Sudden Impact (1983) User Reviews

No Disappointments This Time Around

[seymourblack-1 · 8/10 · 2 January 2016]

In the first three "Dirty Harry" movies, Detective Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) was seen as the maverick cop whose contempt for his superiors, the justice system and the rulebook regularly got him into trouble and in "Sudden Impact" nothing has really changed. He continues to survive in his job because his unorthodox methods get results but periodically, the costs of his actions in terms of expenses, physical destruction and bad publicity become so great that he temporarily has to be taken out of the firing line for the benefit of everyone involved.

One of these situations arises again after the San Francisco cop shoots dead a whole group of criminals who were robbing a diner and then shortly after, confronts a local crime boss at his grand-daughter's wedding, in such a way that the old man suffers a fatal heart attack. Callahan, typically, is furious about being forced to take an unscheduled vacation but is left with no other choice.

Unfortunately, when he's on vacation, Callahan gets attacked by a group of the crime boss' men and kills three of them before eliminating another group of thugs who try to kill him because he'd arrested one of their number who'd recently appeared in court but had been freed on a technicality. In the circumstances, Callahan gets assigned to a murder case which takes him to San Paulo, a nearby small town where he becomes friendly with a woman called Jennifer Spencer (Sondra Locke) and also finds that the local police chief, Lester Jennings (Pat Hingle), is openly hostile to the presence of a big city cop and has no intention of providing any assistance or co-operation.

More killings (which are all carried out in the same way) follow and Callahan discovers that ten years earlier, the victims were all involved in the brutal gang-rape of Jennifer Spencer and her younger sister who'd remained in a catatonic state ever since. Callahan's methods for bringing murderers to justice are normally very simple and straight forward but, in this case, he decides that a rather different course of action is more appropriate.

"Sudden Impact" delivers its entertaining combination of action and humour at a brisk pace and features a punchy script which is full of witty one-liners and of course, the legendary catchphrase, "Go ahead. Make my day". The quality of the acting is very effective throughout with Clint Eastwood on great form. This was the only movie in the "Dirty Harry" series that Eastwood also directed and his work in relation to the action sequences and those where he makes good use of light and shadows to create the desired atmosphere are top class.

Every crime thriller needs an interesting villain and Jennifer Spencer certainly fits the bill because she's a tragic victim, a brutal serial killer and also an artist whose works express her anguish very powerfully. This traumatised woman with a blank expression had, for ten years, harboured her hatred of the rapists and her absolute despair for her sister's predicament and although she might have derived some short-term satisfaction from carrying out her killing spree, it definitely wouldn't have brought her any closer to a cure for her ills.

Audiences know exactly what they're going to get with a "Dirty Harry" film and on the evidence of the huge box office receipts for "Sudden Impact", no-one was disappointed this time around.

Dramatic Harry

[BroadswordCallinDannyBoy · 7/10 · 7 April 2007]

Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan once again angers his superiors with his maverick approach to police work. Refusing to take a vacation he is given a simple case which takes him outside of San Francisco. However, he soon discovers a link between a recent murder in the city and a murder outside of the city, which leads him to the trail of a revenge killer.

As an entry in the Dirty Harry franchise the film starts with some very promising moments, including the legendary "Go ahead, make my day" line that Eastwood delivers wonderfully through clenched teeth before single handedly foiling a robbery. Very badass and it just what fans can expect from him. However, the film soon shifts gears and focuses on the mysterious revenge killer. The problem is that this killer isn't all that mysterious as she is characterized as much as Harry is. This really detracts from the presence of the main character who ruled all of his previous film appearances with, pardon the pun, Magnum Force.

On the bright side this new storyline does draw several parallels to Harry's own unorthodox methods and gives his character dramatic depth that was not there before, but fans that were looking for another badass Harry outing will more than likely be somewhat disappointed. However, a tense climax ends the film on an exciting note so if you don't mind something a little different, it is a good movie for fans. --- 7/10

Rated R for violence and a rape scene

Harry Meets The Worst Woman Since Ann Savage

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 5 April 2006]

The fourth in the "Dirty Harry" series, this film features one of the most despicable, ugliest, unlikable, profane, disgusting females I have ever seen on film: "Ray Perkins," played by Audrie Neenan. She is the modern nasty low-life version of the 1945 "Detour" character, "Ann Savage."

Her foul mouth and gutter attitude turned me off so much I never watched this film again until I acquired a profanity filter which shut her up....and least some of her! Then I could enjoy the rest of the movie.

Everywhere "Harry Callahan" (Clint Eastwood) goes, violence immediately follows.....within minutes! It happens so often it's almost laughable but it makes for a fast-moving, entertaining film with a satisfying ending as all the scumbag villains are eliminated one-by-one.

This is a very sophomoric film that appeals to our base instincts.....and connects, sad to say. Most of us like to see these dirtballs get it in the end, and who does it better than Dirty Harry?

Great guns

[Ispybeeper · 24 August 2003]

The Dirty Harry series are great films. Forget reality and political correctness, just enjoy the films. Like the rest of the series the formula is perfect in Sudden Impact, a great actor delivering action, humour, thrills and excitement.

A strange and surreal look at Dirty Harry

[Agent10 · 7/10 · 29 July 2002]

With Harry Callahan getting up in years, the inevitable `old man with a chip on his shoulder' story had to come into play eventually. Callahan, looking fragile sometimes and out of place, his demeanor still was unwavering. Thankfully, this film took some time off to develop a different type of story, one that might reinvent the Dirty Harry and the whole genre. While the film fell short in doing so, it was still an excellent addition to the series, even if it was getting a little out of place during a time of silly fashion trends and New Wave music.

