Review of Nighthawks (1981) by Devon — 06 Nov 2008

In the late 70s-early 80s, police were encouraged to beat up criminals, knocking out teeth and breaking bones whenever possible. Deke (Stallone) is not above dressing up like a lady (despite the full beard) to lure in would-be muggers for he and his partner Detective Fox (Williams) to pistol whip and pound with fists whilst still finding time for his "lady" (the virtually unused Wagner).

Meanwhile, we're introduced to an international terror organization led by the homicidal "Wulfgar" (Hauer), who kills a courier delivering a package to him and leading police to his door in the process.

He leaves the courier, which was a mistake because the courier was delivering a passport with his photo on it. He's left with no choice but to alter his appearance with plastic surgery and make his way to the United States (where he's also going to start a new terror franchise).

Meanwhile Deke, despite his flair for costumed pageantry, is picked for the anti-terrorist squad A.T.A.C (along with his hot-headed partner Fox), whose mission it is to track down Wulfgar and kill him.

Deke though, is conscientious and doesn't want to be a cold-blooded killer. It's a weakness that leads to him allowing Wulfgar to escape at one point. Billy Dee Williams plays Tonto to Stallone's Kemosabe, and I mean that in every sense it can be taken.

Once the scene of Wulfgar's initial terror attack is over, he never seems any more threatening than the muggers Deke is beating up (whilst wearing a dress, no less), and that's the main problem here: there's no sense of threat from this supposed terrorist.

I can't help but think The Dark Knight was heavily influenced by this movie, but where the Joker was an actual menace and created real fear, Wulfgar seems a pale comparison. In fact, I'd call "NightHawks"' "The Dark Knight" without costumes and with less believability.