Category: Crime

“My Gun is Quick” (1957) starring Robert Bray / Z-View

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My Gun is Quick (1957)

Director:  George White, Victor Saville (as Phil Victor)

Screenplay: Richard Collins, Richard Powell, screen story by Richard Powell, based on My GUN IS QUICK by Mickey Spillane

Stars: Robert Bray, Whitney Blake, Donald Randolph, Richard Garland, Fred Essler, Booth Colman, Pamela Duncan, Patricia Donahue, Peter Mamakos, Claire Carleton, Phil Arnold, George Cisar  and Jan Chaney.

Tagline: The High Society Dame Who Played It Lowdown And Dirty! – The Secretary Who “Worked” After Hours! – The Stripper Who Knew How To Tease! – The Blonde Who Left Her Bedroom Door Open!

The Plot…

Late one evening in a diner, Mike Hammer (Bray) strikes up a conversation with a young prostitute called Red.  When Red’s pimp comes in and begins to berate her, Hammer roughs the punk up and sends him on his way.  Feeling sorry for Red, Hammer gives her money for a bus ticket home.

The next day Hammer learns Red was killed in a hit and run.  A ring she was wearing was stolen.  Hammer begins to dig into the case and learns the ring was part of a cache of Nazi jewels stolen after the war.  Hammer makes it his business to discover Red’s killer and finds himself up against an American Colonel and other thugs looking for the jewels.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

My Gun is Quick is a low budget adaptation of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer.  Several actors have played Hammer in films/television including Mickey Spillane himself.  My favorite is Armand Assante in I, the Jury.

My Gun is Quick (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars

Marco Finnegan’s CALAVERA P.I. is Coming!

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Marco Finnegan’s Calavera, PI is dropping on September 9th.  Let me drop a dime…

In 1925, Juan Calavera died a hero. After a career spent outside the law defending the Chicano barrios where the police refused to operate, he earned a reputation for fearlessness . . . and a gunshot in the stomach. Now, five years later, on Día de los Muertos, his restless spirit has been summoned from the grave to help a desperate former colleague unravel a kidnapping all too close to home. With only days to solve the case before he is called back to the underworld, can Calavera reveal the identity of the masked human trafficker known as La Fantasma before tragedy strikes again . . . and solve the mystery of his own murder in the process?

From the desk of rising star Marco Finnegan (Morning Star, Night People), walk the shadow-shrouded alleys of Hollywoodland to solve the mystery of Calavera—a newly resurrected private investigator whose first case is about to straddle the blood-soaked boundaries between the living and the dead!

Preorders are available now.

“Unit 234” starring Don Johnson, Isabelle Fuhrman and Jack Huston – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Here’s a new trailer for Unit 234 starring Don Johnson, Isabelle Fuhrman and Jack Huston.  It looks like fun.

Deal me in.

US Release Date: May 9, 2025
Starring: Don Johnson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jack Huston
Director: Andy Tennant
Synopsis: After the discovery of an unconscious man in a locked unit, the lone employee of a remote storage facility must fight to survive the night.

“Chicago Confidential” (1957) starring Brian Keith / Z-View

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Chicago Confidential (1957)

Director:  Sidney Salkow

Screenplay:  Bernard Gordon, based on CHICAGO: CONFIDENTIAL! by Raymond T. Marcus

Stars: Brian Keith, Beverly Garland, Dick Foran, Douglas Kennedy, Paul Langton, Gavin Gordon, Buddy Lewis, Anthony George and Elisha Cook Jr..

Tagline: Rough, Real…and RAW!

The Plot…

When Artie Blaine, a union official, can’t be bribed, mobsters set him up as a patsy for murder.  District Attorney Jim Fremont knows a conviction will help him in his quest to become Governor.  The evidence is there and Fremont gets the murder conviction.

After the trial Fremont begins to have doubts.  His search for evidence to clear Blaine makes him a target for the mob.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

A low budget crime tale with Brian Keith (an underrated actor) and Elisha Cook, Jr.!

Chicago Confidential (1957) rates 3 of 5 stars

“5 Minutes to Live” aka “Door-to-Door Maniac” (1961) starring Johnny Cash & Vic Tayback / Z-View

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5 Minutes to Live aka Door-to-Door Maniac (1961)

Director:  Bill Karn

Screenplay:  Cay Forrester

Stars: Johnny Cash, Donald Woods, Cay Forester, Midge Ware, Merle Travis, Vic Tayback, Norma Varden, Hanna Landy, Howard Wright and Ron Howard.

Tagline: Introducing JOHNNY CASH, America’s top-recording star, as a lusty, romantic, guitar singing powerhouse

The Plot…

Fred Dorella and cold-blooded killer Johnny Cabot have a fool-proof way to rob a bank.  Johnny will take the bank Vice-president’s wife, Nancy hostage.  If the bank’s VP gives Fred $70k, Fred will call Johnny who will release Nancy.  If the bank’s VP doesn’t turn over the cash, Fred will call Johnny who will kill Nancy.

What Fred and Johnny didn’t count on, is the bank’s VP having an affair.  If the crooks kill his wife, he’ll be free!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

5 Minutes to Live was rereleased in 1966 as Door-to-Door Maniac.

Cay Forester, the female lead, wrote the screenplay.

Johnny Cash (in his film debut) teamed with Vic Tayback (of the television comedy Alice fame) as the bank robbers.  Ronnie Howard who played Opie on The Andy Griffith Show plays the son of bank vice president.

If you enjoy low budget crime thrillers, then give 5 Minutes to Live a shot.

5 Minutes to Live aka Door-to-Door Maniac (1961) rates 3 of 5 stars

“Havok” directed by Gareth Evans, starring Tom Hardy, Jesse Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant & Forest Whitaker – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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We have the poster and trailer for Havok directed by Gareth Evans, starring Tom Hardy, Jesse Mei Li, Timothy Olyphant, Forest Whitaker.  Man, oh man, does this thing kick ass?

