Screenwriter Gerald Wilson, actor Charles Bronson, and producer / director Michael Winner re-teamed for this action movie the year after making the Western "Chato's Land". Legendary tough guy Bronson is police detective Lou Torrey who uncovers a plot concocted by a mafia boss, Al Vescari (Martin Balsam), to assassinate (for vengeance sake) various other mobsters utilizing Vietnam veterans. Helped by some of his associates and hindered by others, Lou follows the chain of leads as the story progresses.
What's pleasing about "The Stone Killer" is what a snappy and fast moving bit of entertainment it is. Now, this will require the viewer to pay attention all the time, which may be a bit of a tall order given how quickly events unfold and exposition is divulged, but the rewards are substantial. The action scenes are particularly invigorating, especially the climactic shootouts and one major chase sequence. Bronson also warms up for some of his future roles here playing a man fiercely dedicated to his job and who will also do pretty much anything to make sure it gets done.
Another thing that really helps "The Stone Killer" is the fact that it does have a sense of humour - granted, not all the laughs are intentional, as the moment involving a body plummeting out a window towards the pavement will attest. But the sequence that features Torrey interrogating a lead (Kelley Miles) in a hippie commune really has to be seen to be believed; it's a total hoot. The violence is effectively brutal and bloody, with many characters pumped full of bullets by the time the story is over. The music score by Roy Budd is an eclectic one and thus highly enjoyable.
In addition to the excellent Balsam, who joined Bronson again for "Death Wish 3" a dozen years later, the supporting cast is just FULL of familiar faces, some of them from TV: Jack Colvin ('The Incredible Hulk'), Paul Koslo ("The Omega Man"), Norman Fell AND John Ritter from 'Three's Company', Stuart Margolin ('The Rockford Files'), Charles Tyner ("Harold and Maude"), Frank Campanella, Robert Emhardt, Barry Cahill, Hoke Howell, and Hunter von Leer.
With its twists, turns, laughs, and violent action, this is a reasonably fun movie worth watching for any fan of Bronson and cop movies in general. It gets down to business pretty quickly and there's hardly a letup until its ending.
Seven out of 10.
What's pleasing about "The Stone Killer" is what a snappy and fast moving bit of entertainment it is. Now, this will require the viewer to pay attention all the time, which may be a bit of a tall order given how quickly events unfold and exposition is divulged, but the rewards are substantial. The action scenes are particularly invigorating, especially the climactic shootouts and one major chase sequence. Bronson also warms up for some of his future roles here playing a man fiercely dedicated to his job and who will also do pretty much anything to make sure it gets done.
Another thing that really helps "The Stone Killer" is the fact that it does have a sense of humour - granted, not all the laughs are intentional, as the moment involving a body plummeting out a window towards the pavement will attest. But the sequence that features Torrey interrogating a lead (Kelley Miles) in a hippie commune really has to be seen to be believed; it's a total hoot. The violence is effectively brutal and bloody, with many characters pumped full of bullets by the time the story is over. The music score by Roy Budd is an eclectic one and thus highly enjoyable.
In addition to the excellent Balsam, who joined Bronson again for "Death Wish 3" a dozen years later, the supporting cast is just FULL of familiar faces, some of them from TV: Jack Colvin ('The Incredible Hulk'), Paul Koslo ("The Omega Man"), Norman Fell AND John Ritter from 'Three's Company', Stuart Margolin ('The Rockford Files'), Charles Tyner ("Harold and Maude"), Frank Campanella, Robert Emhardt, Barry Cahill, Hoke Howell, and Hunter von Leer.
With its twists, turns, laughs, and violent action, this is a reasonably fun movie worth watching for any fan of Bronson and cop movies in general. It gets down to business pretty quickly and there's hardly a letup until its ending.
Seven out of 10.