DEADLY IMPACT

US, 2010, 96 minutes, Colour.
Sean Patrick Flannery, Joe Pantoliano, Carmen Serano, David House, Greg Serano, Julianne Florez.
Directed by Robert Kurtzman.

Deadly Impact is something of a routine FBI thriller, the pursuit of a shrewd and deadly assassin who calls himself simply a thief. it is a star vehicle for Sean Patrick Flannery as an officer who has had to make a decision about killing his wife so that other people could be saved, the consequences and his drowning his sorrows in Mexico.

He is approached by an FBI agent, played by Carmen Serano, who is able to persuade him to come back to Albuquerque where the initial action took place. The criminal is arrogant, clever with disguises, absolutely ruthless in killing people including a hotel explosion killing all the guests. He is played by Joe Pantoliano.

The film shows the working of the FBI, surveillance, clues, analysis of photos, interrogation of associates, lie detectors… There are some twists as the criminal is an assassin and his attempt on a senator was thwarted earlier and he is now wreaking revenge on everyone who stopped him.This includes abducting the daughter of the hero’s associate (Greg Serano, husband of Carmen Serano in real life), leading to a confrontation, the seeming repetition of the opening sequence – but a twist with the defeat of the villain.

1. Police thriller? Personal drama?

2. New Mexico, the city of Albuquerque, Apartments, police precincts, hotels, the streets? Authentic atmosphere? The scenes in Mexico, the dingy bar? The musical score?

3. The title, accurate? The number of deaths? The importance of situations where individuals have to make life and death decisions, accepting that some people must die? The repercussions on the individual?

4. The set up, the Lion, his reputation, Tom Armstrong and his years of pursuing him? Getting close? The Lion and his taking Tom’s wife, tying her up, Tom having to shoot her to stop the explosion, to save everyone else? This happening offscreen? The transition to 8 years later and the effect on Tom, leaving New Mexico, drinking in the bar?

5. The FBI officer, tracking Tom down, talking, asking him to come back, the effect on Tom, his return? Going to the bar? The surveillance?

6. The revelation of the character of the Lion, David Kaplow, age, appearance, calling himself a thief, his being an assassin? Plans, the assassination of the senator, the failure, his wanting revenge on the FBI, on Tom, on the senator?

7. Tom, the explosion, pursuing the criminals, held by the police? The FBI, working with Tom? Working with?

8. The details of the FBI work, detection, surveillance, information, photos, Tom finding the identity of Kaplow?

9. His disguises, pretending to be the worker, the tiles and their being impregnated with explosives? His phone calls, his arrogance? His discussions with Amy, her giving all the information? His taking her father, the threats to her father? The explosion and the deaths in the hotel? His blaming the FBI?

10. The build up to the climax? His store room, Isabel going to look at the room, Kaplow and his disguise and his taking her? Hostage? Tying her up as he had Tom’s wife?

11. The FBI trying to get out of the building, the snipers, the interrogation of one of the snipers? The smokescreen, the FBI chief being wounded?

12. Tom, having the address, driving to the site, the confrontation with Kaplow, the fight? Kaplow winning, wanting the vest? The time limit, Tom getting free from the cuffs, his phone call to Kaplow? The irony of the vest in the explosion?

13. The assassination of the senator, Tom’s friend, the betrayal for his daughter? His death?

14. Popular ingredients for police and FBI thriller?