CHUCK NORRIS’s FORGOTTEN HORROR FILM: SILENT RAGE(1982)
Every time Halloween comes around cable TV networks flood their prime time schedule during October with all the well worn horror films of the past forty years.
Freddy,Jason,Myers get most of the shine, while Pinhead, Candyman and the Tall Man from the Phantasm series, are the second string and get relegated to late night viewing.
Recently, I watched a feature that I haven’t seen since I was a kid in the mid 1980’s that should make it’s way into the Halloween Horror Film Rotation Complex.
Before action actor Chuck Norris played a Texas Ranger on TV in the 90’s, he played a Texas Ranger in movies during the early 80's.
Silent Rage was released in 1982, and thought it was marketed as an action flick, it’s basically Chuck fighting with Micheal Myers with out the Shatner mask, or a rabid zombie that can’t spread disease, but can break your neck without a hint of remorse.
while talking to one of his psychiatric doctors on the phone from his family home,Kirby(Brian Libby), has a psychotic episode, killing his parents with an ax.
A postman witnesses one of the deaths and cops are called including Norris and his fat, stupid partner(Stephen Furst)who appears to have been written just to hang ‘fat & stupid’ jokes on.
A group of cops including Norris, attempt to take Kirby into custody when he exits the front door of the house,but his super strength and resilience keeps him from being easily taken in.
Long story short, about a dozen cops unload their weapons into Kirby’s chest, dropping him to the ground.
His body is sent to the hospital where the three doctors who were conducting medical experiments on him, revives Kirby’s pulse.
Dr.Spires is the Frankenstein of the crew…wanting to play god and all.
Dr.Halman sees that Kirby’s mental state is too far gone for his body to be salvaged and wants to pull the plug.
Dr.Vaughn sees Halman point, but is afraid of pissing off Spires.
Spires/Vaughn goes behind Halman’s back, reviving Kirby in secret while improving his healing abilities.
What could possibly go wrong.
Texas Ranger Norris shows up at the hospital to pick up Kirby’s death certificate, and sees that an ex-girlfriend works there. Norris finds out her brother is Halman.
Spires dodges Norris queries about Kirby’s death…buying some time to turn him into a killing machine while the Texas ranger rekindles his love thang with the ex.
Fast forward to the third act, Kirby has killed all the doctors and escaped the hospital while Norris hunts him down for the final fight.
This movie could also be called:Chuck Norris vs Micheal Myers…but without the mask and sister issues.
Even as Norris gets the best of Kirby…drop-kicking him down a water well…the film could have had a part two, adding to the Halloween/Horror ethos.
With a budget of 4.5 million for a gross of 10 million, the movie made bank and I remember it airing on television during the mid-1980's.
Maybe someone hot shot producer could remake this joint and targeted it to a newer generation who only know Chuck Norris as the TV star their grandparents enjoy.
Somebody gotta get Kirby outta that well.
