Probably one of my favourite Chuck Norris films An Eye for an Eye is a action packed crime thriller with more eye candy then I thought possible in a film back in 1981 , especially a martial arts film shot on a budget. .
Chuck plays Sean Kane a Police officer who after his partner gets killed in a set up leaves the Police Force to get his life together only to get embroiled into a a world of crime syndictaes, cover -ups and more when his deceased partners girlfriend Linda life is threatened .
The film builds up to it's final battle atop a Mountain vista in San Francisco. To get there Kane uncovers a secret drug smuggling ring and corruption and has to be careful who he trusts.
Directed by Steve Carver the film has many standout pieces from it's gritty opening to climatic mountain top battles .
Helping much are the cast which comprises the legendary Christopher Lee as Morgan Canfield , a TV studio head who assures Kane he will do everything he can to help . The ever relaible Mako whose portrayal as Linda's father and Kane's Martial arts teacher is magic and he always comes across as such a likebale character in what ever role he plays.
Add to this Richard Roundtree a stalwart of 70's and 80's films and TV as Captain Stevens , Kane's old boss and you have a film cast that's going to deliver .
Though from a martial arts perspective there's no intense one on one battles like many other films of the genre, the film plays more from action perspective with Kane taking on streams of bad guys and dispatching them effortlessly . It was thought Chuck wanted to be seen more as action star then a martial arts film star. The use of firearms for many scenes adds to the more action orientated scenes with big explosions and chases .
But Chuck still delivers with some great combative moves , it's also easy to see how he was the Karate Champion so many times , some of his moves are so quick and powerful here , there a joy to watch.
The late Steve Carver as director really got the tempo right with this one as each scene flows nicely to the next , but not to fast so that you have time to take in what you have just seen.
An Eye for an Eye truly is one of Chuck Norris's greats. The colourful vista's of San Francisco skyline help a lot with giving the film a big budget feel.
An Eye for an Eye is also one of the those films that you can watch with someone whose not a martial arts film fan as the story and cast bring many elements to the film and who knows it may even convert them.
In a way the film is Chuck Norris's answer to Steve McQueen's Bullitt , the films share many common areas . Both are shot in San Francisco , they both evolve around a Police officer. Both characters often are chasing leads that lead them to their goal just to late.
They both drive American Muscle cars. Though Kane has a Boat as well.
Though on release critics did not do the film any favours , martial art film fans loved it. It was one of the first Chuck Norris films i had seen after his role in Way of the Dragon and Slaughter in San Francsico and till this day remains one of this viewers favourite films.
Whilst doing this review I was sad to see that the director Steve Carver had passed away in January 2021 from Covid 19 , he was 75.
Review Date March 11th 2021
Review By : Sertes Nake
