User reviews

On the surface, this film, which I like, is like dozens of other revenge-the-death-of-a-cop-partner stories. But the saving grace of the movie is the characters, and some of the dialogue.

Spoilers in the following

Eddie Jilette is a tough cop. A tough Chicago cop. But what distinguishes the film that his Captain is tougher and nastier. In a later scene in the film, the captain and Eddie are in an airport where, in the Men's washroom, after making sure that they're alone, the captain gives Eddie a weapon to kill the villain, and expects him to use it. In most such films, a tough cop usually has a captain who's either a politician or a wimp. How refreshing!

The film also has a nice touch. Eddie rents all the rooms of a hotel in Algiers. The only inhabitants were the clerk and a cat. Eddie tells the clerk to beat it, because he's expecting a showdown battle there. Shortly before the battle commences, we see the cat leave the building.

One I've watched several times and one that's in my library.

After receiving a tip from a suspect, Chicago cop Eddie Jillette poses as a hit man, he's to meet with a mysterious guy from New Orleans and from there uncover the plans. But things go awry and Eddie's partner and friend is brutally murdered, a stunningly gorgeous blonde seems to hold the key to it all, so Eddie heads South with revenge and anger driving him on.

80s popcorn thrillers get a hard deal on IMDb, it seems that many people visiting them for the first time post 1990, seem determined to judge them against the likes of multiplex favourites like Bad Boys. The 80s was far from being a great decade for action/drama movies, but there was a ream of tidy pieces that fulfilled the genre requirements for those so inclined. Here in Richard Pearce's No Mercy we have a protagonist hell bent on revenge {Richard Gere, lots of hair but acting with force}, a sultry blonde stirring passions {Kim Bassinger in the same year she turned heads in Nine 1/2 weeks}, and a weasel baddie with a pony tail {Jeroen Krabbé enjoying himself}, throw in swearing before it was a fashionable accessory, explosions aplenty and an ability to have the viewer shouting for our cop to bloody succeed at all costs. Yes there is the obligatory simmering romance under trying circumstances, and yes the ending holds few surprises to anyone who has watched films since 1930, but it's a very credible piece that is certainly more entertaining than some of the dross action pictures that are churned out weekly for the MTV generation these days. 7/10

Released in late 1986, "No Mercy" stars Richard Gere as a Chicago cop who travels to New Orleans to track down a blond (Kim Basinger) who is linked to the murderer of his beloved partner. The film features a great love-to-hate villain, Losado, played by Jeroen Krabbé; a notable survival-in-the-swamp sequence wherein Gere & Basinger are handcuffed to each other; and an action-packed showdown in an old city hotel.

Actually, I could do without the hotel showdown, as it comes off too cartooney and contrived (like when one of the villains barges right through a wall with his rifle -- Why sure!), but I suppose it can be accepted on the grounds of Western-like artistic license.

There's loads of foul language but I found it realistic for these types of individuals in such critical situations. So I didn't mind it too much but my wife took (minor) offense.

Gere's still relatively young here (36). I realize many hate him, but I'm a fan of quite a few of his pictures, e.g. "The Mothman Prophecies", "King David" and "An Officer and a Gentleman". Kim Basinger doesn't do much for me personally, although she's certainly pretty and her acting is effective here. I know it's a matter of taste but "No Mercy" provides zero 'babe appeal' for me.

The film was shot in Chicago and Louisiana (and some parts in NC).

The score is moving despite the dated mid-80s electronic drums.

FINAL WORD: It's hard to put into words why I like this film to the extent of writing a review. It's nothing exceptional, but it somehow 'works' and gets better with repeat viewings. I bought the DVD a year & a half ago and have watched it three times since, which is something I rarely (if ever) do. I think what attracts me is that it's more than just a mindless cop/action flick, although it has the thrills if that's all you're looking for. "No Mercy" has something to say about love, loyalty, courage, justice, freedom and happiness, but it's smart enough to not spell it all out. Hence, not only is the picture enjoyable to watch due to the 'movie magic' but it can also leave you contemplating.

The film runs 106 minutes.

