The Dead Pool (1988)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Sajin P

  
  Unless you happen to be a fan of the franchise, there's little less reason to sit through this one. Even if you are one, you may end up feeling really let down by the grand finale of the series. After 17 years, Harry is finally getting his 15 minutes of fame, having gained a… More
  Unless you happen to be a fan of the franchise, there's little less reason to sit through this one. Even if you are one, you may end up feeling really let down by the grand finale of the series. After 17 years, Harry is finally getting his 15 minutes of fame, having gained a celebrity status for putting a publicly despised crime-lord behind the bars. With everyone around admiring him, Harry does'nt get too many opportunities to be his usual exploding anti-bureaucratic self. Movie is stuffed with cardboard characters and some stupid pop culture elements that just does'nt go along with the legacy of the series. Movie really hits rock bottom with a desperate attempt to frame a new Dirty Harry expression, which goes - "You're sh** out of luck". Obviously it's no match for a "Well..do you, Punk?" or "Go Ahead, Make My Day".

• Jeff "

  
  I've been a fan of the Dirty Harry Films since watching the first film. I think These films are some of the best action films in the genre. They're bold, thrilling and exciting. Not to mention that Clint Eastwood plays the lead. Totally bad ass franchise. But in regards to… More
  I've been a fan of the Dirty Harry Films since watching the first film. I think These films are some of the best action films in the genre. They're bold, thrilling and exciting. Not to mention that Clint Eastwood plays the lead. Totally bad ass franchise. But in regards to the sequels to the original film, all of them have been entertaining and delivered everything you'd expect from a Dirty Harry film. The Final entry in the series, The Dead Pool is not as solid as the other sequels, and for me at least is the weaker entry in the series. Despite this, I do think that The Dead Pool is a good enough final to the series. But it does lack the power and intensity of some of the previous entries. Detective Harry Callahan investigates a string of murders that seem to appear on a death list planned out by a criminal who wishes to murder celebrities, and Dirty Harry is one of the contestants in the morbid game. The film does have a few good things going for it, but the fact of the matter is, by the fifth entry, it's clear that the producers were scrapping the bottom of the barrel for ideas. The RC car chase was intense, though silly, but still good, and another thing that struck me was Jim Carrey's small but amusing role as a drug addled rockstar. The film does manage to have all the signatures of a Dirty Harry film, but unfortunately it feels repetitive. Good film, nothing great and with that said, Dirty Harry should've hung his 44 Magnum after the previous film.

• Shawn E

  
  The Dead Pool is the final Dirty Harry film and my least favourite of the series. The plot to this film was slow and although it was "unique" it still felt uninteresting. The classic Dirty Harry quotes are plentiful in this film, and are always enjoyable. This wasn't a… More
  The Dead Pool is the final Dirty Harry film and my least favourite of the series. The plot to this film was slow and although it was "unique" it still felt uninteresting. The classic Dirty Harry quotes are plentiful in this film, and are always enjoyable. This wasn't a terrible film, but not merely as good as the first couple Dirty Harry films.

• danny d

  
  despite having the best cast of the series, this film might be the series weakest point, not by much because it was still a solid dirty harry flick, but by just a little. the concept was brilliant, the best of the series, but the characters and execution of the concept left quite a… More
  despite having the best cast of the series, this film might be the series weakest point, not by much because it was still a solid dirty harry flick, but by just a little. the concept was brilliant, the best of the series, but the characters and execution of the concept left quite a bit to be desired. harry's partner was the best of the series but at the same time a bit too stereotypical. overall a solid end to the series, but by the time this film was over i knew the series had run its course.

• jay n

  
  Typical Dirty Harry film with the added attraction of Patricia Clarkson and Liam Neeson both at the beginning of their film careers. Jim Carrey is here too but is only in the movie for about all of six minutes. If you like the series this is one of the better ones.

• Conner R

  
  It's not the best in the series, but it's certainly not the worst. While it has some odd moments including a remote control car and other little things, it still carries the spirit of the character. Much like The Enforcer, if you like the series it is worth watching. It has… More
  It's not the best in the series, but it's certainly not the worst. While it has some odd moments including a remote control car and other little things, it still carries the spirit of the character. Much like The Enforcer, if you like the series it is worth watching. It has some great moments and for the most part it is a good movie.

