Where to watch Overkill
3 Stars
American Police officer Jack Hazard heads for South America after being ordered to take time off by his boss after a raid goes bad. Once there, however, he finds himself caught up with a stranger wanted by the government, and soon ends up in prison. He and his unwanted companion escape, and now Jack must try to get back to safety while being hunted down by an iron-fisted tyrant.
Arron Norris, the younger and better-looking brother of frequent film collaborator Chuck Norris, gets his own starring vehicle in Overkill, and it’s one of the more entertaining B-movies I’ve seen in quite a while. Norris is really appealing in the action hero role, and based on the evidence here, I can’t imagine why he wasn’t offered more films after this one.
The lush scenery, filmed on location in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is well photographed and suits the action on-screen; the heat is almost tangible as all the performers have a perpetual layer of sweat in virtually every scene. Arron Norris, himself a director, had mounted better films while at the helm; both Missing in Action III and Delta Force 2 are underrated classics; this film’s director does a good job staging the action and dramatic scenes.
One of the credited writers, John Langley, is the creator of the COPS reality TV program, and his script allows Michael Nouri to showcase his acting ability, which is far superior to that of his castmates. Still, Overkill is a fun B-movie with an appealing leading man, a good story, and passable action choreography for a movie of this level.
Directed by: Dean Raphael Ferrandini
Written by: John Langley, Jerry Lazarus, Ron Swanson
Starring: Aaron Norris, Michael Nouri, Kenneth Moskow