Shoot to Kill

1988 "It's about staying alive."
6.8| 1h49m| R| en| More Info
Released: 12 February 1988 Released
Producted By: Silver Screen Partners III
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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When a cunning murderer vanishes into the rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, pursuing FBI agent Warren Stantin must exchange familiar city streets for unknown wilderness trails. Completely out of his element, Stantin is forced to enlist the aid of expert tracker Jonathan Knox. It's a turbulent yet vital relationship they must maintain in order to survive... and one that becomes increasingly desperate when Knox's girlfriend Sarah becomes the killer's latest hostage!

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Director

Roger Spottiswoode

Production Companies

Silver Screen Partners III

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Shoot to Kill Audience Reviews

Jeanskynebu the audience applauded
Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece
WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible
Mr-Fusion Well, this movie's a pleasant surprise; pretty much on every front. "Shoot to Kill" is a taut thriller to to bottom, but I think what sets this apart from other buddy movies is that it crosses genres. It's not just two disparate men on a dangerous mission, but there's also a manhunt and a wilderness movie thrown in for good measure. Still, Poitier and Berenger have a solid chemistry, and their road to mutual acceptance is a rocky one. It's a good cast throughout with a charming Kirstie Alley (to be fair, I haven't (yet) seen "Cheers" and I only really know her as a Vulcan). NIce scenery, too; I got a real "First Blood" feeling with that Pacific Northwest locale. I'm not sure why I hadn't heard of this movie until today, but either way, it's great.7/10
seymourblack-1 The first 16 minutes of this brilliant chase movie are so intense that it's hard to imagine that what follows could be anything but an anti-climax. The fact that it isn't comes as quite a surprise and testifies to the sheer quality of this highly entertaining adventure thriller. With its combination of well executed stunts, chases and action sequences as well as suspense, humour and stunning locations, it's perfectly understandable why "Shoot To Kill" (aka "Deadly Pursuit") achieved so much critical and commercial success at the time of its release and also why it still remains so enjoyable to watch many years later.After a San Francisco jeweller breaks into his own store in the middle of the night and removes a collection of diamonds, the FBI discover that his wife is being held hostage and that the diamonds are the ransom that the kidnapper has demanded. Tense negotiations follow but eventually the kidnapper escapes with the diamonds after shooting the jeweller's wife and housemaid. Experienced FBI agent Warren Stantin (Sidney Poitier), who'd been in charge of the negotiations, blames himself for what happened and so becomes determined to hunt down the mysterious killer.The killer's trail leads to Washington State where it becomes clear that he'd killed a tourist and using his victim's identity, had joined a small group of men who'd set off on a fishing trip. Their trek across some exceptionally hazardous mountains and woods was being led by a local guide called Sarah Renell (Kirstie Alley) and Stantin quickly recognises that the only way he'll be able to continue his mission will be to have his own guide and the obvious choice for the role is Sarah's boyfriend and skilled mountain guide, Jon Knox (Tom Berenger). Knox is a surly tough-guy who only accepts the job very reluctantly because he doubts the ability of the older city-dweller to cope with the conditions or keep up the pace needed to have a reasonable chance of rescuing Sarah from the attentions of the dangerous psychopath.Predictably, Stantin and Knox's partnership becomes very strained on their journey as they're confronted with some very dangerous situations such as having to cross an incredibly deep gorge in a rope-bridge basket, climbing up sheer rock faces and having to set up camp in deep snow. The climax to the men's journey comes when they arrive at Vancouver, where the killer had gone to meet a diamond broker (who's a fence) and also where they find that the dynamic between them changes dramatically.Sidney Poitier is exceptional in his role as a man who's very professional and determined in his work and also copes well with a whole series of challenges. Similarly, Tom Berenger is well cast as the rugged guide who learns during the journey that both men possess different strengths and is also surprised when ultimately, they develop a good deal of mutual respect."Shoot To Kill" is well-directed with the required levels of tension, humour and pace being perfectly balanced to guarantee the best results and the cinematography is magnificent throughout.
richieandsam DEADLY PURSUITI had never heard of this film until I saw it for sale on DVD. I am a sucker for an 80s film, so thought I would get it and give it a go.The movie is about a thief and murderer on the run. An FBI agent and a local guide is chasing him and it is a race against time through mountains and forests to save the hostage that the murderer has.It is a typical thriller. The guess work was there from the off set. I loved the way the film started. There was no introducing characters or extra added story. It dived right in there with a hostage situation and a couple of murders. It was a fast paced start to the film which got me hooked right away.The group of tourists that were on the guide around the mountains was well done too. It did keep me guessing and wondering who the killer was. It did a god job at hiding it too because the person I thought it was turned out to be innocent. I never would have guessed who it was. I did think they revealed the killer a little bit too soon though, they could have stretched it out a little bit more for suspense.The whole film felt like a TV movie. I couldn't imagine this being in the cinema. If anything it could have been an extended episode of a crime show from the 80s.The acting was terrible. Tom Berenger did an OK job, but there were moments when I thought he just didn't pull off his emotions right. Sidney Poitier was OK, but seeing him deliver his lines was comical. He just looked uncomfortable in the role and it didn't seem very natural. Kirsty Alley was probably the best actress in the movie. She was the victim and played it well.Overall this is a good movie, but it wasn't anything special. This movie has been made quite a lot of times before and the story will be used again and again.I will give this film 6 out of 10."Everybody else up here acts like they've never seen a black man before. Why should the bear be different?"For more reviews, please like my Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ordinary-Person-Movie- Reviews/456572047728204?ref=hl
Jackson Booth-Millard With a great leading actor, a good supporting cast, and director Roger Spottiswoode (Turner & Hooch, Tomorrow Never Dies) involved, I thought, I can't see anything that would be bad about. Basically a man has stolen diamonds from his own jewellery shop, and then the man finds out a mad mad demands the diamonds in exchange for his kidnapped wife. The mad man manages to escape, but FBI agent Warren Stantin (Sidney Poitier) with wilderness experienced and skilled Jonathan Knox (Tom Berenger) as he runs through the Northern American forest. In this forest is a group of hikers, including Knox's girlfriend Sarah Renell (Kirstie Alley), Norman (Richard Masur), Harvey (Hellraiser's Andrew Robinson), and the revealed diamond thief, Steve (Clancy Brown). Also starring Kevin Scannell as Ben, Frederick Coffin as Ralph, Michael MacRae as Fournier, Robert Lesser as Agent Minelli, Les Lannom as Sheriff Dave Arnett, Frank C. Turner as Austin Crilley and Walter Marsh as Sam Baker. Poitier is a good lead, and Brown is a not too bad villain, I think it is the scaling outdoor sequences involving vast forest, rigid rocks and rushing rivers that are most watchable about this quite alright action thriller. Worth watching!