• Wahida K

  
  Clint Eastwood. More and more with the time I find myself to become a huge Clitn Eastwood Fan.

• Anthony L

  
  Dirty Harry outstayed his welcome. This film is much better than the last in the series but that really isn't saying much. The best bit by far is the RC car chase but it couldn't save this silly film where the character of Dirty Harry has turned into a murderer who gets away… More
  Dirty Harry outstayed his welcome. This film is much better than the last in the series but that really isn't saying much. The best bit by far is the RC car chase but it couldn't save this silly film where the character of Dirty Harry has turned into a murderer who gets away with it and bares no resemblance to the Harry Callahan we all loved from the first movie. The horrible performance of Jim Carrey was enough for me to want to switch off, you would have thought he would have listened to a song a few times before miming it on film! Thank God it?s all over!

• Jason O

  
  If it's the worst in the series, oh well, it's still pretty damn awesome!

• Derek D

  
  Complete, unadulterated 80's shit. Eastwood didn't want to come back and we don't want to watch it, but we do anyway because it's Dirty Harry. Liam Neeson is in it, which makes watching Darkman all the more painful. This should never have been made,… More
  Complete, unadulterated 80's shit. Eastwood didn't want to come back and we don't want to watch it, but we do anyway because it's Dirty Harry. Liam Neeson is in it, which makes watching Darkman all the more painful. This should never have been made, but the fans wanted it. How do you feel now?

• Chris G

  
  You understand what The Dead Pool's problem is during the first 60 seconds: this film is going to be going through the motions. The opening credit sequence is the same footage used for the credit sequence of Sudden Impact five years before, only fuzzier and slower. That's… More
  You understand what The Dead Pool's problem is during the first 60 seconds: this film is going to be going through the motions. The opening credit sequence is the same footage used for the credit sequence of Sudden Impact five years before, only fuzzier and slower. That's what this film amounts to: a fuzzy and slow version of a Dirty Harry film. Clint Eastwood reprises his role as Dirty harry for the final (?) time. This time Harry is considered a celebrity and gets hooked up in a game called The Dead Pool that is being played by a B-horror movie crew. The game is to pick famous people who are going to die. There are two problems for Harry: people on the list are dying and he's on the list himself. Ah, what could have been? With a supporting cast like this (Liam Neeson, Jim Carrey) this could have been a great Dirty harry film, but it doesn't just stumble, it's knee caps are shot from its sockets. The script is very weak with dialogue that makes you want to become physically ill. Eastwood obviously owed a favor to his brother or whatever he played in High Plains Drifter but his stunt coordinator directed this very weak film (not surprising since his other duties included directing Any Which Way You Can and Pink Cadillac). All these problems are added to the fact that Eastwood was tired with the role by this point and it shows. The sharp Dirty Harry has dulled in his old age. Eastwood just seems there for the ride, throwing off the occasional one liners and shooting people just to be shooting people (the violence in this film just seems to be thrown in to give Harry something to do). This Dirty harry adventure falls flat on its face.

• Al S

  
  Another awsome sequel to the series. A stylish, gritty, exciting and exhilerating action-thriller. Just as good as the original, it packs wit and cleverness.