GRADE: B

No Mercy is a great movie that offers a lot of action, a great cast of actors and actresses, a very haunting melody as the base music in the soundtrack, and additionally, some really beautiful scenery. All of the actors do a really great job portraying their characters and there is a lot of action and subtle bits that endear the movie watcher to the character played by Kim Basinger. Richard Gere was a very cool "tough cop" in this film and he was a real looker needless to say. I have seen this movie more than once and still think it is a really entertaining film. Lots to offer INCLUDING a great soundtrack that has eluded me all these years. I would appreciate any tip that would help me locate one of the "out of print" CD's of this soundtrack. I most definitely would pay a reasonable price. thanks!

At the opening, "Shotgun" by Jr. Walker and the All-Stars is being played in the background as a sloppy police bust at a Chicago car- wash transpires. The two involved policemen wring from one of the captured drug dealers a potential hit; someone wants a Cajun kingpin in New Orleans bumped off. The two policemen – Eddie Jillette (Richard Gere) and Joey Collins (Gary Basaraba) – decide to pose as the hit men. It ends badly as the New Orleans' Cajun kingpin strikes first. Among the dead is Collins in a hotel room; a blonde with a parrot tattoo on her right shoulder may be implicated. Wounded, Eddie is chased in the Chicago Stockyards but somehow escapes.

After recovering and obtaining permission from his superior – tough cop Capt. Stemkowski (George Dzundza) – Eddie is off to New Orleans to track down the bad guys who murdered his partner. The Deveneux family is totally non-co-operative; Paul Deveneux had been one of the shady guys killed in Chicago. Eddie's next step is to find a parlor that tattoos blue parrots on people. Next he works his way into a rough club in Algiers, a dangerous section of New Orleans. There he finds the blonde dancing and sweating. He extricates her as his captive with difficulty: There is a car chase as Eddie and the blonde, Michel Duval (Kim Basinger), wind up underwater with the Cajun kingpin Losado (Jeroen Krabbe) and his gang desperately shooting at them. Eddie and his bait Michel escape for the moment. He soon learns that she was given to Losado by her mother when she was just thirteen years old; she has never been with another man. So she is a victim, not a hooker. Eventually Eddie is captured and escapes again, Michel is left to Losado. Eddie did figure out that Losado smuggles in cheap labor, which he sells to the Deveneux clique.

In the denouement Eddie is alone in the Algiers Point Hotel waiting for the confrontation with Losado and his gang of thugs. Only a cat hangs there. Michel arrives as she has fallen in love with him. But one does wonder how an out-of-state cop can set everything up without police help. And during the shootout no one seems to hear anything: No alarm appears to sound, no fire trucks arrive despite the large fire, no police arrive to stop anything. Nope, not until the absolute end! And then the crowd finally congregates as various rescue vehicles arrive.

There are some nice sets, as when Stemkowski shows up at the NOPD and is appalled at Eddie's treatment. There is also the steamy love scene between Michel and Eddie. Then again, it is strange that Eddie uses a rifle shot to break the handcuff chain tying Michel to him, an action that easily alerts his captors. He could have used heavy stones or tools in the house where he and Michel stayed alone.

Gere seems to take control of the movie and is believable as a sufficiently tough cop. Basinger finds her niche, playing a sympathetic and abused woman. The two have genuine chemistry together, and filming on location is always a plus.

No Mercy is one of those familiar revenge thrillers that offers no novelty whatsoever and is for the most part unoriginal but that doesn't mean it doesn't entertain.

Gere, a Chicago cop, goes to New Orleans to avenge the death of his partner. Basinger plays Gere's link to the crimelord and sparks fly between the two.

As said before, there's nothing original here, however there are some entertaining action sequences, solid acting from Gere and Basinger (who, by the way looks incredibly HOT), nice New Orleans scenery and a refreshing unsympathetic cruelty associated with Gere's character. He's simply not very likable and therefore a little bit more memorable.

No Mercy is a solid no-brainer but nothing all that special.

In 1986, when No Mercy was released, two names that would be near the top of any "World's Sexiest Man" and "World's Sexiest Woman" lists would have been Richard Gere and Kim Basinger. In getting these two gorgeous people together, the makers of No Mercy then committed the age-old sin - they forgot to provide them with a decent story!

Gere plays Chicago cop Eddie Jillette. Whilst on a case, Eddie's partner Joe (Gary Basaraba) is brutally murdered by French gangster Losado (Jereon Krabbe). Jillette heads down to Losado's New Orleans lair to avenge his partner's death. There, he meets gangster's moll Michel (Kim Basinger), a woman desperate to get away from her sadistic lover but too afraid to do so. She and Jillette end up handcuffed together, hiding out in the dangerous Louisiana swampland from Losado and his heavies.

