The Enforcer
Directed by James Fargo
- crime
- action
- thriller
- drama
The story
Dirty Harry Callahan returns again, this time saddled with a rookie female partner. Together, they must stop a terrorist group consisting of angry Vietnam veterans.
What it’s like
Gritty 1970s San Francisco in washed-out daylight and sodium-lamp dusk, all sun-bleached concrete, rain-slick asphalt, and drab municipal interiors shot with a hard, unfussy camera. The look leans on wide establishing shots of the city's hills and waterfront, tight handheld moments during chases, and the flat fluorescent glare of police offices and hospital corridors. Its sound is brassy and percussive, a funk-tinged score pushing through car chases and gunfire, with sudden blasts of noise that puncture quieter stretches. The vibe is brash, sardonic and grimy, a Friday-night action rewatch rather than anything contemplative. Pacing is brisk, with scenes of bickering banter between a hardened detective and an uneasy new partner giving way to bursts of violence. Violence is frequent and firearm-driven, with shootouts, explosions and a few bloody injuries, though it stays stylised rather than gory. Tension and some crude language and sexist, dated attitudes run through the dialogue. It suits viewers who want a loud, cynical crime thriller with a genre-classic partnership at its center.
More films like The Enforcer
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved The Enforcer and we’ll explain which ones fit you.
