Featured Audience Ratings

• Reid V

  
  Being an immense fan of the Clouzot's Wages of Fear, coupled with knowing Friedkin's hubris, made me not to thrilled to give this movie a whirl. However, my love for Scheider got the best of me and I finally spent some time with the film. And man am I glad I did. Does… More
  Being an immense fan of the Clouzot's Wages of Fear, coupled with knowing Friedkin's hubris, made me not to thrilled to give this movie a whirl. However, my love for Scheider got the best of me and I finally spent some time with the film. And man am I glad I did. Does Friedkin ratchet up the suspense that makes the original feel stodgy? Never. But he does come pretty damn close and some scenes are pretty impressive to watch. While he misses capturing the desperation that is the focus of the original, Friedkin still focuses on greed as the prime motivation for these men. Unfortunately, he gives few captivating moments of how American economic exploits are tearing apart this Nicaraguan town and misses what I think were many good opportunities to really drive his point home. Yet, he seems less determined to make a statement and more intent on just taking the audience on one hell of a thrill ride. Sadly, this also means that we are kept at a distance from getting emotionally involved with these characters, even though Friedkin takes the time to give us a detailed backstory for most of them. On the whole, the film takes a different route than the original. It forgoes a message about economic greed and corporate domination, and really tries to give us a solid thriller. While his vision doesn't make for a breathtaking film, it is still a strong effort from Friedkin.

• Pierluigi P

  
  As the characters in the picture, maybe William Friedkin was doomed from the instant he decided to tempt providence going back to H.G Clouzot's masterpiece. His most ambicious project was, from early stages, development hell, plus a terrible distribution date that condemned it to… More
  As the characters in the picture, maybe William Friedkin was doomed from the instant he decided to tempt providence going back to H.G Clouzot's masterpiece. His most ambicious project was, from early stages, development hell, plus a terrible distribution date that condemned it to be a flop, but worst things happened when the studio re cut it, and took away a lot of important footage, that's why from the moment this group of expendables aboard their vehicles and start their ordeal the rhythm of storytelling feels broken, with not enough interaction between them as in the original film. Nevertheless, it does justice to the original. some sequences are impressive, the suspense reached is almost unbearable, and Friedkin's trademark gritty documentary style suits the story perfectly. Tangerine Dream's soundtrack is classic, and Roy Scheider performance as a psychotic, world-weary fugitive is simply badass. One of those remakes done with passion and enough originality to be taken into account, rescued from obscurity.

• Ken S

  
  Wicked underrated

• Steve B

  
  This movie is universally panned, but I kind of liked it.

• Lanning :

  
  One of the best "tough guys," no one sweats better on the way to winning or losing than Roy Scheider. This great movie, an American reworking of the Yves Montand thriller LE SALAIRE DE LA PEUR, highlights Scheider's knack for playing characters who live life moving… More
  One of the best "tough guys," no one sweats better on the way to winning or losing than Roy Scheider. This great movie, an American reworking of the Yves Montand thriller LE SALAIRE DE LA PEUR, highlights Scheider's knack for playing characters who live life moving from one do-or-die scenario to the next. A feel very similar to THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE. Thinking about this movie, and ones like JAWS, MARATHON MAN, and THE FRENCH CONNECTION, I just have to say that Scheider should have had a bigger career. Well, flixster friends, he ain't dead yet. Who knows what he might accomplish before he's done. Scheider is always worth watching, no matter what the overall quality of the film may be. And fans know, he's definitely made his share of B's and lower.

• Alec B

  
  A solid remake of Clouzot's "The Wages of Fear". Friedkin's choice to center this film on environment as opposed to character does weaken the impact of the story. Part of what makes the original so great is that you care about what happens to the four men, here… More
  A solid remake of Clouzot's "The Wages of Fear". Friedkin's choice to center this film on environment as opposed to character does weaken the impact of the story. Part of what makes the original so great is that you care about what happens to the four men, here they are far too broad with little development so its hard to be invested in them. Still the film is full of harrowing sequences and changing the setting to the rainforest was a great idea.

• Christopher B

  
  Awesome, gritty, tough as nails remake that is better than the original. Everyone is great in this and the storytelling and suspense are perfect. It had to open on the same day as Star Wars though, and thus faded into obscurity.

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