Clint doing what he does best..

[anxietyresister · 6/10 · 3 June 2005]

A rape victim is going around, bumping off her attackers one by one, having been denied justice originally. A rather unconventional detective, Callahan is put on the case.. but whose side will he take?

This is one of the most brutal films I've seen in quite some time. Virtually every scene seems to be a set-up for some punks to make the mistake of annoying our hero, who then proceeds to beat the living daylights out of them, or simply blows their heads off. I am 100% convinced that if any serving officer did what the Eastwood character gets away with in this film, he would not only be stripped of his badge, but also be looking at a considerable stretch in prison. Another striking aspect of the picture is the violence used against the fairer sex. The female cast members get punched in the face, kicked when on they're on the ground.. And that doesn't even include the constant flashbacks we get of Sondra Locke's sexual assault ordeal (We get one every time she carries out one of her revenge attacks on her aggressors). The misogyny displayed on screen is incredible and is unlikely to endear itself to anyone concerned about domestic violence.

So why am I recommending it? Well for a start, the film is well directed, with some very exciting gunfights and car chases which will keep you on the edge of your seat. But the main reason for watching is Clint himself, the evergreen icon giving us another classy performance as a veteran cop who might not share the ethics of the modern police force, but tends to do the job 10x better than his colleagues who do it all 'by the book'. If only we had someone like that here in Britain, perhaps this country wouldn't be the crime hotspot it is these days.. 6/10

lacking in some ways and stronger in others, it's a good- if mixed- Eastwood bag

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 8 September 2005]

It's a strange thing to see a film where some scenes work rather weakly (if only in comparison to other films in its legacy), and others in a 'sub-plot' or supporting story are surprisingly provocative and strong. Sudden Impact is one of those cases, where Clint Eastwood as star/producer/director shows when he can be at his best, or at his lessor of times when dealing with a crime/mystery/detective story in his Dirty Harry fame. We get that 'make my day' line, and un-like in the first film where his 'do I feel lucky' speech was playful and cool the first time and the second time at the end tough as nails, here it's switched around. He gets into another shamble with the department, as usual, when he tries to fight crime 'his' way, in particular with a diner robbery (inspiration for Pulp Fiction?) and with a high speed pursuit with a senior citizen bus. He's told to 'take a vacation', and that's the last thing on his mind. This whole main plot isn't very convincing aside from the expectancy of the story and lines, which just adds to the frustration. But soon his story merges with the sub-plot that Eastwood develops from the start.

Enter Sandra Locke's character, Jennifer Spencer, whom we soon learn after some (appropriately) mysterious scenes that she and her shy sister were victims of a cruel, unjust sexual assault (err, outright rape), and is sleekly, undercover-like, getting revenge. Her scenes and story are the strongest parts of the film, the most intense, and finally when it goes into Callahan's storyline (he's getting facts in the same small town she's in on a murder), the film finally finds a focus between Eastwood's classic form of clearly defined good vs. evil (though sometimes blurred, to be sure). Eastwood films the flashbacks, not to say too much about them, expertly, in a fresh, experimental style; the trademark Lalo Schifrin score is totally atmospheric in these scenes and in others. It almost seems like a couple of times an art-house sensibility has crept into Eastwood's firmly straightforward storytelling style, which helps make the film watchable.

It's a shame, though, that in the end it goes more for the expectable (or maybe not expectable) points, and until the third act Callahan doesn't have much to do except his usual 'it's smith...Wesson...and me' shtick. However, with Locke he gets out of her a very good performance (more subtle and touching than the one in the Gauntlet) and an exciting climax at an amusement park. In a way I do and don't agree with Ebert's remark that it's like a 'music video' in Eastwood's style here. I admit there is comparisons with the simplicity of both, the directness, but the scenes where Eastwood does break form are superior to those of any music video. It's cheesy, it's hard-edged, it's not up to par with the first two 'Harry' pictures, but hey, there could be worse ways to spend a couple hours with the master of the .44.

Harry's back from the brink

[jamie T · 6/10 · 18 June 2001]

The initial prospect of seeing 'Dirty Harry' part four was not an appetising one following the lacklustre 'The Enforcer'. I was plesently surprised that the film improved significantly on its predecessor, whilst adding something new to the franchise.

Firstly Harry spends the majority of the film in some quiet coastal town investigating a series of revenge murders. I was also surprised when Clint's famous 'make me day' line cropped up in this film, I was sure it was from something more famous.

Sudden Impact to me is certainly the third best Dirty Harry flick. The plot is an interesting twist for Harry to negotiate, and the 'real' bad guys are seen as three dimentional characters. The film does contain the staple set pieces seen in all the Dirty Harry films, and they don't disappoint. The scene with the mafia boss is Harry at his best/ worse depending on your politics. Harry still clashes with his superiors who refer to him as a 'dinosaur' but in this one Harry is more like a private detective and the cops don't show up at the last minute as per usual.

