Review of Hard To Kill (1992) by Paul B — 28 Jan 2008

As if Above the Law didn't give us enough crooked cops, this movie takes the cake.

Mason Storm (Seagal) is your all American good guy cop who while during a surveillance operation, stumbles upon crooked politician Trent (William Saddler) making a deal with the mob in order to stay in office. He then phones in his results but unknowingly to him the entire operation is being funded by Trent. After going home to do some nice nice with his old lady, a team of crooked cops sneak into his house and kills his wife before putting Storm in the ER. While in the ER a doctor tells everyone Storm is dead and after all the crooked cops leave another doc runs in and tells the one straight cop (Captain O'Malley) that Storm is alive....ALIVE I TELL YA!! Unfortunately the severity of the injuries puts Storm in a coma for 7 years and by the time he wakes up, Trent is now a US Senator and all the guys involved with his "death" are working for him. This is where Seagal along with British actress Kelly LeBrock take on the crew and bring justice to everyone, along with finding his son who actually survived that night and ran away to Captain O'Malley's house.

In terms of story lines, this had to be one of the most easy plot lines to follow, which is a good thing. Seagal, his son, the nurse and Captain O'Malley are the faces and everyone else are heels...got it? Good. The only thing I found fishy was throughout the whole movie Seagal is fighting and killing COPS. The one shootout at the ranch there had to have been 10-15 officers shot by Seagal and there were another 10 shooting at him while he made his getaway, you mean to tell me there are over 20 crooked cops on Trent's payroll? I can understand the main crew of 5-6 that Seagal methodically stalks near the end but what's with the other 20 guys? No wonder gang violence rose during the 90's when you have crooked cronies like this in reality. Other than that everything runs smoothly with no unnessicary plot twists, heel turns, face turns and anything else we've seen in The Foreigner or Above the Law.

Again, if you're looking for a Citizen Kane like script...you're a moron but if you're looking for 2 hours to kill and an easy plot line to follow this one's for you. Seagal is what he is, and if that's your cup of tea I suggest this one because he's in his prime then and the fight scenes are believable, as upposed to where he tries to beat up DMX in Exit Wounds. The highlight of this movie is where he kills the guy who killed his wife and says "You killed my wife, phuck you and die!".

3 out of 5.