The Dead Pool (1988)
-
52% of critics liked it
(27 reviews) -
48% of users liked it
(18,958 ratings)
The Dead Pool is the fifth and (thus far) the last of Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry movies. A sports pool is placing bets on which famous person will die next. Suddenly a serial killer who preys upon celebrities enters the scene, radically (and perhaps deliberately) changing the odds in the pool.… More The Dead Pool is the fifth and (thus far) the last of Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry movies. A sports pool is placing bets on which famous person will die next. Suddenly a serial killer who preys upon celebrities enters the scene, radically (and perhaps deliberately) changing the odds in the pool. As a celebrity of sorts, maverick cop Dirty Harry Callahan becomes a target of the killer, as does high-profile TV journalist Patricia Clarkson. Surprises are at a minimum in The Dead Pool; the film gets down to business quickly, moves logically if violently towards its climax (with a spectacular car-chase sequence thrown in for good measure), and delivers exactly what its fans expect. One major difference between this film and the earlier Dirty Harry epics is that the murders are committed in so outrageous a fashion that the picture seems at times to be a Freddie Krueger vehicle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Buddy Van Horn
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense
- In Theaters
- Jul 13, 1988 Wide
- On DVD
- Nov 20, 2001
- Studio
- Warner Home Video
Critic Reviews
-
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
Feels like one of the lesser exciting Harry Callahan that doesn't exactly send the character with much of an explosive sign off.
-
Beth Accomando, KPBS.org
Tired formula with Eastwood making an unispired return as Dirty Harry Callahan. patrica Clarkson is a welcome presence.
-
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The fifth, last, and possibly most perfunctory and boring Dirty Harry movie, except for a hilarious chase scene involving an explosive toy car.
-
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
The fifth and least of the Dirty Harry movies is still watchable, but lacks the edge of Harry's earlier adventures.
-
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Not Dirty Harry's best, but entertaining enough
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Clint Eastwood
as Harry Callahan
-
Patricia Clarkson
as Samantha Walker
-
Evan C. Kim
as Al Quan
-
Liam Neeson
as Peter Swan
-
David Hunt
as Harlan Rook
-
Michael Currie
as Capt. Donnelly
-
Michael Goodwin
as Lt. Ackerman
-
Darwin Gillett
as Patrick Snow
-
Anthony Charnota
as Lou Janero
-
Marc Alaimo
as Embarcadero Bodyguard #2
-
Jim Carrey
as Johnny Squares
-
Ronnie Claire Edwards
as Molly Fisher
-
Shawn Elliott
as Chester Docksteder
-
James W. Gavin
as Helicopter Pilot
-
Louis Giambalvo
as Gus Wheeler
-
Taylor Gilbert
as Police Station Reporter #2
-
John X. Heart
as Samantha's Cameraman
-
Ed Hodson
as Paramedic at Elevator
-
Craig Hosking
as Helicopter Pilot
-
Karen Kahn
as T.V. Associate Producer
-
Kristopher Logan
as Gunman #1
-
Nicholas Love
as Jeff Howser
-
Melissa Martin
as Pirate Tug Reporter #2
-
Maureen McVerry
as Vicky Owens
-
Lloyd Nelson
as Sgt. Waldman
-
Patrick Valentino
as Pirate Captain
-
Patrick Van Horn
as Freeway Reporter #2
-
John Allen Vick
as Lt. Ruskowski
-
Justin Whalin
as Jason
-
George Orrison
as Embarcadero Bodyguard #1
-
Glenn Wright
as Detective Hindmark
- Christopher Beale
-
Martin Ganapoler
as Reporter at Pier
-
Peter Anthony Jacobs
as Sgt. Holloway
-
Stu Klitsher
as Minister
-
Charles Martinet
as Police Station Reporter #1
- Phyllis Huffman

