It’s quite a treat these days to see movies that lined the
shelves of video stores during their heyday finding their way to blu-ray
finally. For the most part these movies aren’t classics that will be hailed at
some future date in the Library of Congress archives but there were indeed part
of the mainstay of those classic mom and pop stores of the past. Shelves then
were not just filled with only major motion pictures releases but tons of
movies that went direct to video but were quality made product anyway.
Such was the case with several films starring former
football pro turned actor Brian Bosworth. His first foray into the silver
screen came with this movie, STONE COLD, where he plays a Dirty Harry style
undercover cop with the most amazing mullet ever seen on film. Bosworth stars
as Joe Huff, a take no prisoners kind of cop on temporary leave of absence for
insubordination. When the film opens he’s seen shopping in a grocery store in
the midst of a robbery/hostage situation. Ala every tough cop at the time he
takes out the bad guys with ease only to be reprimanded because he’s on leave.
When all is said and done Huff is approached by the FBI to
go undercover for them on an important mission. A biker gang called the
Brotherhood has been increasing their criminal activities to the point where
they’ve recently killed a judge who dared to pass sentence on one of their own
in a murder case. Having stepped over the line the powers that be want them
taken out at all costs. This is where Huff comes in. Riding his own bike,
sporting a long black leather coat and endearing himself to the gang by helping
in the midst of a fight that breaks out in one of their bars/strip joints, he
gets an invitation to one of their outings.
While a weak member of the gang he helped thinks he’d make a
great prospect, sergeant at arms Ice (William Forsythe) doesn’t trust him. As
Joe “Stone”, Huff makes an impression at the outing by beating Ice in a race
and by beating up their biggest tough guy in a hand to hand fight. The group’s
leader Chains (Lance Henriksen) thinks he’d be an asset as well much to the
displeasure of Ice. He gives Stone/Huff a chance to prove himself while at the
same time running a background check on him with his own undercover person in
law enforcement.
Stone/Huff helps when needed and finds himself in the middle
of a confrontation between the Brotherhood and the local mob. In the middle of
this confrontation he comes to the aid of Chains “old lady” Nancy (Arabella
Holzbog) and the two begin to form an attraction to one another. In her case
he’s a possible way out of the gang, in his a possible weak link in the outfit
who he might be able to convince to provide testimony to put them all away.
As the movie progresses the Brotherhood has set their sights
on a state politician running for governor on a law and order platform.
Promising to rid the state of this illegal biker gang he finds himself the
target of their wrath. Just what they plan for him isn’t revealed until the last
third of the film. Will Stone/Huff be able to keep his cover long enough to
stop this deal from happening? Will Nancy turn states evidence? And will a
final confrontation between Stone/Huff and Chains eventually take place?
The movie offers a great combination of action, biker and
undercover cop genres. It also presents Bosworth as a decent actor whose
onscreen persona fit those direct to video movies, never quite being good
enough to make it to major releases but solid enough to make a living as an action
star in his own right. As bad guys Forsythe and Henriksen both stand out here
showing why their careers have lasted as long as they have. Both continue to
make movies and have added some fantastic characters to their list of
achievements over the years.
Well made, well shot and filled with plenty of action, this
is the type of movie that filled those long forgotten video store shelves that
actually rented well when there. It was a time when viewers weren’t sold only
on the hottest Hollywood release but actually gave movies like this a chance
when checking out the shelves. Many of those movies became cult classics in
their own right and this was one of those. Olive Films has done a service to
those who remember walking down those narrows sets of shelves that held hidden
treasure by releasing movies like this on blu-ray. A fun time for those who
loved these types of movies and one to add to the collection for those who miss
those days.
Click here to order.
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