Woodyanders Review of Stunts

Stunts (1977)

An excellent, underrated and unjustly overlooked B-movie murder mystery thriller sleeper

[8/10 · 9 August 2006]

The always terrific and charismatic Robert ("Alligator") Forster gives a typically fine and engaging performance as a gutsy ace veteran stuntman who's working on a troubled low-budget action picture that's being plagued by the unusual and alarming "accidental" deaths of several other stuntmen performing dangerous gags for the film. Director Mark ("Night of the Running Man") Lester, working from a smart and compelling script by Dennis Johnson and Barney Cohen, expertly maintains a steady pace throughout, stages the plentiful superb and stirring stunts with considerable brio and skill, and offers an intriguing behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of a down'n'dirty indie feature. The first-rate cast of familiar B-movie faces qualifies as another substantial asset: Fiona ("The Fury") Lewis as a feisty journalist doing an article on the crazy stunt profession, Bruce ("Walking Tall") Glover, Joanna ("The Glove") Cassidy and Ray ("The Idolmaker") Sharkey as fellow courageous stunt people, Richard ("God Told Me To") Lynch as the special effects coordinator, Candice ("Summer School Teachers") Rialson as a flirtatious stuck-up harlot of a starlet, and Darrell ("Blood Beach") Fetty as an eager beaver production assistant. Bruce ("Jackson County Jail") Logan's crisp cinematography, Michael Kamen's thrilling, melodic score, and the groovy theme song are all likewise up to snuff. A very cool and undeservedly neglected little sleeper that's a funky 70's drive-in flick precursor to the very similar (and stupendous) "The Stuntman."