Silent Rage ** (1982, Chuck Norris, Ron Silver, Steven Keats, William Finley) – Classic Movie Review 13,053

The 1982 American sci-fi action horror film Silent Rage stars Chuck Norris as a Texas sheriff who has to try to tackle a rampaging revived dead killer. Director Michael Miller calls his film ‘kung fu meets Frankenstein’. 

Director Michael Miller’s 1982 American sci-fi action horror film Silent Rage stars Chuck Norris as Texas Sheriff Dan Stevens, who has to try to tackle a rampaging dead killer (Brian Libby), revived by three doctors (Ron Silver, Steven Keats and William Finley) and made indestructible.

Miller calls his film ‘kung fu meets Frankenstein’. This bizarre, not to say ridiculous, sci-fi-style action thriller doesn’t work too well, but at least it sure is different! And, to be fair, it’s kind of in the interesting category.

Chuck Norris is his usual reliable self, though of course most comfortable fighting, and obviously less comfortable in an improvised a love scene with Toni Kalem or with the slasher elements, while Ron Silver overacts for all he’s worth as the Doctor Frankenstein of the piece.

Yes, obviously, as the film is called Silent Rage, the maniacal murderer is silent and raging, and the unethical scientist Dr Tom Halman (Ron Silver) has been able to give him the ability to self-heal as the result of his secret genetic experiments.

Filming began on July 30, 1981 in Dallas for 30 days.

It was released in US cinemas by Columbia Pictures in April 1982 and grossed $10.5 million (US).

The cast are Chuck Norris as Sheriff Dan Stevens, Ron Silver as Dr Tom Halman, Steven Keats as Dr Phillip Spires, Toni Kalem as Alison Halman, William Finley as Dr Paul Vaughn, Brian Libby as John Kirby, Stephen Furst as Charlie, and Stephanie Dunham.

Norris said that his love scenes annoyed his fans and decided to avoid them in future. And director Miller said: ‘I don’t think this was one of Chuck’s favourite pictures. He went to the screening, and I think that was the last time I ever saw him. He was too much of a gentleman to ever say, “I don’t like this.” He didn’t do any more slasher-type pictures.’

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,053

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