Immediately, you can see that No Mercy is riddled with stale plot devices - cop avenging the death of his friend; hero stealing a lover from the villain; usual fish-out-of-water ideas (this time a Chicago cop working in New Orleans); even the swamp sequence has a whiff of The Defiant Ones and The 39 Steps about it. The film is also excessively grim and nasty, with Krabbe in particular struggling to do anything as a one-dimensional, knife-wielding sadist. The action high-spots, including a climactic shootout in a burning hotel, are quite expensive-looking sequences but, like the rest of the film, are oddly uninteresting and unoriginal.

Jist rewatched it for first time in decades. Though now older its probably not as action packed and the bad as scary , but still just l8ve its 80s vibes the styling the music, and nice chemistry between Kim & Here have to say I prefer gere as a rough cop than his usual high class player roles. Listening to blue parrot by silvestri as writing this 🎧🎶🎶

This is a passionate drama that keeps heating up right to the interesting, but over blown finale. A rouge Chicago cop(Richard Gere)travels to 'The Big Easy' and becomes a hit man in order to avenge the murder of his partner. This plot is nothing new, but the dynamic Gere pretty much takes control of the movie. And in scenes with Kim Basinger, the no nonsense detective and the New Orleans vixen about set the screen ablaze. The big showdown in the hotel is a bit contrived, but lets you know justice prevails.

Gere and Basinger are outstanding together. Just the eye contact can speed up your breathing. George Dzundza plays a cautious police captain. Ray Sharkey has a small role as does Gary Basaraba. Jeroen Krabbe is one fearsome villain that deserves his demise. Love, hate, passion, violence and revenge leaves no room for mercy.

Richard Gere is a Chicago cop on the vengeance trail as he follows his partner's killers to New Orleans to settle his own personal score. The film moves at a brisk pace as Gere and a Cajun sexpot flee through the Louisiana bayous from a murderous crime lord who wants his baby doll back and to destroy the Chicago detective who would avenge his partner's murder. Gere and Kim Basinger go very well together, and the chemistry between them adds to the film's realism. Basinger is the sexy swamp girl type who finds herself falling for Gere, although they clash repeatedly while handcuffed together as they attempt to elude the brutal underworld figure and his henchmen. George Dzundza is also good as Gere's superior and Jeroen Krabbe is measured and deliberate as the Cajun butcher. The film's final moments are explosive and predictable and close out an exciting thriller.

**SPOILERS** Clash of culture film that goes from Chicago to the swamps bayous and streets of New Orleans with windy city cop Eddie Jillette, Richard Gere, looking to get even for the savage murder of his partner undercover cop Joe Collins, Gary Basaraba, by Cajun gangster Losado, Jeroen Krabbe. At the time Losado was in town to get back his runaway and personal slave girl.

Chicago police officers Jillette & Collins getting a tip from a local Chicago pot pusher Angles Ryan, Ray Starkey, that they busted that he was hired to do a hit for somebody from out of town. The two policemen acting as hit men meet later that evening New Orleans businessman Paul Deveneux, Terry Kinney, and his girlfriend Michel Duval, Kim Basinger, at a Chicago restaurant. Deveneux wants the two to take out this very dangerous and brutal New Orleans gangster, Losado, and is willing to pay big money to get the "Job" done.

Before anything could happen Deveneux is blown to pieces and officer Jillette barley escapes with his life as they were caught in a street ambush by the targeted Losado and his gang. Back at the hotel were police officer Collins is staying Michael Losado and a bunch of his hoods breaks in and catch Collins by surprise. slicing Collins open with a huge hunting knife Losado then takes off with Micheal who he considered to be his private property.

Getting to the hotel room too late to save his partner officer Jillette is deeply hurt for not being there in time to prevent Collins from being murdered. Trying to find Collins' killer in the city of New Orleans Jillette finds Michel at the Blue Parrot nightclub. Jillette had a hunch she would be there from the blue parrot tattoo she had on her right shoulder.

