Unlawful Entry (1992)

Jonathan Kaplan (The Accused) directed this creepy thriller about an outwardly friendly cop (Ray Liotta) who attaches himself to a married couple (Kurt Russell, Madeleine Stowe) whom he helps during a crisis. In short order, he's revealed to be a psychopath who wants Russell's wife, but the film is about more than Liotta's mental state. A bold script and Kaplan's astute direction peel away the layers of masculine identity in the male leads and underscore the painful conflicts good men feel when faced with classic territorial challenges. This is not as profound as Straw Dogs, but it is honest and provocative, until mayhem overcomes the final act. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

Awesome Movie!

Unlawful Entry is an awesome flick about a psycho cop who turns things upside down for an honest, innocent hardworking couple in L.A. after one innocent telephone call to the police after being burglarized by a sadistic crack-head.

This was probably a movie showing Ray Liotta at his best acting ability, since Ray Liotta plays Los Angeles police Officer Pete Davis who starts out righteous, loyal, and professional like any other typical police officer until Kurt Russell(Michael Carr) decides to disown Pete(Ray Liotta) after seeing Pete's true colors after Michael goes on a ride-along with Pete Davis and his partner Los Angeles police Officer Roy Cole(Roger E. Mosley) discovering what a dangerous psychopath Pete really is.

From there on, it becomes quite obvious that Pete is a psycho cop gone crooked after being disowned by Michael and being lovestruck by Michael's wife Karen Carr(Madeline Stowe), especially since Pete goes mad trying to get Michael out of the way and out of the picture by tarnishing Michael's credit, framing Michael with drugs in his house, barging into Michael and Karen's bedroom while Michael & Karen are in the middle of making love, plus Pete even ends up killing his own faithful partner(Roy Cole) in the line of duty in the process to shut him up and to get Cole out of the way after Cole threatens to report Davis if he didn't comply.

Therefore, Pete seemed to be a very slick con-man in law enforcement who seemed to know just about every technique and strategy to try to get what he wanted, since a lot of people were hurt and killed in the process.

So you could say this suspenseful action flick was very similar to the 1990 movie "Internal Affairs" with Richard Gere, since Richard Gere plays a psycho cop working for the LAPD too in that movie, just like Ray Liotta did in "Unlawful Entry" working for LA's finest, which was certainly enough to help tarnish LAPD's reputation in law enforcement like the "Rodney King Beating" did back in March of 1991.

Therefore, you could say that "Unlawful Entry" was almost a carbon copy of "Internal Affairs" and Ray Liotta's character in this movie was kind of a carbon copy of Richard Gere's character in "Internal Affairs", since Liotta played a dangerous psycho cop who was just as psycho and just as dirty as Gere's character was in "Internal Affairs".

Additionally, I distinctly recall back in 1993 that Ray Liotta was voted as one of the top movie villians of 1992 for his role in "Unlawful Entry", since Ray did his psycho cop Pete Davis role so well in that movie along with the fact that it just goes to show you that you simply can't even trust or call the police sometimes either.

I also found it quite interesting seeing Roger E. Mosley in this movie after his days on MAGNUM, P.I. as Magnum and Rick's old vietnam buddy(T.C.), since I'd never seen Roger Mosley play a role like this one, especially since I'd never seen Roger Mosley playing any other role in a movie before, but it was neat seeing Roger Mosley without the mustache, which made Roger Mosley look even younger than he did on MAGNUM, but Roger Mosley obviously had the body for a police officer, since he was already husky during his TC days on MAGNUM. November 7, 2008

Another overlooked masterpiece.

Another movie that brings back good theater memories.
An outstanding cast.
Russell plays the best part.
His wife is being stalked by Mr. psycho cop.(Liotta)
Russell's character evolves from Mr. Nice guy to protective hubby with an attitude.
Stowe is pretty good, she could have used some good fighting techniques to use in the movie.
Sorry I just love the Linda Hamilton (Terminator) kind of women. Beautiful.............and BAD!!!!!!!!!
Stowe wasn't "BAD" enough for my tastes, a few round house punches would have been good.
Still, her acting is well done and convincing.
Ray Liotta???
Gotta love the the guy.
Or is it, the guy you love to hate.
Charming, attractive, never judge a book by it's cover.........he turns out to be a mega psycho that unfortunately has a badge.
I won't give away any more, I just can't believe there are so few reviews on the VERY OVERLOOKED thriller.
Brilliant directing, brilliant acting, fast paced, etc........
Rent this, today!!!!
Highly recommended!!!
June 26, 2008

shoot to thrill

"Unlawful Entry" came out at a time when Americans were so hungry for those suspenseful, yet rather predictable thrillers. Ray Liotta is Pete, the nice cop who is wound just a bit too tight. Have you ever noticed that all those kooks always start out really nice and then go crazy all of a sudden? That's what makes it so entertaining not to mention funny.

If Ray Liotta was great, then Madeleine Stowe was nearly perfect in this movie. Karen had the personality of Delta Burke, the body of Madonna and the mannerisms of Bea Arthur. So she was a total handful. Karen was such a total drama queen and so over-the-top. The more her hubby told her to stay way from Pete, the more she went running toward him. It wasn't until he had his hand shoved up her skirt did Karen finally realize that Pete was a homocidal maniac. I loved the part in the very beginning when Karen made her grand entrance down the stairs to meet the policemen. You could tell she enjoyed having all eyes on her.