'Sudden Impact' is a worthy addition to the Dirty Harry cannon, and Roger Moore era Bond gags aside (The comedy dog, particularly), this film spiced up Harry when I questioned the future of the franchise at the end of part three. This is not to say that they should have gone on to part five- they shouldn't have. Ideally this would have been released in the seventies, with say Cybil Shepherd or Ellyn Burnstein in the main female role, as for me Sondra Lock doesn't quite cut it. It's nice to see Albert Popwell again too, see it, just don't go any further than this 1983 Harry adventure.

6/10 3/5

Dirty Harry is Back, Big time

[jhclues · 9/10 · 6 July 2002]

The vigilante has long held a fascination for audiences, inasmuch as it evokes a sense of swift, sure justice; good triumphs over evil and the bad guy gets his deserts. It is, in fact, one of the things that has made the character of Dirty Harry Callahan (as played by Clint Eastwood) so popular. He carries a badge and works within the law, but at heart, Harry is a vigilante, meting out justice `his' way, which often puts him in conflict with his own superiors, as well as the criminals he's pursuing. But it's what draws the audience; anyone who's ever been bogged down in bureaucratic nonsense of one kind or another, delights in seeing someone cut through the red tape and get on with it-- even if it's only on the screen. And that satisfaction derived from seeing justice done-- and quickly-- is one of the elements that makes `Sudden Impact,' directed by and starring Eastwood, so successful. In this one, the fourth of the series, while working a homicide, Harry encounters a bona fide vigilante at work-- an individual whose brand of justice parallels his own, with one exception: Whoever it is, he's definitely not carrying a badge.

In his own inimitable way, Inspector Callahan has once again ended up on the bad side of the department and is ordered to take some vacation time. So he does; as only `Dirty Harry' can. In a small town north of San Francisco, Harry finds himself smack dab in the middle of a homicide case, which he quickly links to a recent murder in San Francisco because of the unique M.O. employed by the perpetrator. Unaccountably, Harry encounters resistance from the local Police Chief, Jannings (Pat Hingle), who advises him to take his big city tactics and methods elsewhere. Not one to be deterred, however, Harry continues his investigation, which ultimately involves a beautiful and talented young artist, Jennifer Spencer (Sondra Locke). Gradually, Harry discovers a link between the victims; the burning question, though, is where does Jennifer Spencer fit into the picture?

Eastwood is in top form here, both in front of and behind the camera, and it is arguably the second best of the five-film series, right behind the original `Dirty Harry.' It had been seven years since the last `Harry' offering (`The Enforcer,' 1976), but Eastwood steps right back into the character with facility and renewed vigor. And this one definitely benefits from having him in the director's chair, as he is able to recapture the essence of, not only his own character, but that `spirit' that made these films so successful, and he does it by knowing the territory and establishing a continuity that all but erases that seven year gap between #s 3 and 4. As with all the films he directs, Eastwood sets a deliberate pace that works perfectly for this material and creates just enough tension to keep it interesting and involving from beginning to end.

The screenplay, by Joseph Stinson, is well written and formulated to that distinctive `Dirty Harry' style; the dialogue is snappy and the story itself (conceived by Charles B. Pierce and Earl E. Smith) is the most engaging since the original `Dirty Harry,' as it successfully endeavors to play upon the very personal aspects of the drama, rather than entirely upon the action. The characters are well drawn and convincing, and, of course, this is the film that gave us one of Harry's best catch-phrases: `Go, ahead-- make my day...'

As Harry, Clint Eastwood perfectly embodies all of the elements that make this character so popular: He lives by a personal moral code, a true individual made of the kind of stuff we envision as that of the pioneers who settled this country and made America what it is today. Harry personifies that sense of freedom and justice we all strive for and hold so dear, possibly more so today than ever before. No matter who we are or where we come from, there's undeniably a part of us that wants to be Harry, or at least have him around. `Dirty Harry' is an icon of the cinema, and it's impossible to envision anyone but Eastwood portraying him; for better or worse, Eastwood `is' Dirty Harry, without question, just as Sean Connery is James Bond and Basil Rathbone, Sherlock Holmes.

Sondra Locke is entirely effective here in the role of Jennifer Spencer, a young woman wronged and out for vengeance, or as she sees it, `justice.' She manages to bring a hard-edged determination laced with vulnerability to her character, with a convincing, introspective approach that is far beyond what is typical of the `action' genre. Even amid the violence, Locke keeps her focus on Jennifer and the traumatic events that have brought her to this stage of her life. Her portrayal makes a perfect complement to Eastwood's Harry, and becomes, in philosophy and deed, something of his counterpart.

In supporting roles, two performances stand out: Paul Drake, as Mick, creates the best `psycho' since Andy Robinson's dynamic portrayal of the serial killer in the original `Dirty Harry.' With actually very limited screen time, Drake establishes a genuinely disconcerting presence that is believable and convincing, which adds much to the purely visceral response of the audience. This is the guy you can't wait to see Harry take care of in the end. Also effective is Audrie J. Neenan, who makes her character, Ray Parkins, the epitome of the proverbial `low life,' who can be found in any bar in any city. It's a performance that evokes a gut-level response, and it adds greatly to the credibility of the film, in that it helps provide that necessary sense of realism.

The supporting cast includes Albert Popwell (Horace), Mark Kevloun (Bennett) and Nancy Parsons (Mrs. Kruger). With a perfect blend of drama and action, `Sudden Impact' dispenses justice that is a fulfilling respite from reality; the perfect justice of a not-so-perfect world, that makes for a satisfying cinematic experience. 9/10.

