Excessive Force

"You have the right to remain silent... permanently."

1993 1h 27m EN

💀

4.9

SKIP

★4.9TMDB · 43

Action

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Chicago policeman Terry McCain is determined to put away mobster Sal DiMarco, who always gets acquitted on technicalities. While monitoring a drug sale, a shootout ensues, and one of Terry's fellow officers gets away with $3 million of Sal's money. Suspecting Terry took the cash, the mobster sends his men to kill Terry's brother, Dylan, and partner, Frankie Hawkins. Furious, Terry sets out to take his revenge by any means necessary.

“You have the right to remain silent... permanently.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Thomas Ian Griffith
Terry McCain
Lance Henriksen
Devlin
Tom Hodges
Dylan
James Earl Jones
Jake
Charlotte Lewis
Anna Gilmour
Tony Todd
Frankie Hawkins
Burt Young
Sal DiMarco
W. Earl Brown
Vinnie DiMarco

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jon Hess
Writers: Thomas Ian Griffith
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

87 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $3.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 40% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

33 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Excessive Force Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jon Hess, shot by Donald M. Morgan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Alan Baumgarten shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Thomas Ian Griffith and Lance Henriksen and Tom Hodges carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jon Hess directs. Donald M. Morgan behind the camera. Alan Baumgarten cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

187 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Shot for just $3.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
3Earned back only 40% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
433 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
5Part of the "Excessive Force Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Jon Hess, shot by Donald M. Morgan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Editor Alan Baumgarten shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Thomas Ian Griffith and Lance Henriksen and Tom Hodges carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "You have the right to remain silent... permanently.".
10IMDB entry: tt0104215 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Only 43 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Donald M. Morgan
Editing: Alan Baumgarten
Production design: Michael Z. Hanan
Costume design: Kathryn Morrison
Makeup / hair: Alicia Allain
Stunt coordinator: Bobby Bass
Runtime: 87 min · 1h 27m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $3,000,000
Box office: $1,200,000
Return: 40% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Excessive Force (1993)

Part of

Excessive Force Collection

First Movie: A determined policeman attempts to take down a cunning mobster, who has corrupted his colleagues. Despite discovering his own brother's collaboration with the gangster, the cop gathers evidence but is killed by his corrupt partner, who then burns the files. Second Movie: A special agent-turned-investigator masquerades as a policeman to protect a Mafia informant. After gaining trust but arousing suspicion, he confronts assassins sent by the informant's former lover. Wounded and betrayed, he is ultimately ambushed and killed by the corrupt partner, who then takes control of the police station. Both movies explore themes of crime, betrayal, and the quest for justice within a corrupt system.