Deal me in.

No law, only disorder.

When a drug heist swerves lethally out of control, a jaded cop fights his way through a corrupt city’s criminal underworld to save a politician’s son.

Watch HAVOC, coming to Netflix on April 25.

Who’s Going With Me to MURDEROPOLIS?

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Anthony Neil Smith has a new novel that just dropped.  It’s called MURDEROPOLIS  and it sounds like a banger! (That shouldn’t be a surprise if you’ve read Smith’s stuff — he always entertains.)  Here’s the lowdown…

Drug dealer Morris and his gangbangers terrorize the halls of the drug-scarred Northside High School. That is until Roble Engstrom, a struggling Somali-American teacher and family man, joins forces with an old-school coach, dubbed as “Captain Karate”. The pair embark on a relentless mission to rid the school and students of the increasing drug problem. The unlikely duo step up their vigilante mission when Morris’ heroin kills one of their students.

Roble and the coach soon learn that Morris is just a pawn in a much more dangerous game. Up and coming gang leader of the Shifta Murder Squad, Sharmarke learns of the teachers meddling in his business, he will stop at nothing to climb his way to the top. Aided by a corrupt gang squad cop, Mika Feist, Sharmarke embarks on a violent campaign to eliminate everyone who stands in his way.

But how corrupt can one cop be? Can two teachers really take on a gang of murderous and ruthless teens playing gangster? And at what point do those who pledge their allegiance to Sharmarke turn against one of their own?

Welcome to Murderapolis!

“Reacher”: Season 3 (2025) starring Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten and Sonya Cassidy / Z-View

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Reacher: Season 3 (2025)

Directors: Sam Hill (Eps.1 – 2); Omar Madha (Eps. 3 – 4); Carol Banker (Eps. 5 – 6); Julian Holmes (Eps.7 – 8)

Teleplay: Nick Santora (Showrunner, Executive Producer, Writer – Ep. 1); Scott Sullivan (Ep. 2, 5, 8); Penny Cox (Ep. 3); Cait Duffy (Ep. 4); Cait Duffy & Michael J. Gutierrez (Ep. 6); Penny Cox & Lillian Wang (Ep. 7)

Starring: Alan Ritchson, Maria Sten, Sonya Cassidy, Johnny Berchtold, Brian Tee, Anthony Michael Hall, Daniel David Stewart, Ronnie Rowe, Caitlin McNerney, Simon Northwood, Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz, Milton Barnes, Mick Betancourt, Jim Annan, Andreas Apergis, Sebastian MacLean, Aleks Paunovic, Drew Nelson, Greg Bryk, Anousha Alamian, Stephen Bogaert and Olivier Richters.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Jack Reacher, an ex-Military Police Investigator, stops the kidnapping of Zachary Beck’s teenage son, Richard.  Beck’s business is a front for illegal gun sales.  Reacher brings Richard back to his father’s ocean-side mansion. After some questions and a quick background check, Beck offers Reacher a job.  This upsets Paulie, Beck’s giant security lead.  Reacher and Paulie take an instant dislike to each other.

Reacher doesn’t care about Beck’s illegal activities as much as getting to Beck’s boss, Quinn.  Years ago, Reacher killed Quinn (or so he thought) after Quinn killed one of Reacher’s friends.  Now Reacher plans to make sure Quinn is dead after he puts a bullet in his head.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was glad to see Frances Neagley played by Maria Sten brought back for season three.  I’m glad she’s getting her own show.

The anticipated fight between Reacher and the giant Paulie is well worth the wait.

Reacher: Season 3 is the best one yet.  Bring on Season 4.

“The Devil and the Daylong Brothers” (2025) starring Brendan Bradley, Nican Robinson & Jordon Bolden / Z-View

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The Devil and the Daylong Brothers (2025)

Director: Brandon McCormick

Screenplay:  Nicholas Kirk, Brandon McCormick

Stars: Brendan Bradley, Nican Robinson, Jordon Bolden, Mark Ashworth, Brad Carter, Adam Boyer, Eugene H. Russell IV, Kate Kovach, Matt Mangum and Keith Carradine.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Ish (Bradley), Enoch (Robinson) and Abe (Bolden) are the Daylong brothers.  They had the same father but different mothers.  Before they were born, their daddy sold their souls to the devil.  Now grown, the Daylong brothers are on a mission to win their souls back.  The boys have a list of people they have to kill then the devil will return their souls.

We all know how deals with the devil turn out… right?   Right?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I knew that The Devil and the Daylong Brothers would be a stylish crime drama with memorable characters and outrageous action.  I didn’t know that it was a musical.  Think O Brother, Where Art Thou? meets Quentin Tarantino.  It took me a second to get in the grove, but once I did I enjoyed the ride.

The Devil and the Daylong Brothers (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars

“The Accountant 2” starring Ben Affleck & Jon Bernthal – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for The Accountant 2 have done their jobs.  I liked the original film and this one looks to be even better.

Deal me in.

Two brothers. One mission. Watch the new trailer for The Accountant 2. See the movie first in exclusive Tax Day screenings, April 15, and everywhere in theaters April 25. Get tickets now: accountant2movie.com

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. In partnership with U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

“Neighborhood Watch” starring Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Malin Akerman – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the looks of the poster and trailer for Neighborhood Watch starring Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Malin Akerman.

Deal me in.

When Simon (Jack Quaid) thinks he witnesses an abduction and the police refuse to believe him, he reluctantly turns to his next-door neighbor Ed (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) – a bitter, retired security guard – to help him find the missing woman.

Director: Duncan Skiles
Starring: Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman