Unlawful Entry (1992)

75% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(9,387 ratings)

After their Los Angeles suburban house is burglarized, Karen and Michael Carr (Madeleine Stowe and Kurt Russell), are assisted by policeman Pete Davis (Ray Liotta). At first, Davis seems helpful and polite, even helping the Carrs when he is off duty. Soon, it becomes apparent that the policeman has… More After their Los Angeles suburban house is burglarized, Karen and Michael Carr (Madeleine Stowe and Kurt Russell), are assisted by policeman Pete Davis (Ray Liotta). At first, Davis seems helpful and polite, even helping the Carrs when he is off duty. Soon, it becomes apparent that the policeman has developed an obsession for Karen, and he begins terrorizing the couple, with the intent of killing Michael and running away with Karen. Though the plot is fairly predictable, Unlawful Entry is highlighted by fine performances by all three lead actors. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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Directed By: Jonathan Kaplan
Written By: Lewis Colick
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jun 26, 1992 Wide
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy, Variety
Although it exists primarily to send an audience into a bloodthirsty frenzy and has major credibility problems in the bargain, Unlawful Entry is still a very effective victimization thriller.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Neither Lewis Colick's script nor Jonathan Kaplan's direction is quite as streamlined as it could be, but you certainly get a run for your money.
, Time Out
Solid performances lend weight to the flakier elements, with Liotta turning crazed excess into something wild.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
More gripping than it is convincing.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie is a thriller, with all the usual trappings of a thriller, but the director, Jonathan Kaplan, is able to place the story in a plausible world.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
The plot is as tediously redundant as director Jonathan Kaplan's approach is carefully workmanlike.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
Unlawful Entry does a tremendous job provoking the viewer with crude elements of bullying.
Jo Berry, Empire Magazine
A wonderfully nasty turn from Liotta, along with a novel treatment of familiar plotlines, elevates Kaplan's effort into the 'must see' category.
, Film4
Gordon lacks Scorsese's talent for unsettling his audience, but he can turn up the tension until you squirm in your seat or want to shout at the screen.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A paint-by-numbers suspense thriller redeemed by stylish, economic direction and a marvelous performance by Ray Liotta as a psycho L.A. cop.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
It's an amazingly sharp, nasty little thriller that takes a silly situation and squeezes it to the core, vicious as a heart attack.
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
This well-done suspense-thriller is a variation of the Fatal Attraction theme with Ray Liotta as the cop from hell.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
Okay thriller.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Click to read review
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
A competent thriller, not much more.
Fred Topel, About.com
Below average thriller. The power of a cop is scary, but most of the plot points are standard thriller moments, right down to the scary cat.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
A solid, suspenseful "B" film
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
It's an amazingly sharp, nasty little thriller that takes a silly situation and squeezes it to the core, vicious as a heart attack.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

Ray Liotta does his "I'm intense and creepy" schtick as a cop who stalks a bland middle class couple in an uninteresting and unconvincing formulaic Hollywood thriller. "Move along folks, there's nothing to see here..."
Lady D

Ray Liotta played a pretty creepy guy in this, enjoyed it, was really good
Dean M

Pretty tense and exciting thriller of a 'friendly' cop becomes hell.
Dann M

Unlawful Entry is a psychological thriller with some chilling and frightening twists. After responding to a break-in at a suburban couple's home, an LAPD officer becomes obsessed with the wife and tries to make her his. The film stars Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta, and Madeleine… More
Unlawful Entry is a psychological thriller with some chilling and frightening twists. After responding to a break-in at a suburban couple's home, an LAPD officer becomes obsessed with the wife and tries to make her his. The film stars Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta, and Madeleine Stowe; who all deliver good performances. And, the story is fairly well written, and does a good job at building suspense and terror. But there are parts of the film that are undeveloped, and the film style is a bit dated. Though Unlawful Entry is pretty much a by-the-numbers thriller, it's still compelling and exciting.
Jeffrey M

Dated in some ways (it has only become more formulaic with the passage of time), but still a serviceable thriller, Unlawful Entry is a paranoid movie that justifies paranoia. Russell is convincing as the 'every man' having to deal with the always enjoyable and underrated… More
Dated in some ways (it has only become more formulaic with the passage of time), but still a serviceable thriller, Unlawful Entry is a paranoid movie that justifies paranoia. Russell is convincing as the 'every man' having to deal with the always enjoyable and underrated Ray Liotta, as a crazed and envious cop. It is their interactions that really make the film watchable, and helps sell the more absurd elements of the narrative. The direction also does a good job of keeping the film tensely paced, with scene construction that builds up the suspense well. The script is adequate from the standpoint that, while we know where the script is headed, it manages to keep enough surprises in store that we stay engaged. At the same time, the overall set-up strains believably--how can Madeleine Stowe's character possibly be so dumb and naive? How could others in the department not notice the unhinged and impulsive Officer Davis (Liotta)? There are simply too many holes and logical leaps to make Unlawful Entry anything more than a B level-thriller. But taken on those terms, it's enjoyable enough, successfully playing on some of our worst fears (wrongful arrest, the system out to get us), and doing so in a generally effective way. 3/5 Stars
John M

It has all the elements of a perfect thriller.A good storyline,tension,thrills and suspense

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

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Cast

Kurt Russell
as Michael Carr
Ray Liotta
as Officer Pete Davis
Madeleine Stowe
as Karen Carr
Roger E. Mosley
as Officer Roy Cole
Ken Lerner
as Roger Graham
Deborah Offner
as Penny
Carmen Argenziano
as Jerome Lurie
Andy Romano
as Capt. Hayes
Johnny Ray McGhee
as Ernie Pike
Dino Anello
as Leon
Oscar Abadia
as Radio Announcer
Jeffrey Beale
as Prisoner on Beach
Ed Beechner
as Motorcycle Cop
Chuck Bennett
as Judge Darabont
Paul Bollen
as Plainclothes Cop
Curt Boulware
as Tall Detective
Victor Brandt
as Attorney Gershon
Skip Carwell
as Prisoner on Phone
Chris Coombs
as Valet
Robert Costanzo
as Bail Bondsman
Dorian Daneau
as Kid in Classroom
Ed de Fusco
as Plainclothes Cop
Peter Dupont
as Deputy
Marisa Durboraw
as Kid in Classroom
Lynn Eastman
as Candace Lurie
Nora Heflin
as Woman Lawyer
Djimon Hounsou
as Prisoner on Beach
Judy Hoy
as Waitress
Leslie James
as Party Guest
Matthew Levy
as Kid in Classroom
Tony Longo
as Big Anglo
Spider Madison
as Goatee
T.J. McInturff
as Layla's Kid
Eduardo Migre
as Transfer Guard
Michael Milgrom
as Prisoner
Dick Miller
as Impound Clerk
Royce Minor
as Kid in Classroom
Craig Mizutari
as Narcotics Detective
David Taylor Moran
as Party Guest
Richard Narita
as Detective Nobu
Harry Northrup
as Sgt. McMurtry
Catherine Paolone
as Operator
Alicia Ramirez
as Taco Stand Worker
Charles David Richards
as Bailiff
Bill E. Rogers
as Prison Guard
Myim Rose
as Layla
Sherrie Rose
as Girl in Jeep
Ruby Salazar
as Rosa
Jim Selzer
as Prison Guard
Robert Steinberg
as Deputy District Attorney
Barry W. Blaustein
Bob Minor
as Detective Murray
Jackie Burch
Sonny Carl Davis
as Neighbor Jack

See more (54)

Unlawful Entry (1992)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

Lady D

Dean M

Dann M

Jeffrey M

John M

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