Hero and the Terror (1988)
Hero and the Terror is a 1988 American action film starring martial arts star Chuck Norris, directed by William Tannen. Produced by Menahem Golan, written by Michael Blodgett, and was distributed by Cannon Films. The film stars Norris as Danny O’Brien as a cop trying to stop a serial killer, Simon Moon known as “The Terror”. It is based on Michael Blodgett’s 1982 novel of the same name.
Plot.
Danny O’Brien is a cop who likes to work alone and never waits for his back up. In Los Angeles, O’Brien is trying to apprehend the notorious Simon Moon, also known as The Terror. Simon has been killing women by snapping their necks and taking them to his lair in an abandoned amusement park. O’Brien is attacked by Simon who almost kills him in the struggle. When the killer flees the scene and climbs up a ladder he slips and falls, knocking himself unconscious. When the backup arrives, they think O’Brien caught The Terror and the people of L.A. call him “Hero”. Simon is then arrested and taken to jail. When Dr. Highwater goes to visit Simon, he escapes by cutting through the bars of his cell.
He then steals a laundry van by push starting it but loses control and falls straight down into a cliff face. When the media hears about this, they pronounce Simon dead and the people of L.A. are relieved.
Three years later the murders start back up again, O’Brien thinks it’s The Terror. He eventually finds his lair in a movie theater and heads in to confront Simon himself. He encounters an enclosed room not on the map and heads in. In there he finds the bodies of The Terror’s victims and starts searching around for him. Simon jumps out and attacks him and Danny tries to fight him off. O’Brien eventually kills The Terror and the film ends, as he marries his girlfriend who gave birth to their daughter.
RELATED:
Code of Silence (1985) Biography, Plot, Development, Filming, Box office.
Production.
Hero and the Terror was Chuck Norris’s first major attempt at diversifying from his traditional martial arts roles. “The success of the film is contingent on how reviewers, the media and the audience take to it. That determines everything in this business”, Norris said. “I like the character of Danny O’Brien and I like the relationships I had in the film, especially with Kay (played by Brynn Thayer). I liked seeing not just the man in the arena or the fighting machine you see in many of my films, but to see the man outside the arena — the guy who also has relationships”. “I don’t want people to think I’m just going to kick butt. There’s a lot more here,” said Norris. “What makes this a different film is the vulnerability of the character I play. There are moments of humor, romance and compassion, and there are moments of terror, anguish and anxiety.” A scene was filmed as a joke where Norris hyperventilates in the hospital and faints seeing a baby being born. The director, William Tannen, convinced Norris to test the film with the segment intact. “We did leave it in. And you know, women absolutely love that scene,” he said.