Criminal Act

A disgruntled former police detective, haunted by a past case, embarks on a vigilante spree to bring criminals to justice outside the law. His actions draw the attention of his former colleagues, who are torn between their duty and their sympathy for his motives. As his crusade escalates, he finds himself in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, risking everything to achieve his twisted sense of justice.

Criminal Act received mixed to negative reviews from critics upon its release. While some acknowledged the gritty premise and Spano's performance, many found the plot predictable and the violence gratuitous. Audience reception was similarly lukewarm, with the film failing to gain significant traction.

• Praised for Joe Spano's intense portrayal of a troubled detective.

• Criticized for a derivative plot and excessive violence.

• Found to be a gritty but ultimately unremarkable crime thriller.

Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce, but those available generally reflect a mixed sentiment, with some appreciating the dark tone and Spano's performance, while others found the film to be unoriginal and overly grim.

Despite being released in 1989, 'Criminal Act' was actually filmed in 1985 but was delayed due to distribution issues.