The movie then goes into overdrive with Jillette on the run with Michel as a hostage as Losado and his gang try to track down and kill him as well as rescue Michel. Jillette on the other hand is on a mission of revenge to find officer Collins murderer and bring him to Justice with him being the sole judge jury and executioner.

Getting away from Losado's goons Jillette makes it back to the main New Orleans police station with Michel only to get arrested and then told to check out of the city by the New Orleans police Lt. Hall, Bruce McGill. Determined not to leave without taking care of Lasado Jillette has Michel, who had since fallen in love with him, used as bait to get him out in the open which leads to the movies fiery conclusion in a deserted New Orleans hotel.

Average suspense/drama that's helped a lot by the presence of Jeroen Krabbe as the cold-blooded and murderous Cajun gangster Losado. Creepy yet soft spoken who without even the slightest show of emotions Lasado would lash out at his unsuspecting victim with his deadly blade like a coiled rattlesnake.

The showdown at the Algires Point Hotel had Lasado and his entire gang shoot and knife it out with an almost suicidal officer Jillette who didn't care if he lived through it or not. With him only wanting to take out the Cajun killer so he could finally feel that his partner didn't die in vain and that his killer didn't live to get away with murdering him.

This film begins with a Chicago detective by the name of "Eddie Jillette" (Richard Gere) receiving a tip from an informant that a wealthy man named "Paul Deveneux" (Terry Kinney) has arrived in the city and is looking to hire a hitman to kill somebody in New Orleans. Since this person has never seen the hitman in question Eddie decides to go undercover and check it out in detail. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned and after his partner "Joe Collins" (Gary Basaraba) and Paul Deveneux are ruthlessly murdered, Eddie decides to go to New Orleans and find the man responsible. Of course, what he doesn't fully understand is that New Orleans is very different than Chicago and the person he is after is much more dangerous than anybody he has ever encountered. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an exciting crime-drama which suffered from several highly improbable scenes. But that's Hollywood for you. Regardless, I thought that both Kim Basinger (as "Michel Duval") and Richard Gere put on excellent performances and I have rated this movie accordingly. Slightly above average.

Look it is not that this movie is bad, it's just not very good. The usual hollywood mix of beautiful blonde girl(prostitute of course), vigilante cop, lots of car chases and several references to Basinger's breasts.

Okay if you like that sort of thing, but even this has been done better elsewhere.

Not recommended unless it's late night when there is nothing else on.

We now see Mr Gere get tough as Eddie Jillete (dig the name, and he's not much of a shaver either), another Chicago cop who doesn't play by the rules. Opening with a funny stake out scene, with Gere and partner, who winds up dead, later, of course, (ooops! sorry to ruin it for ya) posing as car wash attendants, where they nab these two snitches, which leads to a higher chain of really bad dudes, who are part of a drug syndicate. Gere's partner being slayed, along with a contact supplier, has him on an adrenaline filled quest of revenge, (an excuse for the rest of the movie) that sees him travelling to the bayou, to find the mysterious and beautiful Michelle, the contact's girlfriends, who Gere doesn't mind slapping if, if slapped first as seen earlier, before all the bloodshed started. Gere's need for vengeance, is not a bad excuse, for a few reasons- you've got the beautiful Basinger, and a great action sequence that sees Gere and Basinger scarcely escaping the claws of the merciless head honcho, (Jerome Krabbe, an evily brilliant, masterful performance, way above his peers) fleeing across the river, from out of the pilings, and ending up in the swamps of Louisiana, drained, thirsty and hungry as hell. Personally, not buying the probability of them getting away clean like this, I also got drained watching them. The other reason besides Gere, purposely pranging the car of the contact's brother, who wasn't playing ball in the Q and A department, was the shootout scene in the abandoned hotel. Get this. Gere gave the proprietor a bunch of money for all the rooms, telling him "There's no future in it". The proprietor leaves as simply as that before Gere rigs the hotel with traps and guns. It is a great set up of tense atmosphere, before Gere has his moment of vengeance face to face with killer Krabbe. While really becoming a fan of Gere in the mid eighties, No Mercy, isn't one I held in memory. It was a good actioner, at viewing time, but nothing really stuck with me about it. A few weeks later it was totally forgettable, the only part, sticking with me, in those small weeks after, was them going through the mire and the swamps. Gere did bring out an intriguing new tough guy, unruly, who's disrespectful of women, he really needs a lesson in manners, and like the movie, his character wasn't one, you much cared about.

