aka Menumpas Teroris
aka Menumpas Teroris
( 1986 / Indonesia )
Review by Paul Cooke
Director: Imam Tantowi Starring: El Manik , Deddy Mizwar , Advent Bangun & Barry Prima Source : Mimi VHS Japan / Wide Screen Approx 1:77:1 / English Language Presentation With Small Japanese Subtitles‘‘Trust me , we only do it for the money’’
Opening like a condensed version of The Book Of Revelations ‘The Terrorists’ explodes across the screen in all manner of man made disaster !. A cheesy model airplane literally snaps in two amidst a storm filled night sky , buildings explode whilst adorning a dodgy back projected display of hilarious proportions !. All this in the first few minutes which by today’s Box Office standards would incur a mass exodus by patrons rushing to the exit demanding their money back. Fear not though as this Indonesian outing is a shoestring budget ‘B’ movie masterwork that laces together all the ingredients for outrageous , nonsensical entertainment. Hard core fans of this type of year round turkey will gobble it up with lashings of giggle gravy.
May your funny bone be struck with the precision of a monkey playing a xylophone at the sight of an oversized clock timer placed upon dynamite , matched only by the heads of the anti terrorist unit meeting in a smoke filled room that likely doubles for a pool hall !. This sure isn’t hi tech government reassurance against the outbreak of terrorism , but it proves to be the perfect spot just outside for a full on fist fu street fight. What the heck !?. Ah , what the heck indeed , it’s a fun free for all. Slip the brain into neutral , fill up with premium brew and let your eyes glaze over as you slip into the next best thing to a fruit loop dream experience , one of the inanely bizarre kind.
The Indonesian variety of terrorists have a top secret gathering , one that takes place in a public restaurant with diners all within earshot ! , with mass mayhem on the menu and a side order of weapons to go. Only the best ‘bad’ movies have the all important dubiously dubbed voices and this is definitely no exception !. Quirky pitched tones squeak and squawk like American cartoon characters. Imagine Daffy Duck on helium , sufferin’ sucky terrorist act Doc !. But that’s not all folks. The actual terrorist group consists of a handful of characters who soon hook up with a truly zany explosives expert. They require his services in order to gather up what they need for an industrial backed inside insurance claim job that will pay millions of dollars. This expert is as mad as a hatter , but also ingeniously smart , as he sets about protecting himself from a double cross by poisoning drinks given to the group , with release of the antidote only upon immediate payment for the explosives. Things don’t exactly play out as intended though as the exchange ends in a bang !.
The group of four men and one tough lady terrorist hit the road with a mindset of destruction. Gozo heads up the gang , hired by the owner of the industrial factory , tasked with blowing up the business and splitting the insurance capital upon completion. What follows is a half botched attempt as the factory is well guarded and the terrorist faction are caught in the destructive act. With explosions going off all around the gang speed away in their car only to be pursued by a truck load of private patrol men. Assistance from the area police is called for by radio and what follows is an old school Keystone Cops caper , played out once again with a back projected scenery and a wacky races scenario to revel in.
With odds of escape overwhelmingly against them Gozo and cohorts smash right in through a hospital and have no choice but to hold up there as the police forces surround the complex. Gozo loud hails a warning to the officials that they have several bombs and they are ticking down to destruction !. The whole scenario is very reminiscent of John Woos ‘Hard Boiled’ , made some six years later !. Patients are huddled around the terrorists as shields against the police throughout the corridors and open areas of the hospital , and gang leader Gozo is intent on taking as many with him when it comes time to die.
Negotiations fail so its time for the Anti Terrorist Unit to fly in by helicopter. Enter star cameo Barry Prima , most famous for his role as Jaka Sembung in the four ‘Warrior’ movies , looking very sartorial in his neatly pressed uniform and precision set beret. He and his team land atop the hospital roof and with unified skill storm enter the building by ropes , smashing in through the windows. Time is against them as the bombs are set to go off in just a matter of minutes.
Armed and Prima primed the special forces regimentally manoeuvre the bad guys into tight corners and deftly take them out with death dealing firing force. Only Gozo escapes to the roof with his gun trained on a large gathering of terrified patients and doctors alike. It’s High Noon at the hospital high point as the clock ticks down and the bullets rain out to a bloody downpour.
Whether unintentional or otherwise the movie is one continuous barrack of barnstorming badness that belies belief , on a grand scale of totally off the chart craziness that wades deep in blissful banality. As wooden as the puppets from ‘Thunderbirds’ yet incredulously there are no strings attached to Barry Prima’s play it straight stoic performance. This Virgil Tracey of Indonesian cinema does his very best to act as if what is unravelling around him is for real !. He is one F.A.B super soldier who wades in where others fear to tread , resolute in his mission to save the day. If there is an Oscar for acting out the script from another movie altogether and pulling it off in this one he deserves it !.
An Action disaster flick on an Epic scale that has to be seen to be disbelieved proportions. Most definitely ‘The Terrorists’ is an outlandish insurrection for the midnight show masses , so far over the top it could easily leap frog the cow as it jumps over the moon !.