Fourth entry in the popular series has detective Callahan pursuing a suspicious and avenger woman

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 20 February 2011]

This is the fourth installment in Harry Callahan's popular series , the first is the classic ¨Dirty Harry ¨(1971) by Don Siegel , the second is ¨Magnum Force¨ by Ted Post , the third is ¨The Enforcer¨(1976) by James Fargo and finally the fifth titled ¨The black pool¨ (1988) by Buddy Van Horn. It's a formula thriller plenty of action , intrigue tense, suspenseful and lots of violence . Tough Harry abuses the murderer's civil rights and Harry in trouble ,as always , with his chiefs (Bradford Dillman) because his methods lead a pile of death in cold blood along his wake . At the beginning Harry Callahan strides grimly throughout streets San Francisco in pursuit of cruel baddies .This is Harry's penultime entry in which is sent a coastal small location to stop vicious murderer killing people . Rock-hard and taciturn Harry Callahan is called on one again, this time when occur rare death of gunned men on dick . Being the first suspect a lesbian (Sandra Locke), she is methodically executing bloody vendetta on the sickos who raped and a younger sister . Whatever your reservations about Harry's expeditious methods we know he'll always vanquish , shooting in cold blood with his Magnum 44 pistol( in fact, as is titled the second entry, Magnum force).

Fourth outing in Harry's series is less gripping and inferior than ¨Dirty Harry¨ but still exciting . Tension, action packed,crisped edition, suspenseful, thrills abound in this stirring entry . There are lots of action and entertainment and this time features Dirty Harry Callahan's classic lines such as ¨Go ahead make my day¨. Good secondary cast gives effective performance as Pat Ingle , Jack Thibeau , Bradford Dillman and Michael V. Gazzo as mobster chief appears uncredited .Usual musical score by Lalo Schifrin with a catching soundtrack on the main titles composed by synthesizer. Good cinematography by Bruce Surtees , classic Robert Surtees's son , and Eastwood's habitual. Taut and expert direction by Clint Eastwood and well produced by the habitual Robert Daley and Malpaso Productions . Rating : 6. Acceptable and passable. Well worth seeing for Clint Eastwood fans and Harry Callahan's followers . It's a cool companion to Dirty Harry classic, an amusing film with several scenes that'll have you on the edge of your seat

Delayed Impact

[Kurtz9791 · 5/10 · 18 January 2014]

From the moment it opens, showcasing a nocturnal San Francisco skyline through a magnificent aerial point of view, I knew I would be disappointed with the fourth film in the "Dirty Harry" franchise. Full disclosure: The first "Dirty Harry" film is one of my personal favorites. I consider it a masterpiece, from every shot, line of dialogue and musical cue. And it's the musical score in "Sudden Impact" that first led me astray. With its tacky 80s sound, the music during the opening credits made me realize how much I missed the proto acid-jazz sounds of the first film. I was shocked to discover that it was the same man, Lalo Schifrin (who did great music for another San Francisco cop drama "Bullitt"), who did the music for both films. I should also add that this is the only "Dirty Harry" sequel that I have seen, and after watching this one, I'm in no hurry to pursue the others in an effort to keep my love for the original alive.

"Sudden Impact" features an older and grumpier Inspector Harry Callahan still serving his swift brand of justice on the mean streets of the city by the bay. After giving an aging mobster a heart attack (a cameo from "The Godfather Part II"'s Michael V. Gazzo), Callahan finds himself constantly in the line of fire. "People have a nasty habit of getting dead around you," a superior officer tells him. To lose the heat, Eastwood is soon sent to a small coastal town to get background information on a previous homicide investigation he was working on in the city. Right as he rolls into town, Callahan proves his bosses' statement correct by driving past a robbery in progress in this sleepy little town.

It was at this moment that I completely gave up on the film. It's simply filled with way too many over-the-top moments and a corny sense of humor which don't bode well with its main storyline of a rape victim taking revenge on her perpetrators years later. Because of these two opposing moods, the film feels like it takes forever to get started, derailed by one action scene too many. I wasn't surprised to learn after the fact that the film was originally conceived as a vehicle for Eastwood's then girlfriend and collaborator Sondra Locke, and was only modeled into a "Dirty Harry" film after Warner Brothers responded to a fan poll that expressed interest in bringing back the series. If it were cut by about twenty minutes, the movie might be considerably better.

"Sudden Impact"'s only contribution to cinema is the famous line, "Go ahead ... make my day," delivered by Eastwood near the start of the film when confronting a robber holding a waitress hostage. The scene is familiar but it doesn't undermine the power of Eastwood's delivery, an iconic moment in an otherwise dull film. The line is delivered again during the film's climax to a similar effect. In fact, the whole climatic showdown and final set piece are very well done and almost redeem all that has come before it. However, the impact is tainted after wasting so much time on previous shenanigans and off the wall coincidences.

Sudden Imapct is the third best Clint Eastwood's masterpiece!

[ivo-cobra8 · 10/10 · 13 December 2015]

Sudden Impact (1983) - Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood meets Death Wish! That sounds amazing which it is. The only Dirty Harry directed by Clint Eastwood himself, whiteout a question among, the finest pictures of the 80's, if is not for the best Magnum Force, one of my favorite Dirty Harry movies in the franchise ever!!! It is one of my personal favorite action movies of all time.

