Hit List is a 1989 action-thriller film directed by William Lustig and starring Jan-Michael Vincent, Lance Henriksen, and Charles Napier. The movie follows three ex-marines, played by Vincent, Henriksen, and Napier, who become vigilantes to track down the man responsible for murdering their friend's family. The movie begins with ex-marine Waco (Vincent) meeting with his old military buddies, Clete (Henriksen) and Dalton (Napier), in a bar. They are celebrating the return of their friend, Dave, who has been away for a few years. Dave shows them pictures of his wife and children, but the mood quickly turns when he receives a phone call informing him that his family has been brutally murdered.
The three friends attend the funeral and vow to seek revenge on the person who killed Dave's family. They begin investigating and quickly learn that the murder was ordered by a wealthy businessman named Morgan (Rip Torn) who has ties to the government.
Waco, Clete, and Dalton decide that they need to take matters into their own hands and form a vigilante group called The Hit List. They start taking out Morgan's men one by one, with Waco being the main enforcer. As they get closer to finding and killing Morgan, they start to question their own methods and the legality of what they are doing.
The plot thickens as Morgan hires a hitman named Becker (Robert Davi) to take out The Hit List. Becker is a skilled assassin who is not afraid to use any means necessary to complete his job. The final showdown between The Hit List and Morgan's men, including Becker, is a tense and action-packed sequence that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
The acting in Hit List is solid, with Jan-Michael Vincent delivering a strong performance as the leader of The Hit List. Lance Henriksen and Charles Napier also give memorable performances as Waco's loyal friends. Rip Torn is appropriately menacing as the main villain, and Robert Davi steals the show as the cold-blooded hitman.
The action in Hit List is well choreographed, with plenty of shootouts and car chases to keep viewers entertained. The movie does not take itself too seriously and features some humorous moments that help to break up the tension.
Overall, Hit List is an enjoyable action-thriller that will appeal to fans of the genre. The plot is straightforward, but the characters are engaging enough to keep viewers invested in the story. The film does not try to be anything more than a fun, popcorn flick, and in that regard, it succeeds.
Hit List is a 2016 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes.
