harry' series really starts to blend into itself, with set-pieces from one entry easily being mistaken for those in another. The overall stories still distinguish themselves, though. 'Sudden Impact (1983)' is perhaps the least conventional in the franchise, at least in terms of how it relates to the first in its series, as it follows both Eastwood's disgruntled detective and the serial killer he's chasing in, essentially, equal measure. It's at its most interesting when it explores themes of justice, revenge and how the system can sometimes fail. Unfortunately, it sort of goes back on Harry's character in the process, ending on a decision that would have made his skin crawl in any other feature. It's not a huge issue, but it is noticeable. So is the generally less entertaining nature of the flick, which doesn't feel quite as confident as any of the others in its franchise. It's entertaining enough, don't get me wrong. In fact, it's usually enjoyable. It's just that it has stretches that are almost dull and, as a whole, isn't as compelling as it could have been. It's a good film, just not a great one. 6/10