The last effort of Fernando Di Leo as a director didn't exactly become the honorable swan-song he deserved, as the film is unimaginably insecure and it didn't even get released in its home country of Italy. The reason(s) why, however, is beyond me, as "Killer vs. Killers" is a thoroughly enjoyable, action-paced and straightforward thriller with some above average acting performances, cool gimmicks and a bit of sleaze. The film can be described best as some sort of attempt to remake John Huston's film-noir classic "The Asphalt Jungle", in which a group of unrelated criminals successfully pull off a complicated heist, but eventually the whole plan goes awry due to double-crossing and betrayal. Even more than a remake, Di Leo wanted to do a tribute to Huston's film, as the plot differs once the heist is completed (and "Killer vs. Killers turns into an old-fashioned tale of revenge) and Di Leo names his characters after the stars that played in the original, like Sterling and Jaffe. A team of five outlaws, each with a specific skill, is hired to steal the formula for synthetic fuel from a military research plant and subsequently destroy the place with explosives. Once the job is completed and the reward has been paid, his Excellency (Edmund Purdom) nevertheless sends his men to kill off the team, but the two remaining members fight back. The script of "Killer vs. Killers" is rudimentary and entirely without surprises, and therefore it isn't nearly as brilliant as some of Di Leo's exploitation/crime-classics of the early seventies, such as "The Boss", "Manhunt" or "Milano Calibro.9" Those flicks had extremely convoluted plots and intelligent political undertones, whereas this is merely an undemanding & exciting time-waster. Fans of euro-violence will still love it, though! The film is literally stuffed with car-explosions, violent executions and massive artillery. Henry Silva once again gives image to an ultimately relentless and stone-cold hit man. His character owns a personal zoo (and uses cheetahs and hawks as murder weapons!) and he literally blows his opponents to pieces with a bazooka! The musical score is terrific, Dalila Di Lazzaro makes the perfect eye-candy and there's quite a bit of black humor in the script as well. Overall, "Killer vs. Killers" may not be a brilliant piece of Italian film-making and nothing you haven't seen a dozen times before, but it guarantees entertainment and a decent farewell from one of the most important Italian cult directors ever. The film is available on DVD together in one box with the phenomenal "Il Boss" from Nocturno.
5 Reviews
Fernando Di Leo's Last Film Is Far Below His Standards, Yet Very Entertaining
Witchfinder-General-66623 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Along with Umberto Lenzi, the great late Fernando Di Leo is doubtlessly the greatest filmmaker of the gritty and violent Eurocrime/Poliziotteschi genre that became popular in Italy in the 1970s. Especially the masterpieces of his milieu-trilogy (MILANO CALIBRO 9 of 1972, LA MALA ORDINA of 1972 and IL BOSS of 1973) rank among the greatest gangster/crime flicks ever brought to screen. While Di Leo's last movie, KILLER CONTRO KILLERS aka. DEATH COMMANDO of 1985 comes nowhere near the quality of his 70s films (few movies do), it is yet a highly entertaining Action/Crime effort.
The great Henry Silva, who had previously played the most bad-ass mafia hit-man Lanzetta in Di Leo's 1973 masterpiece IL BOSS, is once again playing a stone-faced and cold-blooded hit-man, Mr. Sterling. A bunch of professionals including Sterling, a hot woman, a fat guy, an annoying jokester with a mustache and a sleazy old guy who pays young women to dance around naked in his apartment, are hired in Monte Carlo and assigned to steal a new synthetic fuel from a high-security facility. After a successful mission, they are to be given a million Dollars each. However, their powerful employer decides to kill them in order to conceal his involvement. Of course, Sterling won't go so easily...
