Michael Harpster Movies

Martial arts hero Thomas Ian Griffith wrote, produced, and starred in this action thriller. Terry McCain (Griffith) is a Chicago police officer who is bent on revenge after his partners are killed by Mafia gunmen. McCain knows that he won't be able to get the justice he demands within the system, so he persuades his boss, Devlin (Lance Henriksen), to keep him off the list of suspects after he kills mob kingpin Sal DiMarco (Burt Young). McCain changes his mind about killing the crime boss, but someone else with a grudge guns down DiMarco instead; however, when he tries to meet with Devlin to explain what's happened, he's met by a squad of killers. McCain learns that his partner Frankie (Tony Todd) is actually still alive and was in cahoots with Devlin to steal $3 million in drug money away from DiMarco, a deal scotched by McCain's desire for revenge. The supporting cast includes James Earl Jones and Charlotte Lewis. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Surfin' round the world is the focus of this documentary by Bruce Brown, the director famed for publicizing the sport in the 1960s. The documentary focuses upon two world-class California surfers: Patrick O'Connell, short board expert, and Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, long board surfer. The film follows them as they travel to Costa Rica, Hawaii, France, South Africa, Australia, Fiji, Bali, Java and Alaska in search of the perfect wave. Also included are twenty minutes of acrobatic surfing using singles, pairs, trios, and dogs. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Robert Forster delivers a well-turned performance as a professional stuntman in this Hawksian murder mystery. Forster is Glen Wilson, an ace stuntman who travels from movie set to movie set, performing dangerous professional work. Fiona Lewis is B.J. Parswell, a journalist whose presence creates dissension within the ranks of this all-male group. She turns into an admirer of Glen's skill and then, later, his lover. Pressure increases when Glen's brother, also a stuntman, is killed on an oceanfront movie set in San Luis Obispo. The producer, Blake (James Luisi) thinks it is an accident, but Glen suspects foul play. Glen wants to take the place of his brother, telling the producer that he wants to finish his deceased brother's stuntwork. Actually, he wants to more fully investigate his brother's death by snooping around the movie set. The producer is reluctant, but Glen's old stuntmen pals -- Paul (Ray Sharkey), Chuck (Bruce Glover), and Patti (Joanna Cassidy) -- insist on Glen being hired. Glen proves his mettle, performing a series of dangerous stunts. Along the way he discovers that his brother had been sleeping with Judy (Candice Rialson), Blake's nymphomaniac wife. Glen then suspects Blake might be responsible for his brother's death. After more unexplained "accidents" on the set, Glen is sure that the killer is after him and determines to find him and stop him before he kills again. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi