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Shoot to Kill

  • 1988
  • R
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
16K
YOUR RATING
Shoot to Kill (1988)
An F.B.I. Agent teams up with a tracker to pursue a murderer after he vanishes into the mountains and infiltrates a hiking group.
Play trailer0:28
1 Video
67 Photos
Cop DramaSurvivalActionAdventureCrimeDramaThriller

An F.B.I. Agent teams up with a tracker to pursue a murderer after he vanishes into the mountains and infiltrates a hiking group.An F.B.I. Agent teams up with a tracker to pursue a murderer after he vanishes into the mountains and infiltrates a hiking group.An F.B.I. Agent teams up with a tracker to pursue a murderer after he vanishes into the mountains and infiltrates a hiking group.

  • Director
    • Roger Spottiswoode
  • Writers
    • Harv Zimmel
    • Michael Burton
    • Daniel Petrie Jr.
  • Stars
    • Sidney Poitier
    • Tom Berenger
    • Kirstie Alley
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    16K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Roger Spottiswoode
    • Writers
      • Harv Zimmel
      • Michael Burton
      • Daniel Petrie Jr.
    • Stars
      • Sidney Poitier
      • Tom Berenger
      • Kirstie Alley
    • 75User reviews
    • 44Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:28
    Official Trailer

    Photos67

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    Top cast44

    Edit
    Sidney Poitier
    Sidney Poitier
    • Warren Stantin
    Tom Berenger
    Tom Berenger
    • Jonathan Knox
    Kirstie Alley
    Kirstie Alley
    • Sarah Rennell
    Clancy Brown
    Clancy Brown
    • Steve
    Richard Masur
    Richard Masur
    • Norman
    Andrew Robinson
    Andrew Robinson
    • Harvey
    Kevin Scannell
    Kevin Scannell
    • Ben
    Frederick Coffin
    Frederick Coffin
    • Ralph
    Michael MacRae
    Michael MacRae
    • Fournier
    Robert Lesser
    Robert Lesser
    • Minelli
    Milton Selzer
    Milton Selzer
    • Mr. Berger
    Les Lannom
    Les Lannom
    • Sheriff Arnett
    Walter Marsh
    Walter Marsh
    • Sam Baker
    Frank C. Turner
    Frank C. Turner
    • Crilly
    Sam Hiona
    • Superintendent Hsu
    • (as Samuel Hiona)
    Michael Chapman
    Michael Chapman
    • Lawyer
    Janet Rotblatt
    Janet Rotblatt
    • Mrs. Berger
    Ken Camroux-Taylor
    Ken Camroux-Taylor
    • Denham
    • (as Ken Camroux)
    • Director
      • Roger Spottiswoode
    • Writers
      • Harv Zimmel
      • Michael Burton
      • Daniel Petrie Jr.
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews75

    6.815.6K
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    Featured reviews

    7ma-cortes

    A solid and exciting chase thriller about a relentless pursuit against an ominous killer on loose

    Thriiling and moving thriller with unstopped action from start to finish . It deals with a streetwise FBI agent determined to track down a cruel series killer who at whatever cost wants to get a valuable loot , including killing and kidnapping . Vengefully , Poitier follows the trail up into the remote mountains on the Canadian border, a far place where a polish cop is comically out of water . As the chase against the homicidal maniac leads to the mountains of the Pacific Northwest , where the tough Inspector teams with tracker Tom Berenguer , while his sweetheart , Kirstie Ally , another mountain guide is held hostage .

    This tense and nail-biting thriller is packed with as much taut action as the storyline will allow , but let down at times . Sidney Poitier returns to the big screen after a ten-year absence to portray a city-wise FBI enforcer similar to his previous Inspector Tibbs , and here as the urban fish unfamiliar with the rural pond . While Tom Berenguer does well as the two-fisted mountainer who will stop at nothing to find his kidnapped girlfriend : Kirstie Alley . All the clichés clock in , characterisation is simple and cardboard, but the film works enough . It contains an agreeable chemistry between the two leads : Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenguer providing sympathy and humor . They are very well accompanied by a fine support cast with plenty of familiar faces, such as : Kirstie Ally, Clancy Brown, Richard Masur , Andrew Robinson, Frederick Coffin, among others .

    It packs a picturesque cinematography shot on stunning locations in Vancouver , Briitsh Columbia , Canada , Norhwest Pacific , splendidly photographed by cameraman by Michael Chapman. As well as atmospheric and stirring musical score by John Scott , though composed by means of synthesizer . The motion picture was competently directed by Roger Spottiswoode though it draws some flaws and gasps in about equal number . Robert has made nice and successful films of all kinds of genres , such as : Terror Train, Under Fire, The Best of Times , Turner and Hooch, Air America, Stop or My Mother will Shot , And the Band Played On, Tomorrow Never Dies, God's Favorite, The 6th Day and several others . The flick will appeal to Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenguer fans . Well worth seeing
    7scottrob36

    Still great.

    I haven't watched this since I was 15 years old in 1990 and I liked it then and 30 odd years later it's still a good watch. Much better than action/thrillers being made these days.
    8ODDBear

    Excellent action-adventure flick

    Sidney Poitier's return to movies (after a 10 year absence) was this wilderness action flick which is fun all the way.

    FBI Agent Warren Stantin (Poitier) trails a nasty serial killer to the wilderness and enlists the aid of an experienced mountain guide Jonathan Knox (Tom Berenger). The killer has "hitched" a ride with 4 other campers who are being led through the mountains by Knox's girlfriend (Kirstie Alley).

    Well written script, first rate action sequences and solid acting by Berenger and Poitier make Shoot to Kill an excellent action-adventure yarn that's sure to please most. The opening 50 minutes or so are airtight and then it loses a bit of steam but on the whole it's damn good overall.
    7The_Void

    Very good eighties cop thriller

    Deadly Pursuit certainly has it's fair share of problems, but as an entertaining little action thriller; it stands up well to criticism, as while some of the dialogue, situations and character drawings don't exactly ring true; the film moves quickly and director Roger Spottiswoode does a good job of ensuring that the film is easy viewing and never becomes boring. Deadly Pursuit is something of a film of two halves; it starts off as a gritty cop thriller, and then mutates into a survivalist themed chase movie. The plot is fairly standard at first, as we witness a man being caught robbing a diamond store. The plot thickens when, after some interrogation from the arresting officers, it turns out that the thief actually owns the store! We then learn that he's stealing the diamonds to pay a kidnapper for the release of his wife. FBI agent Warren Stantin manages to chase the kidnapper down, but he gets away with the diamonds and flees into a forest near Canada; thus meaning that Agent Stantin must chase the killer into the woods, with the help of a rugged local who knows the area.

    The film does have a number of problems - sometimes, for example, it seems to just jump from one scene to the next without much in the way of a connection. This does keep things moving, but the film can feel a bit disjointed because of it. Still, the plot flows fairly well and enough different angles are created to keep things interesting. The film features a decent cast, headed up by Sidney Poitier. Poitier's character changes a lot through the film, and while the actor sometimes looks a bit silly, he does seem to manage this well. He is joined by Tom Berenger, who also gives a decent performance in his role, while the rest of the cast is filled out by the likes of Clancy Brown, Kirstie Alley and Andrew Robinson. Perhaps the best thing about this movie is the fact that we don't know who the killer is for so long, which builds suspense - and mystery, and the film also carries off a nice twist little twist with the choice of actors surrounding the killer. Overall, I can't really say that Deadly Pursuit is one of the best films of its type - but it's certainly a very good thriller and I recommend watching it!
    7Mr-Fusion

    Glad I stumbled onto this one

    Well, this movie's a pleasant surprise; pretty much on every front. "Shoot to Kill" is a taut thriller to to bottom, but I think what sets this apart from other buddy movies is that it crosses genres. It's not just two disparate men on a dangerous mission, but there's also a manhunt and a wilderness movie thrown in for good measure. Still, Poitier and Berenger have a solid chemistry, and their road to mutual acceptance is a rocky one. It's a good cast throughout with a charming Kirstie Alley (to be fair, I haven't (yet) seen "Cheers" and I only really know her as a Vulcan). NIce scenery, too; I got a real "First Blood" feeling with that Pacific Northwest locale. I'm not sure why I hadn't heard of this movie until today, but either way, it's great.

    7/10

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sidney Poitier's first acting role in eleven years.
    • Goofs
      During the car chase, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is already damaged in most side-on shots, despite not crashing into the taxi and light pole until later.
    • Quotes

      [as Knox prepares to cross a gorge]

      Warren Stantin: What are you doing?

      Jonathan Knox: I'm going to get the basket.

      Warren Stantin: Oooh, shit!

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Shoot to Kill/The Serpent and the Rainbow/She's Having a Baby/The Unbearable Lightness of Being/School Daze (1988)
    • Soundtracks
      I Love A Parade
      Lyrics by Ted Koehler

      Music by Harold Arlen

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Music

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    FAQ

    • How long is Shoot to Kill?Powered by Alexa
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 12, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mountain Man
    • Filming locations
      • Buntzen Lake, Anmore, British Columbia, Canada(Seaplane landing)
    • Production companies
      • Touchstone Pictures
      • Silver Screen Partners III
      • Century Park Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $29,300,090
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,781,628
      • Feb 15, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $29,300,090
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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