
When a series of brutal killings of young male hustlers awakens the police to the threat of a serial killer, rookie detective Raymond Fates (Noel Palomaria) and his seasoned partner detective Tom Ellis (Charles Lanyer) battle an intolerant police department that is indifferent to these "misdemeanor killings.... (Full plot summary below)
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When a series of brutal killings of young male hustlers awakens the police to the threat of a serial killer, rookie detective Raymond Fates (Noel Palomaria) and his seasoned partner detective Tom Ellis (Charles Lanyer) battle an intolerant police department that is indifferent to these "misdemeanor killings.
Leave your thoughts about Hard.
| Internet ReviewsSteve RhodesWhen a film sinks to the level of making jokes about pedophilic rape, you know it's in big trouble ... it's only saving grace is that it's sometimes laughably bad. |
| User ReviewDaniel PA cop with a secret. A killer who knows it. The game is on. A queasy, sick, bordering on exploitative film obviously made on the cheap, Hard benefits from two excellent lead performances, an intriguing and original concept, some stunningly framed sequences and an imaginative story. Ray, a closeted cop (played with verve by Noel Palomaria), struggles to solve the case of a serial killer who brutally murders male hustlers. With only his detective partner any help, he battles against prejudice and intolerance in his department who dismiss the killings as 'misdemeanour' offences. Matters become more complicated when he begins a dangerous affair with Jack (a hugely charismatic and creepy Malcolm Moorman), who he soon discovers is the man responsible for the murders. Hard is far more interesting than your average police procedural. A great deal of care seems to have been taken to make the film scientifically and psychologically sound, and the heavy blood effects, semi-explicit sex scenes and sexual dialogue definitely make this stand out. In addition, there's a pretty damn good music score and solid camera work. Worth a look if you can find it. (Review based on the unrated version of the film that was screened at festivals and which was eventually released as a Special Edition DVD.) |
| User ReviewPrivate UThis movie has a heart beyond its budget. It suffers from some bad acting and some bad pacing and the other perils of low-budget filmmaking, but it wants to tell a story and send a message and it seeps love of filmmaking from every frame. It sucks me in and I can't help but watch it again and again and pester my friends to see it too. |
| User ReviewRicardo Ha very intriguing movie. Realistic social aspects meet completly "baroque" and gore sequences. The actor who plays the serial killer is absolutly stunning. |
| User ReviewSteve ESPOILERS AHEAD! This is a captivating Thriller, even though it's obviously not a big budget film, you can tell by the music score, which lacks the touch of a good film composer, and not enough filling, and sounds somewhat consumer quality level, not high-end. But still the score is acceptable. Also we don't see many of the pickups, and the killings happening. It would have been even more engaging had we seen more thoroughly the gay Hollywood scene, outdoors/indoors, night/day, a packed club late at night. But I guess the budget couldn't allow it. And all of the victims except for one sounded like real pussies, specially the first victim, never even put up a fight. Is that how gay or gay-curious men all sound when they're scared ? I know some gays sound just like that, but not all gays are pussycats, as detective Raymond here proves. Although Palomaria is not your typical pretty boy, he gives a fine performance, so does Moorman. And the rest of the cast does a decent job too. Many details in the movie are based on real facts, and having read a number of True-Crime paperbacks, and studied serial killers, I can tell you that this movie is very realistic, and is based on real cases, even though there is no message at the beginning of the movie that says so. This film reminded me of two infamous high profile cases in Los Angeles in the 70's. The film shares some similarities with these cases. The only parts in the movie that lacked realism and was hard to swallow, was when Jack frees one victim, and also when he gives out a clue to his whereabouts that could ultimately get him caught. At the very end of the movie, we see Jack again picking up an unsuspecting hitchhiker, this adds realism and shows how elusive these killers are, and really adds a nice spooky touch to end this film. And I must applaud the director and both Moorman and Palomaria for their boldness in getting naked and doing the lovemaking scene, and touching on the delicate subject of gay bashing and ostracising in police departments. It's too bad this film didn't get a bigger budget and wasn't developed more, it had the backbone to become a masterpiece, but instead it may unfortunately become forgotten. It should be listed as a cult type movie, if it isn't already. It lies in obscurity just waiting for you to discover it. Don't expect a big Hollywood movie with all the bells and whistles. It's a low-budget film, but an intelligent one, and quite good if you're into these kinds of movies. |
| User ReviewSeth CIt's a thriller, you get what you look for. It has naked guys, explicit sex, and death. The plot and character development at least, isn't the worst. A hell of a lot better than that piece of trash Hellbent |
| User ReviewPaul FThe psychological aspects of the film are embarrassingly ludicrous and the cinematography is too good for that kind of movie; it's like a turd wrapped in golden tinfoil. |