An Eye for an Eye (1981 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Steve Carver |
| Products | Crime action film |
An Eye for an Eye is a 1981 American crime action film helmed by director Steve Carver, featuring performances by Chuck Norris, Christopher Lee, Richard Roundtree, Matt Clark, Mako Iwamatsu, and Maggie Cooper.
Plot
San Francisco narcotics detectives Sean Kane and Dave Pierce operate undercover and connect with informant Tony Montoya, who pledges to reveal the identity of the Asian drug cartel leader. Soon afterward, Pierce is fatally attacked. Following Kane’s public killing of one attacker, he faces internal disciplinary measures but chooses to resign in pursuit of vengeance.
Dave’s partner, journalist Linda Chan, commits to dismantling the drug network through her investigative reporting but is killed after uncovering critical information. Together with Linda’s father James Chan and news editor Heather Sullivan, Kane seeks justice. Meanwhile, Detective Tom McCoy, a friend of Kane’s, is sidelined as Captain Stevens assumes command of the investigation.
Kane and Chan encounter multiple assaults from cartel assassins. Assisted by Heather, Kane tracks Montoya near a ship mentioned in Linda’s broadcast. Morgan Canfield, the editor-in-chief, supports Kane’s efforts. When Kane confronts Montoya, the informant is killed before disclosing any names, hinting at a law enforcement mole.
Heather discovers Linda’s concealed tape exposing drug smuggling operations involving fireworks shipped from Hong Kong aboard the freighter Sulu Sea. Kane destroys the fireworks shipment under Stevens’ observation. Heather uncovers a tape containing incriminating telephone conversations between Canfield and drug dealers, revealing Canfield as the mastermind and McCoy as a betrayer.
In a rooftop altercation, McCoy is killed during a fight with Kane. Kane and Chan raid Canfield’s residence in conjunction with a police bust of a drug shipment. After a fierce battle, Kane defeats the assassin known as The Professor.
Canfield arrives holding Heather hostage; Kane identifies him as responsible for Dave’s murder. With police assistance, Kane subdues Canfield and turns over the evidence. Stevens admits prior knowledge but awaited sufficient proof for arrest. Kane abandons his personal vendetta, ensuring Canfield’s conviction, and departs on good terms with Heather and Chan.
Cast
- Chuck Norris as Detective Sean Kane
- Christopher Lee as Morgan Canfield
- Richard Roundtree as Capt. Stevens
- Matt Clark as Tom McCoy
- Mako Iwamatsu as James Chan
- Maggie Cooper as Heather Sullivan
- Rosalind Chao as Linda Chan
- Professor Toru Tanaka as The Professor
- Stuart Pankin as Nicky LaBelle
- Terry Kiser as Dave Pierce
- Mel Novak as Tony Montoya
- J.E. Freeman as Tow Truck Dude
Critical response
On Metacritic, the movie holds an aggregate score of 33 out of 100 based on five critic reviews, reflecting "generally unfavorable" opinions. Janet Maslin of The New York Times characterized it as "rather mild" for a martial arts feature. Variety described it as "an effective martial arts action film" that combines realistic elements with comic book style, appealing to genre enthusiasts despite predictable outcomes. Gene Siskel from the Chicago Tribune awarded it one-and-a-half stars out of four, commenting on the limited martial arts sequences and questioning Norris’ effort to transcend his usual role. In contrast, Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times commended it as a "well-executed straightforward exploitation film," directed energetically by Steve Carver and delivering what Norris’ fans expect.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1981 films
- 1981 action thriller films
- 1980s American films
- 1980s crime action films
- 1980s English-language films
- 1980s police procedural films
- 1980s vigilante films
- American crime action films
- American films about revenge
- American police detective films
- American vigilante films
- Embassy Pictures films
- English-language action thriller films
- English-language crime action films
- Fictional portrayals of the San Francisco Police Department
- Films about drugs
- Films directed by Steve Carver
- Films set in 1981
- Films set in San Francisco
- Films set in the San Francisco Bay Area