Kurt Russell as Michael Carr was really one of the only totally normal people in this movie. I think my favorite scene with Michael was in the beginning when Karen complaiend that she "can't sleep here." So Michael offered to take her to a hotel. Little did he know, Karen meant she wanted to move! And what woman would not feel safe with Kurt Russell?

What was up with Michael's lawyer, Roger? He was portrayed by Ken Lerner, who some viewers may remember from his bit parts on "90210?" (By the way, speaking of "90210," didn't the Carr's residence look just like the Walsh Home?) Have you ever seen any lawyer do all this? Sure, I've seen a few. They either work for O.J., Michael Jackson or Brit Brit Spears. They don't run around like this for the common man! I suppose that's why this is called a movie, because it's made up.

Officer Pete Davis was such a complete whack-job. I couldn't tell if something set him off (was it the way Karen acted around him, she was obviously very attracted to him,) or was he always like this? I love the part at the nightclub, when Pete shows up unannounced and ruffles Michael's feathers. But the scene with Pete and the hooker in his police car was just so ludicrous because it didn't add anything to the story. We already knew he was a nut and we already knew the level of respect he had for females. BTW, did anyone else think that the blonde hooker looked just like Olivia d'Abo?

When it's apparent to Michael that Pete isn't going away he offers the nut some money to bug off. That doesn't work. So as a last resort Michael goes to Officer Roy Cole (Roger E. Mosley) for help. Officer Roy Cole is Pete's ride-along-buddy, who bragged to Michael when another hooker was buzzing around them, "you see, these b itches can't get enough of us." It really wasn't a very good idea for Officer Roy to confront Pete. Suffice it to say, Pete shut him up in another far-fetched (because any police investigation would uncovered who the real killer was) scheme.

I also found the scene with Karen and Michael doing the nasty very funny. Actually I could not stop laughing when Officer Pete walks in right as Karen is literally straddling Michael. Of course Karen turns around and screams bloody murder, but one cannot help but think that she would have welcomed a menaje trois with Michael and Pete. Kurt Russell was totally believable, as the furious hubby though because there was pure furry in his eyes. He didn't blink once when he screamed to Pete, "get the **** out of my house." And just as Pete was being thrown out, Officer Roy popped his head in to make sure everything was copasetic. So funny because police don't do this.

BTW, what was up with Penny (Deborah Offner,) Karen's colleague? I am referring to the odd expression on her mouth when Karen found her. Her mouth was wiiiiiiide open; it looked like a grapefruit would have fit nicely inside there.

Anyway, the rest of the movie is rather fast-moving if not utterly predictable. I did enjoy it very much and recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys classic suspense films of the early 90's. They just don't do em like this anymore! April 19, 2008

"It must have been one HOT cup of coffee!"

I saw the movie Unlawful Entry in the theater when I was a kid and it instantly became and has remained one of my all time favorite thrillers (maybe one of my favorite all time movies period). Made in 1992 this movie holds up perfectly even after nearly 16 years.

Although the basic stalker story had been done a thousand times before, and as many have been done since, few are as satisfying and well done as this one! And none give me the same chills after seeing them countless times.

The plot in a nutshell: Young, attractive married couple Michael and Karen Carr (Kurt Russell and Madeline Stowe), move into a beautiful house in a nice, upscale neighborhood and shortly thereafter become victims of a break in and minor assault. They call the cops, which is where the trouble really begins as an intense, handsome cop, Pete Davis (Ray Liotta), falls instantly for Karen and gradually it becomes apparent that he will not be satisfied until she is his.

This all sounds familiar, I am sure, but don't let the familiarity of the plot turn you away. This movie rises above the typical stalker flick with excellently developed characters, complex situations that are not black and white, and absolutely impeccable performances, most notably by Ray Liotta who is downright scary in the role of Pete, the lovestruck cop. This is probably the most underrated/under-appreciated performance in his impressively rounded career next to his turn in "Narc." If certain moments belonging to Liotta in this film don't send a chill up your spine then maybe you just don't have one! Kurt Russell also impresses in the "average guy" role of Michael.

Unlawful Entry is excellently paced, with not a dull moment, and director Jonathan Kaplan packs a whole lot into its hour and forty-seven minutes, making this one of the most satisfying, nail-biting, edge-of-your seat thrillers you're ever bound to watch. If only every movie succeeded on all levels the way this one does!

In addition to great directing, suspense, performances and a solid script, this movie also has great stunts displaying some of the most well done and realistic fight sequences I have ever seen.

So, if you like realistic suspense, sordid goings on, creepy but good-looking men, sarcasm, helplessly watching a train wreck (figuratively speaking, of course), and yelling "no no no!" at characters who cannot hear you, then watch Unlawful Entry. You'll be glad you did. February 2, 2008

Suspense at its best.

I looked everywhere for this movie its one of those movies I can watch and watch over and over and its just as exciting as the first time I watched it. February 8, 2007

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