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Avenging Force

  • 1986
  • R
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
Michael Dudikoff in Avenging Force (1986)
A senator is targeted by the Pentangle, a right wing paramilitary group. His pal, a former CIA agent and martial artist, tries to help him. The group kidnaps the agent's sister and tries to hunt him down, "The Most Dangerous Game" style.
Play trailer1:20
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionDramaThriller

A senator is targeted by the Pentangle, a right wing paramilitary group. His pal, a former CIA agent and martial artist, tries to help him. The group kidnaps the agent's sister and tries to ... Read allA senator is targeted by the Pentangle, a right wing paramilitary group. His pal, a former CIA agent and martial artist, tries to help him. The group kidnaps the agent's sister and tries to hunt him down, "The Most Dangerous Game" style.A senator is targeted by the Pentangle, a right wing paramilitary group. His pal, a former CIA agent and martial artist, tries to help him. The group kidnaps the agent's sister and tries to hunt him down, "The Most Dangerous Game" style.

  • Director
    • Sam Firstenberg
  • Writer
    • James Booth
  • Stars
    • Michael Dudikoff
    • Steve James
    • James Booth
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    3.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sam Firstenberg
    • Writer
      • James Booth
    • Stars
      • Michael Dudikoff
      • Steve James
      • James Booth
    • 37User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:20
    Trailer

    Photos163

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    Top cast38

    Edit
    Michael Dudikoff
    Michael Dudikoff
    • Capt. Matt Hunter
    Steve James
    Steve James
    • Larry Richards
    James Booth
    James Booth
    • Adm. Brown
    William Wallace
    • Wade Delaney
    • (as Bill Wallace)
    John P. Ryan
    John P. Ryan
    • Prof. Elliott Glastenbury
    Karl Johnson
    Karl Johnson
    • Cmdr. Jeb Wallace
    Marc Alaimo
    Marc Alaimo
    • Charlie Lavall
    Allison Gereighty
    • Sarah Hunter
    Loren Farmer
    • Andrew Parker
    Rick Boyle
    • Grandpa Jimmy
    • (as Richard Boyle)
    Sylvia Joseph
    • Daisy Richards
    Robert Taylor
    Robert Taylor
    • Larry Richards Jr.
    Bruce Johnson
    • Jeff Richards
    Robert Cronin
    • T.C. Cooper
    John Wilmot
    John Wilmot
    • Gen. Al Wyatt
    James Borders
    • Charles Kray
    Nelson Camp
    • Fifi
    Lyla Hay Owen
    • Doctor #1
    • Director
      • Sam Firstenberg
    • Writer
      • James Booth
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews37

    5.83.6K
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    Featured reviews

    6ma-cortes

    Dudikoff is forced into action in this violent comic book-style adventure

    This enjoyable crime chiller concerns about Matt Hunter (Michael Dudikoff) , a former secret service agent , now retired but he goes into action when his best friend , an African-American US candidate (Steve James) suffers a killing attempt in which to be murdered his son during a cavalcade through New Orleans streets . His former boss (James Booth, also screenwriter) assigns him the dangerous mission . The American agent single-handedly takes on an army of criminals called the Pentangle , a right-wing terrorist organization (led by nasty John P. Ryan) and dedicated to human chase guised in masks on marsh of New Orleans . One again , Dudikoff metes out his own justice and moved to violence when his sister is kidnapped and wipes out a passel of heinous villains .

