Unlawful Entry (1992)

74% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(9,233 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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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Jonathan Kaplan
Written By: Lewis Colick
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jun 26, 1992 Wide
On DVD: May 22, 2001
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.
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.
Joe Brown, Washington Post
Entry is acted more intelligently than is usual in this type of cookie-cutter shocker.
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.
, Time Out
Solid performances lend weight to the flakier elements, with Liotta turning crazed excess into something wild.
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.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Kurt Russell gives new meaning to the term action hero. A real white-knuckler.

Read all 19 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

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.
John M

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

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 full cast