User reviews

It may perhaps be a very morbid statement, but it's also an undeniable truth that action movies are far more likely to gain a cult reputation when a stuntman actually dies on set. This is somewhat the hidden premise of "Stunts", an extremely low-budgeted but nevertheless compelling and entertaining late 70s popcorn flick directed by Mark L. Lester ("Class of 1984", "Commando"). The premise is processed into a "whodunit" scenario and a film-within-film narrative structure, complete with intrigues between the different cast and crew members and various red herrings regarding the possible identity of the saboteur/stuntman killer. Robert Forster tries hard to come across as the stoic and experienced stuntman, Glen Wilson, who joins the production of a low-keyed action vehicle to investigate the circumstances of the helicopter accident in which his younger brother (also a reckless stuntman) died. Glen is convinced that his brother's gear got sabotaged and that his death wasn't accidental, and he's obviously right, since more bizarre accidents occur on the set. Much more than Brian Trenchard-Smith's contemporary "Stunt Rock", Lester's "Stunts" gives us a handful of interesting insights in the world of movie stunt work and special effects. The film also wants us to believe that stuntmen form a sort of sacred community that performs specific funeral rituals and make pacts to "pull the plug" when one of them ends up living as a vegetable when a stunt goes wrong. I don't know if there's any truth in all this, but admittedly it ensures a couple of memorable scenes. Robert Forster's acting is rather wooden, but I enjoyed the roles of familiar faces in the supportive cast, such as Ricard Lynch as the arrogant special effects wizard and Bruce Glover as stuntman Chuck who makes a really nasty fall from a six-stores tower.

This neat little sleeper of a movie, which is a pre-cursor to the more mainstream THE STUNTMAN, grabs you from the first few minutes and takes you on a wild ride right up to the end. When stuntman Greg Wilson (Gary Davis) meets a grisly end while on location with a film company, his brother Glen (Robert Forster) shows up to complete the film in his place, and find out what really happened.

Several more stuntmen meet their demise and it's really looking bad for the Special Effects man Pete Lustig (Richard Lynch). Lustig is a strange fellow to be sure, but is he capable of cold-blooded murder? The surviving stuntmen seem to think so as the bodies continue to pile up.

Meanwhile reporter BJ Parswell (Fiona Lewis) arrives to do a story on the mysterious deaths and finds herself right in the middle of it all. The action-packed ending will have you on the edge of your seat as the killer is finally revealed.

I liked this film, it wasn't as good as THE STUNTMAN, but not bad either. Forster, who resembles Robert Blake, is great as tough guy Glen. You find yourself rooting for him to find the real killer. Lynch does a fine job as the creepy, lone-wolf Lustig, yet he has such a sad, puppy-dog quality to him that you find yourself hoping he's not the one. It's hard to hate someone who seems so lonely and left out. And Lewis is superb as the bitchy reporter who turns out to be pretty nice and who ends up helping to solve the mystery.

In the late 70s and early 80s, action films didn't rely on CGI to wow the audiences; stunts were what packed in the crowds—real stunts performed by real stuntmen.

Anything with cars flying 30 feet through the air would be guaranteed to fill the theatres and the limits were pushed by these 'fall guys' as to what they would do in order to impress. Stunts—AKA 'Who Is Killing the Stuntmen?' AKA 'The Deadly Game' (UK video title)—tells of one such guy, Glen Wilson (Robert Forster), who becomes involved in the making of a movie after his brother mysteriously dies performing a stunt. Suspecting foul play, he searches for clues between filming, aided by a feisty female reporter (Fiona Lewis).

Director Mark L. Lester, who later helmed the 80s 'classics' Class of 1984 and Commando, packs the film with all manner of death defying feats, but struggles to make anything special from the run-of-the-mill script. Despite a good performance from the ever-reliable Forster and good support from a raft B-movie regulars (including the great Richard Lynch), the result feels very much like a made-for-TV movie, and lacks the grittiness I was hoping for.

Stunts is enjoyable on a nostalgic level (if you love the vibe of 70s flicks, then there is some fun to be had from the movie's general atmosphere), and it does contain a few fairly impressive action sequences, but I found that, even at a running time of less than an hour and a half, the film only just managed to keep my attention.

I wish I saw "Stunts" when it first came out. I would have been thirteen years old and I would have loved every second of it. Watching it today, I liked a whole bunch of it. This movie has goodwill to spare. The cast is very likeable and most of them give nice performances. The story is silly but the stunts are cool so that balances out. The location photography is very good. I feel like visiting that hotel. All in all, I plan on watching "Stunts" again real soon. Honorable mention: Ray Sharkey.

With All Due Respect to the Stuntman Profession and the Death Defying Daring-Do, this Movie is a Bland, but sometimes Realistic Tribute.

The Subject is usually better in a Documentary Format and it is a Noble Try to make it into an Action-Drama, but at least in this one, it comes off as Cheesy and Surprisingly Ineffective and the Drama here is just Awful.

Awful Writing, Awful Music, Awful Mystery. What saves the Movie from being Worthless is the On Screen setting up of the various Stunts with attention to Details about the Methods and Machines used to Pull Off the Magic.

These Scenes are well Photographed and Clearly Presented and the Mechanics behind the Stunts is Informative and Invites Viewer Curiosity. But other than that the Movie Strains to be a Movie and is as Intriguing as an Average TV Episode of an Average TV Show.

Robert Forster, Joanne Cassidy, and some Real Stunt Men make every Effort to Entertain but are Betrayed by a Boring Script and a General Feeling of just Going Through the Motions.

