Dangerously Close (1986)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Albert Pyun

Writers:

Scott Fields (writer)
Marty Ross (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

9 May 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Action

Tagline:

At Vista High there's a thin line between being cool and getting caught.

Plot:

Rebel without a cause or a clue at an elite but uptight college discovers some of his classmates have...

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Murder | Automobile | Secret Group | Videotape

Cast

John Stockwell	...	Randy McDevitt
J. Eddie Peck	...	Danny Lennox
Carey Lowell	...	Julie
Bradford Bancroft	...	Krooger Raines
Don Michael Paul	...	Ripper
Thom Mathews	...	Brian Rigletti
Gerard Christopher	...	Lang Bridges
Madison Mason	...	Corrigan
Anthony De Longis	...	Smith Raddock
Carmen Argenziano	...	Molly
Miguel A. Núñez Jr.	...	Leon Biggs
Dedee Pfeiffer	...	Nikki
Karen Witter	...	Betsy
Greg Finley	...	Morelli
Debra Berger	...	Ms. Hoffman
Angel Tompkins	...	Ms. Waters
Rosalind Allen	...	Mrs. McDonald
David Boyle	...	Mr. McDonald
Adam G.		(as G. Adam Gifford)
Mark Durbin
Eric Bartsch
Joe Nipote
Tony Kienitz	...	Paul
Dru-Anne Perry
Paul Rosenblum	...	Toby
Kelly Chapman
Rebecca Cruz	...	Vanessa
Noelle Nelson
Tom Fridley
Dan Bradley
Brian Maguire	...	Police Sergeant
William Zimmerman	...	Policeman
Deborah Hanan	...	Member of 'Lost Pilots' Band
Larry Key Hancock	...	Member of 'Lost Pilots' Band
Russell Scott Ziecker	...	Member of 'Lost Pilots' Band
Brad Willis	...	Member of 'Lost Pilots' Band
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Rusler

Directed by
Albert Pyun

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Scott Fields		writer
Marty Ross		screenplay
Marty Ross		story
John Stockwell		writer

Produced by
Yoram Globus	....	executive producer
Menahem Golan	....	executive producer
Susan Hoffman	....	associate producer
Karen Koch	....	associate producer
Harold Sobel	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael McCarty

Cinematography by
Walt Lloyd

Film Editing by
Dennis M. O'Connor

Casting by
Perry Bullington
Robert MacDonald

Production Design by
Marcia Hinds

Art Direction by
Bo Johnson

Set Decoration by
Piers Plowden

Makeup Department
Jeanne Van Phue	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Christopher Pearce	....	unit production manager
Jeffrey Silver	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bradley M. Gross	....	first assistant director
Robert Roda	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Lars Petersen	....	construction coordinator
Marc Saltarelli	....	assistant art director
Robert Sloan	....	set dresser

Sound Department
John Detra	....	supervising sound effects editor
Jerry Jacobson	....	supervising dialogue editor
Ed Novick	....	sound mixer
Dana Plummer	....	dialogue editor

Stunts
Clay Boss	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Connole	....	camera operator
Steve Mathis	....	gaffer
John Murphy	....	grip
Jonathan Sharpe	....	second assistant camera
Mark Simon	....	first assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dana Sanchez	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Greg MacLaurin	....	first assistant editor
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Michael Linn	....	music editor

Other crew
Claire Baker	....	production coordinator
Alexis Djivre	....	production secretary
Paul Rosenblum	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Cannon Group
• Golan-Globus Productions

Distributors

• Cannon Film Distributors (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Media Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Pan-Canadian Film Distributors (Canada)
• Scotia-Cannon (1986) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Vestron Video International (1986) (Belgium) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Campus '86 (USA)
Choice Kill (USA)

Runtime:

95 min | Germany:90 min (video version) | Germany:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Norway:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Company:

Cannon Group

Movie Connections:

Features The Delta Force (1986)

Soundtrack:

SWEET, SWEET BABY (I'M FALLING)

Similar to Brotherhood of Justice. Coincidence or not?

Reading the synopsis to this film, I was reminded of movies like Skulls and Disturbing Behavior, where a small, tightly protected group of richies form an underground society to target unwanted classmates.

This movie, written in part by actor John Stockwell who portrays the unofficial leader of the Sentinels, Verde High's fascist secret society formed to "serve and protect", is nearly identical to a made-for-tv movie released the same year called Brotherhood of Justice. Brotherhood was based on a true story of a secret society formed at a Texas high school that eventually went from theft and vandalism prevention to goals of extreme violence. So, I wonder if the writers of Dangerously Close were inspired by the same events.

The major differences between the two, however, are that Brotherhood of Justice is primarily told from the viewpoint of one of the leaders of the gang, while Dangerously Close is seen from the viewpoint of one of their prospective victims. And, secondly, in Dangerously Close, the high school principal, sponsor of the gang, was the pivotal force behind the murders. The Sentinels were only supposed to rough up a few of their targets. The Texas High School events which Brotherhood is based on, left out the involvement that the gym coach had in the secret society. That is why I think both films were inspired by the same events.

It was alright. I've always enjoyed John Stockwell, or at least his earlier appearances and behind-the-camera work. It was also nice seeing Robert Russler, though only briefly. I thought it was a pretty good B-rated thriller.