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
Related Posts
Fox and the Hound, The (1981) The Fox and the Hound, Disney's 24th animated feature, chronicled the sad tale of a friendship that simply wasn't meant…
My Dinner with André (1981) My Dinner with Andre consists entirely of a conversation in a New York restaurant between theatre director Andre Gregory and…
No, My Darling Daughter (1961) Tansy Carr (18-year-old Juliet Mills) is the vivacious schoolgirl daughter of wealthy international industrialist Sir Matthew Carr (Michael Redgrave). Tansy…
No Time for Tears (1957) Made in colour in the wake of the success of ITV's Emergency - Ward 10, No Time For Tears is…
American Pop (1981) American Pop is the animated story of a Russian Jewish immigrant family of musicians whose careers parallel the history of…
Nice Dreams (1981) Stoner comedy duo Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong own and operate an ice cream truck which they use as a…
Nightbirds (1970) Obviously made on the shortest of shoestrings, Nightbirds follows the relationship between Dee (Julie Shaw) and Dink (Berwick Kaler), two hippies…
Strange Behaviour (1981) Released in some markets as Dead Kids, this offbeat slasher/mystery flick is set in the fictional small Midwestern American town of…