The fourth installment of Dirty Harry series is one of the most astonish best and greatest Eastwood's masterpiece! I don't care what anyone say's I love this movie to death. It has the greatest and the most finest action in the 80's from Clint Eastwood. This movie is even miles way better than The Enforcer! This movie is a bad ass! Harry's line "Go ahead, make my day" is one of the most memorable praise since Dirty Harry (1971). A long to discover that Dirty Harry is Batman! Why can't they make bad ass action movies like this one is? I will always watch this action flick from Clint Eastwood.

This movie is what it is, a perfect 10, because it takes the vision of one of the most imaginative directors on Earth, and realizes them almost perfectly with all the tools that fit the task -- actors, stunts and a lot action sequences in here with a great story.

The Death Wish chapter of the Dirty Harry saga and another high point in the action genre containing an amount of masculine bad ass to make anyone grow their chest hair. Also the 475 Magnum montage had me in stitches. Sudden Impact allowed Harry to interact with someone who shares his mindset of justice. Definitely the darkest of the Dirty Harry movies. In my opinion the best in the series. The rapist got raped by a .44 Auto Mag, and then by a unicorn horn. I saw that one coming in the chase scene at the carousel. Clint Eastwood was Batman back when Batman was sipping' martinis and dancing in Studio 54. The film is absolutely filled with great, classic moments (I counted TEN all-star ones during my last viewing), and they're evenly spaced through the movie. Great acting and a plot worthy of the title character. Great cinematography. What else can I say buy it you will not be disappointed. This has to be one of Eastwood's best movie. Okay they are all good, but this one will make your day!

The Dirty Harry films were in hiatus for 7.years, since no one wanted to make a Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood made a fourth installment with a bad ass action film ever! Inspector "Dirty Harry" Callahan (Clint Eastwood) carries his Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum as his sidearm in the film. He is first seen pulling it in the coffee shop and saying what is one of the most famous movie lines in history. The S&W is used until it is kicked into a curb drain by Mick (Paul Drake). He then uses his AMC Auto Mag Pistol in .44 AMP as a replacement. This is different style of Harry using different weapon by the end of the movie. Sudden Impact is the fourth installment in the Dirty Harry film franchise and the only Dirty Harry film to be directed by Clint Eastwood himself. Eastwood returns as Inspector "Dirty Harry" Callahan, who visits a small Northern California city while on leave from the department and finds himself encountering a woman (Sondra Locke) with a vendetta against some of the town's citizens. The 1983 sequel also is the sequel where Eastwood utters the immortal line "Go ahead, make my day", while holding his Smith & Wesson Model 29. Sudden Impact also made popular the use of the .44 Magnum AMP Auto Mag Model 180.

Sudden Impact is a 1983 American action film and the fourth film in the Dirty Harry series, directed by Clint Eastwood (making it the only Dirty Harry film to be directed by Eastwood himself), and starring Eastwood and Sondra Locke.

This is the basic plot of the movie, it is a revenge flick about a rape victim who murderous spree of revenge puts his own ideas of justice to the test! I grew up with this movie and I still love it, even tough this flick was really dark, Sondra Locke played in it, Clint Eastwood's girlfriend at the time.

They made many movies together including: The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), The Gauntlet (1977), Every Which Way But Loose (1978) and Any Which Way You Can. Sudden Impact (1983) was the last movie Sondra made with Clint Eastwood together. I think Clint did a terrific job of directing and producing his last and the only Dirty Harry movie. I still prefer Dirty Harry and Magnum Force as two of the best movies, but this is my third best movie of Dirty Harry and Clint Eastwood. This movie is a perfect 10.

Dirty Harry - nobody is that tough!

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 6 January 2017]

This is a decent entry in the Dirty Harry series, this time not just starring Clint Eastwood, but also directed by him. San Francisco Homicide Detective "Dirty" Harry Callahan gets in trouble with his superiors (as usual) and is sent on forced vacation to the small seaside community of San Paulo. In between dodging various attempted Mob hits on his life, Harry stumbles into a series of killings being committed by a mysterious artist (Sondra Locke).

This is the film that generated the ubiquitous 80's catchphrase ,"Go ahead. Make my day" which Harry utters while foiling a robbery he just happens to walk into. This is why I love Dirty Harry - NOBODY is that tough and lives to tell about it! President Ronald Reagan's use of it during a press conference was one of the most replayed moments of his presidency. Like most, if not all, of the Dirty Harry sequels, this started out as an unrelated screenplay that was then rewritten to become part of the series. This time around it's more obvious than in the other films. Eastwood is fine in his role, but by this time he could play this in his sleep.

Locke makes for a convincing killer, too, and this is one of the better roles she had in then-boyfriend Clint's films. Plus, this is a killer whose mission I can get behind! In some ways she is like Harry, if the establishment won't take out the trash, she will! I will tell you no more about her motives. Also with Pat Hingle as the small town police chief, Bradford Dillman, Albert Popwell (who's in the first 4 Dirty Harry films, each time as a different character), Paul Drake as a particularly nasty pencil-mustached slime ball, Mara Corday, Carmen Argenziano, Michael V. Gazzo as a mob boss, and a young Camryn Manheim looking scared in an elevator.

Between this and The Dead Pool for worst Dirty Harry movie

[grantss · 4/10 · 12 September 2015]

It's between this and The Dead Pool for worst Dirty Harry movie.