• David L

  
  Buddy Van Horn's "The Dead pool" was the fifth Harry Callahan movie and last part of the beloved action thriller series. I've always had huge troubles of actually deciding which one of the four sequels of the original "Dirty Harry" (1971) is the very best… More
  Buddy Van Horn's "The Dead pool" was the fifth Harry Callahan movie and last part of the beloved action thriller series. I've always had huge troubles of actually deciding which one of the four sequels of the original "Dirty Harry" (1971) is the very best and which one's the worst because I sort of like 'em all. Of course the easiest solution would be to simply claim that every new sequel was a bit worse than the previous since even Clint himself confessed that perhaps he made couple of Harry Callahan films too many. Well, he was only 41 years old in the first Harry flick and 58 in this so that should tell something. Only reason to shoot "The Dead pool" was the regrettable fact that "Bird" (1988), Eastwood's own direction and most personal work about the jazz legend Charlie Parker he adored, turned out to be a flop and Clint had to do a movie that would be a reliable, certain commercial success. When he took up his good old .44 Magnum for the fifth time everybody knew that this movie would be a definite hit. But I just can't help it, I know what I like and I like "The Dead pool". Jim Carrey is quite fabulous in his small yet important role of a drug addicted heavy rock star Johnny Squares. Music video scene (with outstanding Guns n' Roses song "Welcome to the jungle" on the background) is one of my absolute favorite moments of the film. It's interesting to observe how Jim has his gestures, expressions and mannerisms several years before his breakthrough and even in the more "serious" role. By the way, note to rock fans, have you noticed that all the members of Guns n' Roses' 1988 line-up are guests in the funeral of Johnny Squares? I know we've seen all the important there is to see about Harry Callahan in the first four movies. "The Dead pool" only rides in the charisma and popularity of Eastwood's famous macho character but it's still an excellent and enjoyable film so it just doesn't matter to me. It includes good traditional action, nice amusing characters and various legendary Harry Callahan one-liners like "Swell", "Marvelous" and "You're s*** out of luck" and it entertains anyone who loves Eastwood.

• Cassandra M

  
  Harry Callahan - or Dirty Harry as he is known from the previous four movies in this series - is investigating a strange betting game.Film director Peter Swan plays this game with his crew know as "The Dead Pool", wherein they each choose a set of 10 celebrities who they… More
  Harry Callahan - or Dirty Harry as he is known from the previous four movies in this series - is investigating a strange betting game.Film director Peter Swan plays this game with his crew know as "The Dead Pool", wherein they each choose a set of 10 celebrities who they think will die before the game ends. The winner is the one with most number of dead celebrities. The problems start when the people on Swan's list start to die in mysterious circumstances. Harry is assigned to the case and discovers he is one of the names on Swan's list!And someone is following him and someone starts making attempts on Harry's life... Clint Eastwood is Harry Callahan,still very cool!The car chase scene is marvelous.

• Dean !

  
  The last in the Dirty Harry series of films, number 5. It has a great unique plot line and has plenty of action all in true Dirty Harry style.

• Tom E

  
  Another great Eastwood movie

• xGary X

  
  Ridiculous final chapter of the Dirty Harry franchise, oozing 80s excess and cheese. Irrelevant and daft.

• Dean M

  
  Great as the originals and the most amazing San Francisco chase since "Bullitt".

• Danny R

  
  The final film in the legendary "Dirty Harry" franchise is a solid, gritty cop thriller with Clint Eastwood in top form as an older but still potent, world weary, no nonsense police inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan with his infamous .44 magnum pistol that makes… More
  The final film in the legendary "Dirty Harry" franchise is a solid, gritty cop thriller with Clint Eastwood in top form as an older but still potent, world weary, no nonsense police inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan with his infamous .44 magnum pistol that makes punks run for their lives, this time Harry is looking for a serial killer who is killing off high profile victims, he also discovers that there is a twisted game being played called "The Dead Pool" where players pick the celebrities who might die, some of the serial killer's victims are on the lists of some the players which includes a young Liam Neeson, who superbly plays a hack horror film director named Peter Swan who is a top suspect, and Patricia Clarkson is excellent as television news reporter Samantha Walker who becomes romantically involved with Harry, there is a memorable cameo by Jim Carrey in an early performance as a rock star, drug addict who is shooting a music video that is being directed by Swan, Carrey is singing and dancing to the Guns & Roses hit song "Welcome to the Jungle". There is also a very inventive and suspenseful car chase sequence that involves Harry and his partner nicely played by Evan C. Kim, being pursued through the streets of San Francisco by a bomb laden radio controlled toy car, fine direction by Buddy Van Horn, the film has all the mayhem, violence and wisecracks that made the franchise famous and a lot of fun, Harry's new catchphrase in this film is "You're shit out of luck" and for all scumbag criminals they sure are, goodbye "Harry" it's been a great ride! Highly Recommended.

• Christopher O

  
  The worst Callahan film with a convoluted plot bad acting and humdrum stunts and action. A early role for Jim Carrey and Liam Neeson even shows up. It is slightly watachable but a poor effort and a good thing they hung up the series.

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