In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance (1994) starring Dean Stockwell, Michael Gross, Brent Jennings, Bruce A. Young, Brian Markinson directed by Dick Lowry Movie Review

In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance (1994)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Michael Gross in In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance (1994)

Vengeance Validation

When a cinema owner is robbed and shot at he is able to take down the licence plate of the getaway car leading to det. Tom Williams (Michael Gross - Tremors) to arrest Johnnie Moore (Brent Jennings - Child's Cry) who heads up a ruthless gang of robbers and murderers. With none of Johnnie's other victims willing to speak det. Williams refuses to give up on bringing Johnnie to justice. That is until he is gunned down in front of his young son leading to good friend Jack Lowe (Dean Stockwell - Beverly Hills Cop II) to go after the men who killed his friend.

I've always taken these "In the Line of Duty" movies to be based on true stories but if you watched "The Price of Vengeance" you would have no idea as it as generic as they come. It's that classic good guy cop who goes after the wrong gang ends up dead and his best friend takes it personally and seeks revenge. It's a storyline which has been used more times than I care to remember and whilst it can be the basis of a good action movie all it does with "The Price of Vengeance" is make it familiar.

Brent Jennings in In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance (1994)

The narrative arc is not the only familiar thing going on in "The Price of Vengeance" as everything about it is familiar and generic. From the characters whether it is good guy cop Tom to the bad guys such as Johnnie Moore. Even the performances are generic and whilst I have always enjoyed watching Michael gross in movies and shows he is essentially playing Michael gross the likeable guy in this. Faring a little better is Brent Jennings who at least delivers the dangerous side to his character.

The only thing which stands out about "The Price of Vengeance" is the array of guns which Johnnie has at his disposal and almost every scene which is leading up to something bad another gun is put on display.

What this all boils down to is that "The Price of Vengeance" ends up nothing more than a familiar cop movie where a cop gets killed and their friend goes after the killers. Is it entertaining? Well just about but it is exceptionally ordinary.


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