The fourth Dirty Harry movie (of five, ultimately). A woman (played by Sondra Locke) is killing off, one by one, the men who raped her and her sister several years previously. Harry Calahan (played by Clint Eastwood, of course) is on the case, but due to his law enforcement methods, there are a few criminals after him. Eventually he is sent to a small seaside town to track down some leads on the murders...

This movie really doesn't add anything to the Dirty Harry story (except that he exchanges his 44 Magnum revolver for a 44 Magnum pistol...). It feels clichéd, forced, unoriginal and predictable. Even Eastwood seems to be going through the motions.

On that note, the other performances aren't anything to write home about either. Sondra Locke is weak and unconvincing as the vigilante, Pat Hindle plays stereotypical small town sheriff and the bad guys are all one-dimensional.

The Dirty Harry series should have ended after three movies.

Fourth Dirty Harry entry changes the formula to a darker, character-driven style.... interesting but not wholly successful.

[barnabyrudge · 11 December 2003]

Sudden Impact is the most unusual of the five Dirty Harry movies, but that doesn't make it the best. However, after the rather flat and comic-book heroics of the third film, The Enforcer, it's good to see some changes to the formula. Sudden Impact is quite a dark, moody piece of cinema with big emphasis on character. Yes, there's action, but the action in this one is only one piece of the jigsaw whereas in some of the other Dirty Harry outings the action was everything.

Harry Callahan (Eastwood) is in hot water with his superiors for carrying out an illegal search on a suspicious car. The young thugs he arrested are released because of the lack of evidence, and they set out to take revenge on Harry. However, Harry is a tough nut to crack - and pretty soon he is striking back in his own destructive style. Harry's boss decides to get Harry out of town for a while to avoid further bloodshed, so he assigns him to a quiet murder investigation in an isolated coastal town. Harry pieces together the mystery and discovers that the killer is a female artist (Locke) who is bumping off a bunch of drop-outs who gang-raped her and her sister years previously. Should he arrest her for the killings, or should he turn a blind eye and let her do away with these repellent scum-bags?

The film is probably the second best in the series (the original is always going to be considered the best). Peculiarly, it is the only Dirty Harry movie upon which Eastwood also doubled up as director. It isn't a whole success, with some needless scenes (what's the point of the sequence detailing the hold-up of a coffee shop?) and a couple of overly hammy performances by the main villains (especially the trailer trash redhead). On the whole, though, this is a very interesting and unusual addition to the series which gets by on the strength of being totally different to all the other four episodes.

Dirty Harry is back after 7 years hiatus

[KineticSeoul · 6/10 · 6 March 2012]

Okay so this time this Dirty Harry franchise movie goes back to it's roots of violence in the city rather than a action movie with comedic elements like the previous one. And this time Harry is back with some memorable one-liners. Again with Harry Callahan being a loose cannon and getting chewed out by his superiors. This time a woman is exacting her revenge one the people that wronged her, which gets into a bit of the grey area since Harry is known to get his hands a bit dirty for justice. But that is part of Harry's investigation, but he is also after the mafia that does many corrupt things that gets on Harry's nerves. This is the first and only Dirty Harry movie that Clint Eastwood directed himself and it's a well directed movie. Especially compared to the previous two movies, although I found the second one very entertaining. While the previous Dirty Harry movies were action oriented and this one has action as well, but it's more gritty and dark compared to the previous ones. And also doesn't come off as cheesy or lame like the third one. This is also the first movie in the Dirty Harry franchise where Harry doesn't have a partner. But Harry's unorthodox approach to what he does best is still entertaining to watch. It's a bit different compared to the previous movies in this franchise but it works. This is my third favorite in this franchise.

6.8/10

A bitter turn for the series

[Mr-Fusion · 6/10 · 29 December 2017]

For a while, "Sudden Impact" plays like a a highlight reel of Dirty Harry's signature moves. The altercations occur one after another, his superiors are pretty much meaningless, and Eastwood scowls all throughout. Forget rationalizing his actions; it's just entertaining.

Up until that second half at least, which is when things turn towards dramatic as a serial killer/revenge flick. There's still the body count, but it's not as fun as seeing Eastwood laying down larger-than-life street justice. Take that early coffee shop robbery for example; a well-staged shootout that almost brings The Man With No Name to mind. It's terrific.

6/10

"People have a nasty habit of getting dead around you."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 6 September 2014]

I can pretty much count on an Eastwood flick to make my day any time. So getting up this morning at 5:00 AM to catch this one is going to go for the long haul. However watching these Dirty Harry pictures it's easy enough to figure out that they weren't really written with credibility in mind. Take the hapless hit-men out for revenge over the untimely death of their boss Threlkis (Michael V. Gazzo). Why bother trying to run Callahan (Eastwood) down with their car when they had all that heavy artillery on hand? Why not just maneuver up close and whack him on the spot with no fanfare? Seems simple enough, but no, three of the goons chase him into an alley and get blown away for being stupid, while the fourth one makes a getaway. Not to worry, he get's his later on.

Or what about the three punks who throw the fireball into Harry's car? Harry manages to ride around town a few blocks with the vehicle a furnace, but a mere return lob of a similar fire bomb and the hoods drive off the pier and into the bay! Oh well, we're going back three decades now and films today that are written well generally don't offer these kinds of inconsistencies.

What you have here is a classic revenge flick in which Jennifer Spencer (Sondra Locke) and her sister were raped ten years earlier, leaving the younger sister catatonic and Jennifer out for blood. She's sort of a female Dirty Harry looking to cut through the B.S. of the court system and arrive at her own brand of justice. Pretty creatively too, those low shots are bound to hurt, at least momentarily.