    Michel Dudikoff is an ex-agent who encounters ample reasons and opportunity to utilize his deadly skills . Lots of shoot-outs and fighting and plenty of suspense and thrills . It's a gripping story of one man's revenge , including graphic violent scenes . The film displays a Norris' style but Chuck does it better . In fact , Chuck Norris was originally planned to return as the character Matt Hunter in this sequel to Invasión USA but he became tied up on other Cannon film productions . Rising Cannon star Michael Dudikoff then was then cast in the role instead . Here Dudikoff continues to set new standards for action in this mindless but agreeable for thriller films fans . The movie is co-starred by Steve James (1952-1993) ,who is watchable as ever , he usually played sidekick to tough stars , Dudikoff (three times), Norris and David Carradine , but he early died by pancreatic cancer . The motion picture was professionally directed by Sam Firstenberg . He's a martial-art genre expert , as he directed the American Ninja (I , II , The revenge ,The domination..) saga with Dudikoff and Delta Force films . Rating : Above average action-revenge story .
    7merklekranz

    First rate villains make "Avenging Force" memorable .......

    While Michael Dudikoff is serviceable as the hero of "Avenging Force", it is John P. Ryan and his right-wing, lunatic-fringe henchmen that make the movie memorable. The film is part hunted in the wild, part car chases, and part martial arts. The assassination attempt at Mardi Gras is quite effective, and the attack on Dudikoff's farm quite brutal. Our hero takes some real punishment in this one, and that definitely adds realism to what could have been nothing more than cartoon violence. If you enjoy hunted in the woods films like "Hunter's Blood", or "Rituals", then "Avenging Force" is something you'll want to check out. - MERK
    Vice-5

    A game of Tag goes way out of hand

    Michael Dudikoff and Steve James finally find the movie of their standards in this deadly chase thriller set in the deep South. Dudikoff plays Hunter, an aptly named ex-secret service agent who goes to the aid of his buddy Larry (James). The latter is a black politician who is the target of, what else, slimeball white supremacists. Definitely way better than the rotten "American Ninja" films, "Avenging Force" is a great suspense flick that consists of great fight scenes. My personal fave fight part is when Hunter fights Glastenbury, played by big, bald John P. Ryan.
    6MRogen

    Very violent meets cheesy 80s

    The first hour is a build up for the hate and revenge of Michael Dudikoff's character. Actual themes like white supremacy are ever present and the corrupt villains have no mercy for no one. Even for today's standards, it's pretty violent although not graphic. The flow of the story is rather clumsy and in many ways inconsistent. It has a lot of plot holes but hey, it was the 80s. The movie was clearly designed as a starring vehicle for then B-Movie poster boy Dudikoff. Although in several european markets marketed as such, the movie has no connection to the American Ninja series. Overall it's good 80s action entertainment but thats about it.
    8smooth_op_85

    Solid 80s Action Flick

    Matt Hunter (Michael Dudikoff) is off to New Orleans to see his pal Larry Richards (Steve James) Richards is running for US Senate and the race seems to be going too well for him. The Pentangle, a hunting fraternity (hunter of men) and business front threatens the life of Richards for having stopped opening of a factory in a predominantly black neighborhood

    When the Pentangle strike at Mardi Gras, it is non stop action from there. Setting u the antagonists is done adeptly and while it's somewhat ham fisted (for the 80s) it is nothing black nor brown people haven't heard before.

    The action, the music, the plot, everything is tied together well. I wish Dudikoff and James were able to make more pictures before James' death is 1993

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    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally written as a sequel to Invasion U.S.A. (1985) with Chuck Norris returning in the role of Matt Hunter. When he was uninterested, the role was rewritten to be younger and given to rising Cannon star Michael Dudikoff instead. Despite sharing the same main character name, the finished film was no longer intended to be a sequel or prequel to the earlier film, but its own stand-alone movie.
    • Goofs
      When Hunter kills the third Pentangle hunter (Delaney) he stabs him in the stomach. In the next scene the knife is several inches higher in his chest instead.
    • Quotes

      Larry Richards: Matt, you don't have to get involved in this part, this is my fight.

      Matt Hunter: Your fight is my fight. You just remember that.

    • Connections
      Featured in Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014)

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Night Hunter
    • Filming locations
      • Kraemer, Louisiana, USA(swamp scenes)
    • Production companies
      • The Cannon Group
      • Golan-Globus Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,679,650
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,131,502
      • Sep 14, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,679,650
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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