Dead Bang
A cop is gunned down on Xmas eve. Jerry Beck, the homicide cop given the job of hunting the killer, investigates some leads which bring him into contact with a group of white supremacy extremists. In addition to the racists, Beck also has to contend with an unhelpful FBI agent.
jackmeat reviewed
August 21, 2025•
My quick rating - 6.0/10. Plex started this "Tis the Season" area, which picks through your movies and puts them in that "hub" if it thinks it is seasonal. Well, this one from my new releases hit the hub, so I am going to check it out again. Pretty sure I saw this years ago. And I had, but it wasn't fresh in my memory. On Christmas Eve, Don Johnson gets a call for a homicide of another officer shot on patrol. In this one, he plays the part of an alcoholic, womanizing officer to a tee. Due to a description obtained from a survivor of a connected robbery, he is on the case that takes up a much more serious nature that is still highly relevant now. An underground white supremacist group. Surprisingly hard-hitting for a flick from 1989, really, especially considering what the Miami Vice fans are used to. Along with the action, though, director John Frankenheimer mixes in a healthy amount of humor to keep things rolling. The film is actually paced quite well, and the casting also does the flick some favors, including Penelope Ann Miller and William Forsythe, who, acting-wise, helped carry this one through what may have just been a run-of-the-mill police film. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is a Xmas classic per se, but I am glad I was reminded of this one since it still is a solid action/comedy that many may have missed. If nothing else, the on-foot chase scene and argument with his psych, or "shrink" as he calls him, is worth it on its own. Johnson really put in the work to redefine the burnt-out cop role, and his character seems like a trip to hang out with for Xmas.
jackmeat reviewed
August 21, 2025•
My quick rating - 6.0/10. Plex started this "Tis the Season" area, which picks through your movies and puts them in that "hub" if it thinks it is seasonal. Well, this one from my new releases hit the hub, so I am going to check it out again. Pretty sure I saw this years ago. And I had, but it wasn't fresh in my memory. On Christmas Eve, Don Johnson gets a call for a homicide of another officer shot on patrol. In this one, he plays the part of an alcoholic, womanizing officer to a tee. Due to a description obtained from a survivor of a connected robbery, he is on the case that takes up a much more serious nature that is still highly relevant now. An underground white supremacist group. Surprisingly hard-hitting for a flick from 1989, really, especially considering what the Miami Vice fans are used to. Along with the action, though, director John Frankenheimer mixes in a healthy amount of humor to keep things rolling. The film is actually paced quite well, and the casting also does the flick some favors, including Penelope Ann Miller and William Forsythe, who, acting-wise, helped carry this one through what may have just been a run-of-the-mill police film. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is a Xmas classic per se, but I am glad I was reminded of this one since it still is a solid action/comedy that many may have missed. If nothing else, the on-foot chase scene and argument with his psych, or "shrink" as he calls him, is worth it on its own. Johnson really put in the work to redefine the burnt-out cop role, and his character seems like a trip to hang out with for Xmas.