Interesting that Pat Hingle was the sheriff in this picture, he appeared on the side of the law in at least a couple of other Eastwood pictures - 1968's "Hang 'Em High" and 1977's "The Gauntlet". His character here was somewhat distracting, fighting Harry at every turn instead of accepting his help. The twist with his apoplectic son Abby explained it later on, so I guess that angle made sense. Objectively speaking, Jennifer got away with murder after blowing away a handful of degenerates with Harry finding a way to make it stick. Like someone stated early in the story - "Callahan is the one constant in an ever changing universe."

Made my day.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 6/10 · 29 April 2020]

It's at this point that the 'Dirty Harry' series really starts to blend into itself, with set-pieces from one entry easily being mistaken for those in another. The overall stories still distinguish themselves, though. 'Sudden Impact (1983)' is perhaps the least conventional in the franchise, at least in terms of how it relates to the first in its series, as it follows both Eastwood's disgruntled detective and the serial killer he's chasing in, essentially, equal measure. It's at its most interesting when it explores themes of justice, revenge and how the system can sometimes fail. Unfortunately, it sort of goes back on Harry's character in the process, ending on a decision that would have made his skin crawl in any other feature. It's not a huge issue, but it is noticeable. So is the generally less entertaining nature of the flick, which doesn't feel quite as confident as any of the others in its franchise. It's entertaining enough, don't get me wrong. In fact, it's usually enjoyable. It's just that it has stretches that are almost dull and, as a whole, isn't as compelling as it could have been. It's a good film, just not a great one. 6/10

Harry is at it again

[chvylvr80 · 9/10 · 4 September 2003]

Sudden Impact is the 4th of the Dirty Harry films and one of the best traits of these films is that they don't really degrade in quality from one film to the next. Thus, Sudden Impact provides another thrill ride through the life of Dirty Harry Callahan. This time Harry attempts to solve a series of murders while on vacation. Harry's always on the job it seems. Clint Eastwood plays Harry as he plays all his men of action, slow, deliberate, and without fear. As the first of the Dirty Harry films to be made in the 80's, Sudden Impact lacks a bit of the 70's feel that characterizes the first three films. This doesn't mean that it's quality is any less. Bottom Line: Brimming with intensity and action, Sudden Impact is another worthy addition to the Dirty Harry series.

Pretty good fourth entry in the Dirty Harry series

[Red-Barracuda · 7/10 · 6 January 2016]

Sudden Impact was the fourth instalment in the 'Dirty Harry' series and the only one in which Clint Eastwood not only starred in but directed as well. This time, Harry Callahan is sent up the coast by his superiors to investigate a series of murders that are connected to a small ocean side resort town.

I reckon this may well be the third best entry in the series after the peerless first instalment and its follow-up Magnum Force (1973). Unlike the other two in the series, this one has a more interesting plot-line which involves a vigilante killer played by Eastwood regular actress Sandra Locke. She almost shares top-billing with him here such is the prominence of her role. She plays by far the most sympathetic villain in the series, one who dispatches a series of truly vile characters who assaulted her and her now comatose sister ten years previously. It's the very fact that the role has been written with a lot more depth that contributes to the audience empathising with her, while still knowing that she is committing a series of murders. This dramatic tension is underpinned by the theme of how ineffective and corrupt the justice system can be, leading to victims taking the law into their own hands.

This is probably the entry in the series that most veers into psychological thriller territory and I think this change does work in its favour. However, its bread and butter is still action and it hardly falls short on that score. There is an ongoing plot thread which has Callahan continually targeted by Mob hit-men who want him dead for an earlier infraction he instigated against one of their big bosses. Not only this but he also has high adrenaline encounters with three other sets of different criminals. It could be argued, however, that in its latter stages the film went too much in the direction of having villains acting like half-wits allowing for Callahan to escape their clutches and return to defeat them, while the finale in the fun-park felt a little too simplistically cheesy. But, these small gripes aside, I thought this to be a pretty fine effort for a fourth instalment in a film series and a pretty good film in its own right overall.

It's "Dirty Harry" meets "I Spit On Your Grave"

[zofos · 5/10 · 1 June 2008]

After seven years away from his most iconic character, Clint Eastwood returned to the role of San Francisco cop Inspector Harry Callahan. And, for the first half hour at least, "Sudden Impact" promises to be the best Dirty Harry movie since Don Siegel's brilliant 1971 original.

We get to see Harry deliver some hilarious put-downs to a group of thugs (or "punks" as he hisses at them) who are taunting him in an elevator after being acquitted in court. There is finally a line of dialogue to match the "Do I feel lucky?" line from the first movie. It's the classic: "Go ahead...make my day." And Harry gets a cool, new Magnum pistol, a weapon even more powerful that his Magnum .44 (why he'd want a weapon more powerful than that is anyone's guess. Maybe it's because he's after a group of baddies this time instead of one like Scorpio or maybe Clint was getting a lot of money from the Magnum gun company for product placement.) He keeps it in a special presentation box, but, when the villains sink to new lows, Harry's eye begins twitching in the direction of his new gun and...well, you can guess what happens next!

Once Harry is sent on vacation and gets mixed up in a rape revenge plot involving Sondra Locke, the film nosedives and never recovers (although Harry does acquire a charming, farting bulldog called Meathead).

