Pure Danger (1996)

User Rating:

3.9/10   

Director:

C. Thomas Howell

Writers:

William Applegate Jr. (writer)
Joseph John Barmettler (writer)

Release Date:

13 January 2004 (Finland)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Plot:

A paroled short order cook and a waitress go on the run with a bag of diamonds that accidentally falls into their possession, prompting two warring gangs to come after them.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Waitress | Female Nudity | Ex Convict | Independent Film

Cast

C. Thomas Howell	...	Johnie Dean
Teri Ann Linn	...	Becky
Michael Russo	...	DePalma
Marcus Chong	...	Freethrow
Leon	...	Felix
Rick Shapiro	...	Dice
Ray Laska	...	Miccelli
Bill Rutkowski	...	Tony
Elisa Leonetti	...	Stella
Lou Casal	...	Farmentero
Mark Holman	...	Tick
Max Holman	...	Tock
Mitch Parnes	...	Jimmy
Andre Rosey Brown	...	Shyboy (as Rosey Brown)
Irwin Keyes	...	Killjoy

MPAA:

Rated R for action violence, language and some nudity.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 | Netherlands:16 | Germany:18 (video premiere) | USA:R

Company:

PM Entertainment Group

Soundtrack:

Shooting Star

See it for the final chase

From the early to mid-90s, PM Entertainment was my favorite exploitation, DTV company. They delivered competent productions that delivered some of the best slam bang action of the time period. Forget the computer enhanced stunts in TRUE LIES or ERASER...PM is where it was at. This crime flick marks the third directorial effort by actor C. Thomas Howell (his second for PM Entertainment after the detective film THE BIG FALL) and is a perfect example of the "everything must be like Tarantino" era in Hollywood in the wake of PULP FICTION. Howell stars as Johnie Dean, an ex-con now working as a short order cook. When a bag of diamonds fall into his lap, Johnie and his waitress girlfriend become targets of several gangs looking to steal the diamonds. Yes, it is TRUE ROMANCE with diamonds instead of cocaine.

Howell and company seem to be having a good time with this production. It never takes itself too seriously (how could anyone take Howell seriously with that mustache?) and features an amazing final chase scene coordinated by Spiros Razatos. Seriously, this car chase is one of the scariest things I have ever seen featuring real cars screeching, exploding and flipping right in front of each other. I am still trying to figure how they got permits to film this stuff on LA's streets and highways. John Landis would be proud. Howell also populates his cast with some familiar faces including Leon (dressed exactly like Samuel L. Jackson in PULP FICTION), Michael Russo, Macrus Chong, Irwin Keyes and Carrot Top!