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  • Writer's pictureCorporate Gamer
    • Sep 26, 2020
    • 3 min read

B-Movies of our Youth: Bloodfist VIII: Hard Way Out (1996)

Updated: Sep 28, 2020


Movie Name: Bloodfist VIII: Hard Way Out (aka Hard Way Out, aka Bloodfist VIII: Trained to Kill)

Director: Rick Jacobson

Producer: Concorde - New Horizon

Actors: Don Wilson, John Patrick White, Jillian McWhirter

Release Date: October 29th, 1996


Introduction


We have made it. We are finally on the last movie of the franchise. They were not all good movies but I had a lot of fun rewatching them after all these years. I was always confused about the name for this movie. Some places have it as Trained to Kill as others have it as Hard Way Out. It seems like is the theme with the last few movies, they start with one title but then change the name for North American audiences.


Will this franchise go out with a boom or a whimper. Let us find out.


Story


This time around Don "The Dragon" Wilson plays a teacher named Rick Cowan. He seems like a boring father that is dedicated to the teaching life. His son Chris Cowan (played by John Patrick White) thinks that his dad is very lame. Until one day, their house is raided by some agents. Then Chris sees his dad kick some butt. He is stunned by the events.


It is soon learned that Rick Cowan is not who he said he was. He is really George "Mac" MacReady. He used to be a special agent. Now, it is a matter to find out why his old allies are trying to kill him.


In order to get to him, they kidnap Rick's son and it is a matter of saving the day.


Bloodfist VIII: Hard Way Out Trailer



Bottomline


So, did it end with a boom or a whimper? I think that it is a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B.


First of all, once again the acting is cheesy and it is common at this point. However, is it just me or does the teenager in this movie look much older? He does not look his age in my eyes, but that may be just me. Also, his stereotypical teenager antics with hating his dad is not very convincing. This will not be an Oscar winner, that is for sure.


Once again the fight and action scenes are very generic. You would think the bast parts of the fights would be Don Wilson but it is not. The bad guys are the best part of the fight scenes. The bad guys look like they are the foot clan from the Ninja Turtle games. They must have come from the Acme Goon Guys Factory cause it seems for the last few movies, they all come from there.


Don Wilson once again, is not great but he does what he can. He still has limited moves and his acting is robotic but, we have come to get used to that at this point.


The writing is very lazy. There are no notable quotes or anything. It feels very cliched and the whole time, you tell yourself, I have seen this before. It comes off as if the effort was just not there.


I cannot add anything more to this as I would be repeating what I ave said for the other movies. I think the story had potential but once again the execution was lacklustre. So it does miss the mark and like Bloodfist VII, I am putting this one at the middle of the pack. It had a few moments, but there were a few times where I wanted to shut the thing off. If you are a fan of Don Wilson, there are better movies out there. This one will not be remembered fondly unfortunately.


There you go. The whole series. Which ones are your favourite or worst entries. Let us know.



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