The gang-rape scenes are repeated over and over in flashbacks and they seem to go on forever and Eastwood really goes too far as a director with it all. He has directed much better movies than this one and I don't think "Sudden Impact" would be in his top ten somehow.

The baddies in this film are just a bunch of leering, wild-eyed psychos with none of the complexity of the Scorpio killer from the first film. Perhaps this is to make the audience not care about them as they are castrated by bullet and then murdered. (There is a particularly grotesque foul-mouthed, butch lesbian character among the group of rapists who is like something out of a John Waters movie. It's a relief when her character isn't around).

Harry has clearly changed his mind about vigilante justice from the days of "Magnum Force" ten years earlier. In that film, he refused to join a cabal of vigilante cops with the line: "I'm afraid you've misjudged me." In this film, Harry Callahan is essentially an accomplice to a vigilante killer and an accessory to murder. The film has the dodgy moral message that it's okay to be a vigilante if the crime you're avenging is bad enough. Harry is reduced to being a clone of the Charles Bronson character from the "Death Wish" movies, mowing down villains by the truckload. The script never questions the actions of the Sondra Locke character who is presented as a sort of feminist martyr.

The rape revenge story was not a Dirty Harry script when it started out and Eastwood tried to fashion it into one and it doesn't work (perhaps Clint just wanted to make a Dirty Harry movie with Sondra Locke, God knows she was in every other film he'd made for almost ten years by that stage). The "Sudden Impact" script does not have the razor-sharp focus that the first film had from start to finish and it's frustrating that they came so close to matching it and gave up.

The film gets increasingly ridiculous and nasty as it goes on until it just peters out. You are kind of glad when its over as its a little embarrassing for all concerned. No wonder Clint doesn't want to make anymore Dirty Harry films, he's gone as far as he can with the character of Harry Callahan.

Just gets better as the years go by

[Leofwine_draca · 9/10 · 2 January 2017]

The Dirty Harry series will always have a special place in my heart – just because it's so darned cool. Clint Eastwood lives and breathes the role of the unorthodox cop, and by the time of this third sequel – the fourth and penultimate movie in the long-running franchise – he shows no signs of flagging or losing enthusiasm for his subject matter, directing as well as starring as the tough cop.

This has got to be the most entertaining Dirty Harry since the first movie. The series makes a fine segue from late '70s grittiness to early '80s flashiness, retaining the same hard edge that made the early films so successful. Here, Harry is once again arguing with his superiors, who this time send him on an enforced holiday to a little town where he begins to track down a serial killer. Along with that, the usual hoodlums and gangsters are gunning for our hero, leading to a literally action-packed movie in which we watch Harry chase a thug through the streets in an old people's bus (a highlight), have shoot-outs with his trusty sidepiece, and even deliver another famous line – this time, it's the "make my day" one.

The main thrust of the story is about Eastwood's one time partner, Sondra Locke, as we follow her delivering her own brand of justice against a gang of men who once gang-raped her and her sister. It's a violent chronicle, exposing the psychology of such a crime, and it works, providing a fitting parallel to Harry's own character. The cast are at the top of their game here, with nobody putting a foot wrong, from the icy, slightly alien Locke, to Paul Drake as a truly loathsome baddie. There are also a ton of great character actors filling out supporting roles, like Bradford Dillman, Pat Hingle, and in particular Albert Popwell, who is fine as Harry's partner. Add in some great laughs in the form of a bad-mannered dog and you have a great film that just gets better as time goes by.

That 80's Harry Part 1

[stamper · 6/10 · 30 November 2003]

This Dirty Harry installment was a bit different, than the other four in the series and I can tell you why. It is different, because it does not focus mainly on ‘the dirty one', but instead focuses on him and the character of the killer which is portrayed by Sondra Locke. This and the fact that there isn't as much chasing going on as in the rest of the Dirty Harry films, make this installment somewhat less exciting than the other ones. However, this film does have a bonus it's three predecessors did not have, a good editor. The few chasing scenes there are in this film, are photographed and edited in style and with ability, making the film a pretty tight package, if one looks at the directional skills involved.

Now the fact, that this film isn't too exciting, does not mean that it has a low quality. It is just this episode of Dirty Harry does not focus on action and Harry bringing bad guys to justice. This film, which is not as much aimed to be a crime flick as the other four Harry films, is supposed to tell a story and is aimed at giving Harry more depth. In that it succeeds, but that doesn't make this good either. The bottom line is, that this film is watchable and that it does feature some of Harry's (or should I say Eastwood's?) famous one-liners, but that in it's core it is not a typical Dirty Harry film. For me, The Enforcer was the best in the series, with The Dead Pool and The Enforcer sharing the second place. So if I was you (which I am NOT) I'd start with those ones. If you don't like those, you probably won't like a single Dirty Harry film.

6 out of 10

No Impact

[bwaynef · 5/10 · 18 October 2003]

The fourth Dirty Harry film and certainly the worst. It's no surprise that Clint Eastwood would choose to star in this major snooze (it was the huge box-office hit that his previous two films were not), but why direct it too? Other than the classic line ("Go ahead, make my day") and the scene it appears in, "Sudden Impact" makes no impact. Eastwood's leisurely directing style, a perfect match for more thoughtful material ("Unforgiven," "Mystic River") is not at all suitable here. Sondra Locke is just boring. The next film in the series (also the last), "The Dead Pool," is a lot more fun.