Raw Deal
Raw Deal

Movie spotlight

Raw Deal

1986
Movie
106 min
English

Mark Kaminsky is kicked out of the FBI for his rough treatment of a suspect. He winds up as the sheriff of a small town in North Carolina. FBI Chief Harry Shannon, whose son has been killed by a mobster named Patrovina, enlists Kaminsky in a personal vendetta with a promise of reinstatement into the FBI if Patrovina is taken down. To accomplish this, he must go undercover and join Patrovina's gang.

Insights

IMDb5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes33%
Google Users62%
Director: John WooGenres: Action, Crime, Thriller

Plot Summary

A former FBI agent, Mark Kaminski, is living a quiet life as a sheriff in a small town under the witness protection program. However, his past catches up with him when his former colleagues from the FBI and a ruthless crime boss from Chicago try to lure him back into the dangerous world he left behind. To protect his new life and loved ones, he must confront his old enemies in a brutal and explosive showdown.

Critical Reception

Raw Deal is often considered a lesser entry in Arnold Schwarzenegger's action filmography of the 1980s. While it features his signature over-the-top action sequences and a charismatic performance from the star, critics found the plot to be predictable and somewhat thin. Audience reception was moderate, with fans of the genre appreciating the explosive set pieces and a young John Woo's directorial flair, though it didn't reach the iconic status of some of his other films.

What Reviewers Say

  • Features classic Arnold Schwarzenegger action and a dynamic young John Woo directing.

  • The plot is derivative and lacks depth, relying heavily on explosions and gunfights.

  • Schwarzenegger delivers his typical stoic performance, which is a highlight for fans.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the action-packed nature of the film and Arnold Schwarzenegger's presence. However, many noted that the story was somewhat predictable and less engaging than other films in the genre.

Fun Fact

This film marked John Woo's first major Hollywood production, albeit one where he had less creative control than he was used to, leading to compromises in his signature style.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
John Chard

John Chard

Because of you a lot of people are dead. And now it's your turn. Raw Deal is directed by John Irvin and written by Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Donati, Gary DeVore and Norman Wexler. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathryn Harrold, Sam Wa...