(1986) No Mercy THRILLER

Chicago cop, Eddie Jillette (Richard Gere) trying to nab criminal mastermind for killing his partner in cold blood, but he has to resort to find and locate the witness first who happens to be a hostess, by the name of Michel Duval (Kim Basinger) who's somewhere in New Orleans. The implausible set up is used only as a backdrop to the New Orleans environment, which includes the parades as well as it's customs. The first of two movies Basinger and Gere star together. There's only like, one good gunfire sequence sometime during the end which is quite tame to what one can see these days.

I recently watched No Mercy (1986) on Tubi. The storyline revolves around a Chicago detective whose partner is killed during a bust. He takes some time off to investigate the crime on his own, leading him to New Orleans. When he locates the girl toy of the drug lord they were trying to bust, he handcuffs himself to her, creating an uneasy alliance as they work to achieve his mission.

Directed by Richard Pearce (Heartland), and starring Richard Gere (Pretty Woman), Kim Basinger (8 Mile), George Dzundza (The Deer Hunter), William Atherton (Die Hard) and Bruce McGill (Law Abiding Citizen).

This film is a nostalgic part of my childhood, having watched it on HBO numerous times while growing up. The storyline, while feeling like a classic '80s action movie, is rather average, with no standout elements. Richard Gere surprisingly excels in his tough guy role, and Kim Basinger's presence is undeniable. However, I wished the film featured more of her throughout. The plot takes unexpected twists and turns, culminating in a satisfying conclusion.

In summary, No Mercy is a typical '80s action film, featuring strong performances from Gere and Basinger. I'd rate it a 5/10 and recommend watching once.

This is not one of my top 10 films of all times, but it is a solid genre piece with some interesting variations and local color.

After Katrina, a film about New Orleans has a special interest that adds a certain sauce.

If there are any weaknesses, some of Bassinger's line deliveries are a bit weak. Otherwise, superb acting all around. I have always thought Gere was something of a lightweight, but very solid work here.

Unlike many films, they get the weapons handling VERY right.

I am a bit confused as to why this film has been rated so low on average. I have the video, and watch it about once a year.

Based on Jim Karabatsos's excellent script with strong characters, Richard Pearce directs with inspiration and brings out the deafening emotion.

He leads Richard Gere in a unique performance, as he does with the amazing Kim Basinger while he has Jeroen Krabbe and a large number of minor characters in short, strong appearances.

"No Mercy" is one of the few "click" films, where everything has come to click magically, even Alan Silvestri's excellent theme music and the choice of locations.

A truly b movie, which, after making an unexpected journey with an emotional cinematic sense, will return in the end, where it belongs.

First off, I was born and raised in Louisiana so I rolled my eyes through most of this travesty. Like other movies, New Orleans seems to be stuck in a time long ago. It contains most of the stereotypes people have of LA, which are exactly that, stereotypes - dirty people, illiteracy, inaudible gibberish, corruption (OK, well corruption is still there for the most part). Therefore the film has quite a few inaccuracies that are hard for someone with my background to watch. The only positive is the accents were better than what I remember from the "The Big Easy." 1/10

Reckless Chicago police detective Eddie Jillette (Richard Gere) gets a tip on a hit. He and his partner track down blonde beauty Michel Duval (Kim Basinger) who is on the run from New Orleans kingpin Losado (Jeroen Krabbé). Losado kills his partner and takes Michel back to Louisiana. Eddie follows seeking revenge.

I remember the cattle scene but not much else. Then I realize that this is probably the first time I saw people eating crawfish. Sucking out the juices is still in my brains. As a movie, this tries hard to be a hard-boiled detective story. Basinger has the blonde damsel in distress and Gere is a fine leading man at the time. Krabbé does overplay the villain. Maybe if he has a different jacket. They are playing up the Creole underworld but it's bordering on caricature. The ending is also a bit problematic. Once he has the lawyer, he should be going to Losado rather than luring Losado to a Home Alone situation. It doesn't make that much sense if the only thing Losado cares about is Michel and then she is able to slip away to see Eddie. It's a lot easier to stuff the lawyer in the trunk and go Rambo on Losado's hideout. Overall, it has its sexy hard-boiled noir fun despite crossing the line sometimes.