Unlawful Entry (film)
| Unlawful Entry | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jonathan Kaplan |
| Written by | George Putnam John Katchmer Lewis Colick (Screenplay) |
| Produced by | Charles Gordon Sulla Hamer Gene Levy |
| Starring | Kurt Russell Ray Liotta Madeleine Stowe |
| Cinematography | Jamie Anderson |
| Edited by | Curtiss Clayton |
| Music by | James Horner |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox (theatrical) Warner Home Video (DVD) |
Release date | June 26, 1992 |
Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $23 million |
| Box office | $57,138,719 (USA)[1] |
Unlawful Entry is a 1992 American thriller film directed by Jonathan Kaplan starring Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta and Madeleine Stowe. The film involves a couple who befriend a lonely policeman, only for him to develop a fixation on the wife (only she doesn't feel the same way, leading to chilling consequences). Ray Liotta was nominated for an MTV Movie Award in 1993 for his portrayal of the psychopathic cop. The film is unofficially adapted in Bollywood as the two movies, Takkar (1995) and Fareb (1996).
Plot
Michael and Karen Carr (Kurt Russell) and (Madeleine Stowe) are a couple living in an upscale part of Los Angeles, and their peace of mind is upset by an intruder coming in through their skylight one night. The intruder doesn't take anything except Karen, briefly, as a hostage, before dumping her in the swimming pool and making his escape.
The Carrs call in the police, one of whom, Pete Davis (Ray Liotta), takes an interest in the couple's case. He cuts through department red tape and expedites speedy installation of a security system in the Carrs' house.
When Michael expresses an interest in getting revenge on the intruder, Pete invites him on a "ride-along" with his partner, Roy Cole (Roger E. Mosley). After dropping Cole off, Pete takes Michael out to arrest the man who broke into the Carrs' house, offering Michael a chance to take some revenge using Pete's nightstick. Michael declines, but Pete administers a vicious beating to the intruder, leaving Michael deeply suspicious of Pete's mental stability. He suggests that Pete get some professional help and, especially, stay far away from him and Karen in the future. But Pete takes neither suggestion and instead, begins to stalk the couple particularly Karen, with whom he's obsessed. Pete even appears in the couple's bedroom one night while they are having sex, just to "check that everything's ok."
When Michael files a complaint against Pete's unwanted attentions, Pete uses his police connections to destroy Michael's business reputation. Encountering bemused apathy from Pete's superiors in the LAPD, Michael turns to Cole, (who orders his partner to cease his obsessing, see a shrink or face suspension). Pete then murders Cole, blaming it on a known criminal.
Pete then frames Michael on drug charges by planting a high supply of cocaine in the Carrs' house, leaving the way clear for him to move in on Karen. Putting his attorney's finances on the line, Michael gets out on bail and takes matters into his own hands.
Back at the Carr house, Karen rejects a now distraught Pete, who (on branding her a tease for leading him on and kissing him) goes berserk and tries to rape her. A confrontation with Mike returning home ends in Michael shooting Pete dead (with his own side arm) in (contrived) self-defense.
Cast
- Kurt Russell as Michael Carr
- Ray Liotta as Officer Pete Davis
- Madeleine Stowe as Karen Carr
- Roger E. Mosley as Officer Roy Cole
- Ken Lerner as Roger Graham
- Deborah Offner as Penny, Karen's Friend
- Carmen Argenziano as Jerome Lurie
- Andy Romano as Capt. Russell Hayes
- Johnny Ray McGhee as Ernie Pike
- Dino Anello as Leon, the Dealer
- Sonny Carl Davis as Neighbor Jack
- Harry Northup as McMurtry, Desk Sergeant
- Sherrie Rose as Girl in Jeep
- Alicia Ramirez as Taco Stand Worker
- Ruby Salazar as Rosa, the Hooker
- Spider Madison as Goatee
- Myim Rose as Layla
- T.J. McInturff as Layla's Kid
- Tiny The Cat as Merv.
- Tony Longo as Big Anglo
- Djimon Hounsou as Prisoner on Bench
- Dick Miller as Impound Clerk
Reception
The film was released in the U.S. on June 26, 1992, opening at #2 in 1,511 theaters, an average of $6,662 per theater. Grossing $10,067,609 in the opening weekend, it went on to gross $57,138,719 in the domestic market.[2]