The Hit **** (1984, Terence Stamp, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Laura del Sol, Bill Hunter, Fernando Rey) – Classic Movie Review 8545

The 1984 British movie The Hit is a tough, slightly arty but nail-biting crime thriller directed with flair by Stephen Frears with much of the ironic neo noir style he shows in Gumshoe and The Grifters.

John Hurt and Tim Roth star as Braddock and Myron, who are crazy hit men hoods dragging supergrass Willie Parker (Terence Stamp) across Spain, where he has been hiding, with innocent Maggie (Laura del Sol) in attendance, on a drive to Paris for his execution.

The performances are effective and restrained (especially under the extravagant circumstances, while Peter Prince’s screenplay is tight and exciting with bursts of dark humour, and it is nicely shot in Technicolor on exotic Spanish locales by Mike Molloy.

Also in the cast are Bill Hunter, Fernando Rey, Carlos Lucena, Freddie Stuart, Ralph Brown, A J Clarke, Lennie Peters, Bernie Searle, Albie Woodington, Willoughby Gray, Jim Broadbent, Manuel De Benito, Enrique San Francisco and Joaquin Alonso.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8545

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