A Full-Throttle Blast from the Past
Get ready for a high-octane trip back to 1980 with the re-release of the gritty crime thriller, Night of the Juggler. This film is a masterclass in pulp cinema, packing an almost nonstop barrage of car chases, punch-ups, and shootouts that defined a genre. While some of its social attitudes are very much a product of its time, the movie remains a breathtaking ride for fans of unadulterated action.
Gonzo Mayhem on the Streets of New York
The film kicks off with a statement of intent: a reckless, 20-minute car chase that sets the tone for the entire experience. Fenders are mangled and pedestrians are endangered in a sequence of pure, unhinged energy. This is a New York sleazesploitation story at its core, filled with gobsmacking fight scenes and a pervasive sense of urban grit.
The plot thrusts into gear when a racist paedophile, chillingly portrayed by Cliff Gorman, kidnaps a 15-year-old girl. He believes she is the daughter of a property magnate he blames for ruining his neighbourhood, a fact highlighted by a glimpsed New York Daily News headline. In a twisted turn, he dresses the girl in his dead mother's diaphanous blue gown, creating deeply uncomfortable moments that underscore the villain's depravity.
The girl's father, however, is Sean Boyd, a divorced ex-cop played by James Brolin. Boyd discovers the kidnapper has the wrong girl, and he must race against time to track down this sweaty creep who demands a million-dollar ransom.
A Corrupt Cop and Nonstop Action
Brolin's quest is complicated further by his own pursuer. He is being hunted by a corrupt cop, the pop-eyed Sgt. Barnes, played by Dan Hedaya. In a scene that exemplifies the film's chaotic spirit, Barnes fires a shotgun at Boyd on a city street, shattering windows but facing no consequences due to his badge.
The film doesn't shy away from its exploitative roots. A particularly outrageous sequence sees Boyd questioning sex-workers in their peep-show booths, a creative, if smutty, way to incorporate nudity. Amidst the full-tilt craziness, connoisseurs will spot a young Mandy Patinkin as a hothead cab driver during the epic chase.
Night of the Juggler is a time capsule of 1980s action filmmaking. It's a film that makes you gasp at its audacity and relentless pace. For those who can appreciate its period-specific flaws, it offers a uniquely thrilling experience.
The film arrives in UK cinemas from 14 November, followed by its release on 4K UHD from 17 November.