The most convincing reason to watch this is, of course, Henry Silva, who is once again great and supremely bad-ass in his role of the rocket-launcher-wielding Sterling, who owns a private zoo full of blood-thirsty beasts. As opposed to the brilliant soundtracks to Di Leo's 70s films, the score to this film consists of almost stereotypical 80s music. One (very 80s) song performed by leading actress Dalia Di Larazzo in thick Italian accent is unintentionally hilarious. The beautiful Miss Larazzo will look familiar to Eurocult fans due to her roles in masterpieces like Paul Morrisey's FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN (aka. ANDY WARHOL'S FRANKENSTEIN) of 1973 and Dario Argento's PHENOMENA of 1985. The action sequences are very cool, Henry Silva constantly blasts people to shreds with a rocket-launcher, etc. Overall, this comes nowhere near the brilliance of Di Leo's 70s films, but it is nonetheless an entertaining film that is worth the while for my fellow Eurocult-fans. Just make sure to see Di Leo's masterpieces before this one.
The great Henry Silva, who had previously played the most bad-ass mafia hit-man Lanzetta in Di Leo's 1973 masterpiece IL BOSS, is once again playing a stone-faced and cold-blooded hit-man, Mr. Sterling. A bunch of professionals including Sterling, a hot woman, a fat guy, an annoying jokester with a mustache and a sleazy old guy who pays young women to dance around naked in his apartment, are hired in Monte Carlo and assigned to steal a new synthetic fuel from a high-security facility. After a successful mission, they are to be given a million Dollars each. However, their powerful employer decides to kill them in order to conceal his involvement. Of course, Sterling won't go so easily...
The most convincing reason to watch this is, of course, Henry Silva, who is once again great and supremely bad-ass in his role of the rocket-launcher-wielding Sterling, who owns a private zoo full of blood-thirsty beasts. As opposed to the brilliant soundtracks to Di Leo's 70s films, the score to this film consists of almost stereotypical 80s music. One (very 80s) song performed by leading actress Dalia Di Larazzo in thick Italian accent is unintentionally hilarious. The beautiful Miss Larazzo will look familiar to Eurocult fans due to her roles in masterpieces like Paul Morrisey's FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN (aka. ANDY WARHOL'S FRANKENSTEIN) of 1973 and Dario Argento's PHENOMENA of 1985. The action sequences are very cool, Henry Silva constantly blasts people to shreds with a rocket-launcher, etc. Overall, this comes nowhere near the brilliance of Di Leo's 70s films, but it is nonetheless an entertaining film that is worth the while for my fellow Eurocult-fans. Just make sure to see Di Leo's masterpieces before this one.
Below par from Di Leo, but not a bad film
The_Void18 March 2008
Killer vs Killers is a late entry both for the Polizi genre and for director Fernando Di Leo; and often gets lambasted by fans of the genre. It's clear that this film is not as great as some of Di Leo's other work - which includes such classics as Milano Calibro 9 and The Italian Connection - but for my money, Killer vs Killers is a thoroughly entertaining crime flick that works well in spite of it's problems. The film is apparently something of a remake of John Huston's classic The Asphalt Jungle. It's been a few years since I saw said film so I cant comment on how closely it, but I wouldn't be surprised to find that a lot of influence was taken knowing how Italian filmmakers often work. The plot focuses on a heist. We are first told that a mysterious man needs a group of strangers to help him steal some documents from a safe. From there, we are introduced to a motley crew of criminals with various talents needed to pull off the job. They put a plan together and carry it out flawlessly; but when the job is done, things turn sour...
The main problems with this film are that it's too short and the plot is too generic and predictable. It's always clear where the film is going and there are not a lot of surprises; Fernando Di Leo tries to make up for this by packing the film with plenty of shooting, fist fights and fast cars; and while that does provide some entertainment, it doesn't quite mask the film's main shortfall. Di Leo once again makes use of the unique talents of cult star Henry Fonda and he fits into his role as the cold calculating killer well; though he has had a lot of practice with similar roles. The supporting cast doesn't contain anyone particularly noteworthy; though the acting isn't bad on the whole. The plot does flow rather well and even though it's predictable for most of the duration; it does seem like Di Leo had a definite idea in mind and the plot is well structured. The locations and atmosphere are good and the director makes good use of the picturesque scenery. The climax features a good shootout, though it does feel like the director ran out of film when it comes to the actual ending. Overall, this is not the best example of the genre; but it's a film worth watching and I can recommend it.
