Movie Review: Death Hunt

Death Hunt
Starring: Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin, Carl Weathers, Ed Lauter, Angie Dickinson
Director: Peter Hunt

Twentieth Century Fox, Golden Harvest, USA & Hong Kong, 1981

In Yukon 1931 hunter Albert Johnson (Charles Bronson) saves a dog from dog fight and pays 200$ to its owner Hazel. Hazel claims that the dog was stolen and takes his friends to attack Johnson's cabin. One of them shoots the dog and Johnson kills the shooter. The posse claims that Johnson is the mad trapper who murders other trappers and takes their gold teeth.

Millen and Sundog taking it easy

Sergeant Millen (Lee Marvin) and tracker "Sundog" Brown (Carl Weathers) lead thee mounted police to arrest Johnson. Before Johnson gets chance to surrender the trappers begin shooting and Johnson shoots several of them and escapes. A huge manhunt ensues. The angry mob wants Johnson dead and they even kill their own team members. Millen begins to respect and sympathize Johnson during the chase.

Sundog making explosive entrance

Johnson trying to escape

This is a good movie but not one of Marvin's and Bronson's best, but they do a good job as rough guys. Also Carl Weathers (known also from Rocky and Star Wars movies) does a good job. The movie is partly based on real events but in reality Johnson killed Millen early in the chase and also Johnson was shot. The mountain sceneries are gorgeous. The movie is kind of prototype for Rambo: First Blood. Johnson uses his wilderness survival skills and even jumps into tree in the same way as Rambo.

Tracking Johnson

Bronson did it year before Stallone!

The goggles used by Lee Marvin (spectacles to avoid snow blindness) look familiar: German industrial metal band Rammstein used goggles with similar slit design in their video Du Riechst So Gut (1995 version).

Rammstein and Lee Marvin sharing the same eyewear trend

Rating: Good