Dead Bang

Directed by John Frankenheimer

R

1989 1h 45mAction, Drama,

6.133%44%6.3

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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.

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Cast of Dead Bang

Don JohnsonJerry Beck
Penelope Ann MillerLinda Kimble
William ForsytheArthur Kressler
Bob BalabanElliott Webley
Frank MilitaryBobby Burns
Tate DonovanJohn Burns
Mickey JonesSleepy
Stephen E. MillerBogan - Oklahoma Officer
Antoni StutzRay
Ron CampbellCrossfield
William TraylorElton Tremmel
Hy AnzellCaptain Waxman
Michael JeterDr. Krantz
Tim ReidChief Dixon
James B. DouglasAgent Gilroy
Brad SullivanChief Hillard
Phyllis GuerriniLouisa
Darwyn SwalveBiker #1
Ron JeremyBiker #3
Sam ScarberDetective Bilson
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Dead Bang Ratings & Reviews

jackmeatAugust 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.

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Dead Bang Trivia

Dead Bang was released on March 24, 1989.

Dead Bang was directed by John Frankenheimer.

Dead Bang has a runtime of 1 hr 45 min.

Dead Bang was produced by Stephen J. Roth.

The key characters in Dead Bang are Jerry Beck (Don Johnson), Linda Kimble (Penelope Ann Miller), Arthur Kressler (William Forsythe).

Dead Bang is rated R.

Dead Bang is an Action, Drama, Thriller film.

Dead Bang has an audience rating of 4.4 out of 10.

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