The main problems with this film are that it's too short and the plot is too generic and predictable. It's always clear where the film is going and there are not a lot of surprises; Fernando Di Leo tries to make up for this by packing the film with plenty of shooting, fist fights and fast cars; and while that does provide some entertainment, it doesn't quite mask the film's main shortfall. Di Leo once again makes use of the unique talents of cult star Henry Fonda and he fits into his role as the cold calculating killer well; though he has had a lot of practice with similar roles. The supporting cast doesn't contain anyone particularly noteworthy; though the acting isn't bad on the whole. The plot does flow rather well and even though it's predictable for most of the duration; it does seem like Di Leo had a definite idea in mind and the plot is well structured. The locations and atmosphere are good and the director makes good use of the picturesque scenery. The climax features a good shootout, though it does feel like the director ran out of film when it comes to the actual ending. Overall, this is not the best example of the genre; but it's a film worth watching and I can recommend it.
The worst of the great Fernando Di Leo but...
searchanddestroy-17 September 2014
Warning: Spoilers
That's the first time I Watch such an unintentionally funny crime movie that amused me so much. And God knows it's really corny at the most. Laughable, that's the word which means the best this non sense. But I repeat, I loved it. From the start to the end. First, the basic lines. A group of mercenries are hired by a crooked business man in order to rob some military plans, something like that. And after the heist, the big boss decides to get rid of all them all. Erase all the witnesses, the perpetrators. I like this kind of topic. And I repeat, everything here is lousy. Actors, direction, music score typical of the eighties, especially the TV movies crap, and some astounding scenes; such as this one with Silva who blasts several henchmen with a bazooka even without loading his barrel with only one ammunition shell !!! Or the cars used by the bad guys, are second handed french cars - Renault 12 - that even the french gangsters would never use. Bad guys don't use this kind of cars. That's the first time, since forty years I Watch crime films, I see that. I am astonished.
But I love it. That changes.
It remains the worst of Fernando Di Leo, the greatest Italian crime movies directors ever. Action flicks, I mean. I don't speak of Damaiano Damiani or Pasquale Squieteri, of course, who made non action crime films about the mafia. The real one as it actually existed.
But I love it. That changes.
It remains the worst of Fernando Di Leo, the greatest Italian crime movies directors ever. Action flicks, I mean. I don't speak of Damaiano Damiani or Pasquale Squieteri, of course, who made non action crime films about the mafia. The real one as it actually existed.
Another miss from Fernando Di Leo...
Sorsimus1 July 2003
A silly terrorist- professional- caper action turkey.
Arab oil sheik hires a group of professionals to steal him the secret of synthetic fuel.
Again, as usual, Fernando Di Leo fluffs it! Good cast (Silva, Di Lazzarro), entertaining script with lots of action and explosions and the beautiful locations of Monaco. The result is a hapless turkey that fortunately is funny enough to make you laugh...
Compared to his peers, Di Leo's directing style could best be described as "fit for television". The camera is always fixed in the corner of the room or the street, and as long as no one forgets most of their lines: it's a take. In addition to the lack of visual style, Di Leo also has no sense of pace. When watching a Di Leo film you can tell which scenes were meant to be exciting. The problem is they never really are.
Killer Contro Killers is Di Leo's last film to date, so whatever cult reputation he might have is probably based on the more famous exploitation films he made in the sixties and seventies which I've yet to see.
Not recommended.
Released on video in Finland in the mid eighties.
Arab oil sheik hires a group of professionals to steal him the secret of synthetic fuel.
Again, as usual, Fernando Di Leo fluffs it! Good cast (Silva, Di Lazzarro), entertaining script with lots of action and explosions and the beautiful locations of Monaco. The result is a hapless turkey that fortunately is funny enough to make you laugh...
Compared to his peers, Di Leo's directing style could best be described as "fit for television". The camera is always fixed in the corner of the room or the street, and as long as no one forgets most of their lines: it's a take. In addition to the lack of visual style, Di Leo also has no sense of pace. When watching a Di Leo film you can tell which scenes were meant to be exciting. The problem is they never really are.
Killer Contro Killers is Di Leo's last film to date, so whatever cult reputation he might have is probably based on the more famous exploitation films he made in the sixties and seventies which I've yet to see.
Not recommended.
Released on video in Finland in the mid eighties.
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