It's Baffling Lack of Energy and Suspense has to be Laid at the Feet of the Writer and the Director who Produce a Movie Homage about Movie Stuntmen and if the Movie Itself was a Stunt, Everyone would call for a Do Over.

I have seen this one many times, every time I enjoy it, simple good story, good acting, stunts in stunts, beautiful women, Fiona Lewis, Joanna Cassidy and Candice Rialson. And, a very special presence, the unique face of Richard Lynch, great personality, even in a secondary role. Nice music, and great end..."just like in the movies" Well done!

Small drive in film that is really well made and entertaining. The story is straight forward and easy to follow. Someone is tampering with stunt props resulting in what appear to be accidents causing the death of multiple stuntmen. No motive is apparent, and there appear to be a number of culprits who could be the doing this. Robert Forster is the Brother of one of the victims, and he more or less takes his Brother's spot on the stunt team. As the death rate climbs, Forster remains determined to see justice done. No police are involved, as stuntmen have their own way of dealing with a comrades demise. The cast is strong, and includes the always interesting Richard Lynch. This is a movie to seek out, if you enjoy low budget films that are a very pleasant surprise. - MERK

Some fairly good stunts, with authentic setups, make this one worth watching. It's supposed to be a murder mystery, but the story just fades away and they pick a culprit near the 85 minute mark because it was time to wrap. Terrible writing and acting abound, but the motorized skateboard is a great blast from the past!

I searched for this very old & obscure 70's film because of my love for the great ROBERT FORSTER R.I.P, I've been a massive fan of his since the genius "Tarantino" resurrected his dead Career & put him in a lead role in his 90's MASTERPIECE "Jackie Brown" & since then I've been finding & getting his old films, which is a very hard thing to do as his old flicks are so rare & unavailable, it took me years to find a dvd copy of "Alligator" his 1980 B-movie creature feature!!! Anyway the dvd copy i have of "Stunts" is very poor in quality in fact it actually looks like how it would've looked watching it on the big screen in an old grindhouse theatre back in the 70's lol as it's full of old scratches & grain, it's a relic of a copy problem a vhs version put on to a dvd I'm guessing? Stunts is a fun & easy watching little low-budget B-movie Mystery, it felt like a Sunday afternoon t.v movie or a "Columbo" movie & that's fine i enjoyed it. Stunts is a mystery about a stuntman is killed during a big action scene stunt while making a movie but there seems to be foul play!!! The dead guys brother who is also a stuntman travels to the place where they're shooting the movie to take his place & investigate his brothers death, other friends of his stunt crew start to have dangerous "Accidents" & begins a race against time to stop the next stuntman from getting hurt or worse. Stunts has humour & danger mixed in with the the Action, the stunt team are a likeable bunch but it's Robert Forster who obviously stands out, nice to see Forster in the lead role as "Glen Wilson" a cool & calm stuntman.

Robert Forster is great once again, he has such a natural rugged blue collar kinda guy charm that he's a joy to watch & that's one of the reasons he became one of my favourite actors. There's some good fun stunts & a nice "Columbo" style mystery atmosphere, so Stunts is a solid little movie & a nice look at making action scenes & movies from the inside of the Stunts team. A good mystery Thriller & a nice performance from Robert Forster

In the 1960s, Robert Forster was starring in major studio movies like "Medium Cool" and "Reflections In A Golden Eye". But something happened to his career, and by 1977 he was appearing in low budget product like this movie. All the same, Forster gives a pretty credible performance, and the general level of acting by the other performers is acceptable. But it's hard to think of anything else positive about this movie. There are a number of stunt sequences, but they come off as just okay at best, routine at their worst. The main problem is with the script. Forster's character is supposed to be investigating his brother's death as well as the deaths of other stuntmen, but he hardly does any investigating at all. Most of the movie is obvious padding, and the revelation of the culprit only seems to come because the movie can't be padded out any more. Only if you're desperate.

A stuntman dies falling from a helicopter during filming. The man's brother Glen Wilson (Robert Forster) is joining the crew. On the way, he picks up reporter B.J. Parswell who is writing about the dangers of stunt work. There are more accidents on set or it could be deliberate.

This is most notable for being New Line Cinema's first production after being a distribution company. It starts with a very nice stunt and at least, the stunt work is all very nice. There are a lot of car stunts. It's a good behind-the-scenes representation. Even a simple helicopter hovering looks more dangerous when it is so close. The story isn't much. There are a couple of great actor but in general, the acting isn't that good. Just watch this for the stunt work.

Robert Forster plays a professional stuntman who discovers his younger brother, also a stuntman, was killed during filming of a movie being plagued by production problems. He suspects foul play and must discover what really happened. He eventually finds romance with an ambitious journalist doing a story on stuntmen, but he discovers something more sinister when his fellow stunt pals start turning up dead, one by one. The stunts make up for the rather standard plot, plus there's a nice supporting cast including Fiona Lewis, Ray Sharkey, Richard Lynch, Candace Rialson, Bruce Glover, and James Luisi.

STUNTS opens with a pair of black-gloved, up-to-no-good hands, as they tamper with a helicopter's safety line. Not long after, a stuntman tumbles from the same craft.

Splat!

Enter Glen Wilson (Robert Forster), who also happens to be a stuntman. Attempting to uncover the truth about his brother's demise, Wilson finds out what we already know.

Soon, Wilson's stuntman friends start having tragic "accidents" of their own.

While not overly thrilling, this movie does hold its own as a murder mystery. Forster is as good as ever, and he's joined by Fiona Lewis as stranded reporter, BJ Parswell.

Co-stars the wonderful Joanna Cassidy and Richard Lynch...