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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»1980s Movies»Movies 1981
    Movies 1981 Movies N 2 Mins Read

    Nighthawks (1981)

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    Deke DaSilva (Sylvester Stallone) and Matthew Fox (Billy Dee Williams) are two undercover NYPD street cops who get enlisted into an elite anti-terrorism squad by Interpol agent Peter Hartman (Nigel Davenport) when murderous German terrorist Heymar Reinhardt – known as “Wulfgar ” (Rutger Hauer in his first American feature film) – shows up to hold New York hostage.

    Wulfgar is a psychopath who has blown up London’s prestigious department store, Harrods, and fallen out of favour with his terrorist bosses because many children were killed in the blast. After undergoing plastic surgery, he has shifted his operation to NYC.

    Meanwhile, DaSilva is having trouble at home and at work. His ex-wife, Irene (Lindsay Wagner) refuses to try reconciliation and he is at loggerheads with agent Hartman on how to best hunt down Wulfgar and his equally ruthless compatriot Shakka (Persis Khambatta).

    While the New York cops receive a quickie crash course in anti-terrorist techniques, Wulfgar is busy picking up young women at discos. What better way for a terrorist to relax after a hard day’s pyrotechnics?

    He moves in with air hostess Pam (Hilarie Thompson) but when she gets wise to his line of business she is swiftly dispatched. But Wulfgar carelessly leaves behind an important clue.

    From that moment on, the pace is exhilarating with various twists and turns calculated to wring out every drop of tension.

    Some of the dialogue is superficial, certain plot elements make little sense and Bruce Malmuth’s direction is a bit stiff but – though vastly flawed – Nighthawks is terrifically suspenseful.

    Deke DaSilva
    Sylvester Stallone
    Matthew Fox
    Billy Dee Williams
    Irene
    Lindsay Wagner
    Shakka
    Persis Khambatta
    Peter Hartman
    Nigel Davenport
    Wulfgar (Heymar Reinhardt)
    Rutger Hauer
    Pam
    Hilarie Thompson
    Lt. Munafo
    Joe Spinell
    Commissioner
    Walter Mathews
    Sergeant
    E. Brian Dean
    Dr Ghiselin
    Charles Duval
    Big Mike
    Tony Munafo
    Mrs Ntembwe
    Yvette Hawkins
    Mr Sostrom
    Einar Perry Scott
    Mrs Sostrom
    Erle Bjornstad
    Mr Ntembwe
    Obaka Adedunyo
    Suzanne Marigny
    Corine Lorain
    Rene Marigny
    Jean-Pierre Stewart

    Director
    Bruce Malmuth

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