Running Scared (1980)

I love this movie so much

Admirable film.

Absolutely the worst movie.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Judge reinhold never did a serious role in his life...he acts like a child most of the time and a teenager the rest....this isn't a very comical plot but the zany antics by reinhold and wahl try hard to turn it into a comedy without success...the bad guys can't shoot, drive or make a roadblock...some serious destruction of some 1957 chevrolets makes it more like mayhem...

This movie should be banned on the basis of just stupidity alone. I feel sorry for anyone who watches this mess. Reinhold, you have disappointed me. I didn't even know you had made this movie, and now wish that I had never come across it, as your image has deteriorated drastically. The last comment was right on. Weapons and vehicles from another era, a plane with no bomb chute dropping invisible "bombs", a horrible acting job from ALL actors, and enough holes in the logic and plot to sink an aircraft carrier. I recommend gargling with razor blades rather than watch this b-rate crap. Awful. Just Awful.

Sundry video titles for this sloppily made movie include DESPERATE MEN, BACK IN THE U.S.A., and PANIC ESCAPE, but by any name it is fundamentally a mess, with weak performances on display throughout, and with production values being wantonly neglected as are normal measures of logic and continuity. Set in 1961, the scenario involves two young GIs: Chas (Ken Wahl) and Leroy (Judge Reinhold), freshly mustered out from tours of duty in Panama, who while hopping an Army cargo plane to Florida, native state of Leroy, take advantage of an opportunity for the latter to test his new infra red capability camera by snapping a picture of what turns out to be a clandestine U.S. military base, and when it is revealed that such a photograph is made, a less than cordial reaction is naturally forthcoming from Army intelligence officers. These latter, preparing for the Bay Of Pigs invasion of Cuba, pursue the former servicemen, and although it is not explained how their identity is learned, this is apparently of little concern to those responsible for this foolishness, and it will come as no surprise that the chase after the two young men is enacted by only Cuban soldiers who cavort about the Everglades terrorizing U. S. citizens while utilizing weapons and vehicles not manufactured until well past 1961. In the course of their flight, the youths are reluctantly joined by Sally Mae (Annie McEnroe), and the trio is tasked with surviving numerous rounds of machine gun ammunition fired at them, bombs dropped from a plane upon them, and so forth, all this while doing a good deal of shouting and screaming, with Leroy determined to lug his Army issue foot locker with him no matter the hazard or whenever the writers are disposed to remember this particular plot motif. Poorly written, directed, and edited, the film wants focus from its outset, and only one filled with admiration for a featured player is likely to weather these moronic goings-on, as the dialogue is woefully trite, with Reinhold particularly unbridled.

Chas McClain(Wahl) and Leroy Beecher(Judge)are returning home to Florida from military service in the Panama Canal zone as stow-aways on a C-47 cargo plane. Leroy is smuggling a trunk full of guns, cameras, and other goods he has appropriated as his Army "discharge bonus"When the C-47 makes an unexpected supply drop at a secret military base, under preparation for a Cuban invasion, Leroy innocently takes a photograph while testing his new infra-red camera.Chas and Leroy's civilian freedom is short-lived because a paranoid intelligence agent has discovered evidence of Judge's photography and assumes the boys are spies. Captain Munoz(John Saxon)doing his best Cuban,officer in the invasion force, is ordered to bring in the boys for questioning. Order are to stop at nothing, including torture, to get the answers they want. This is some of Reinhold best acting, he shows skill he hasn't use since. A good late-nite actioner. Oh yeah lots of cool cars from late 50's and early 60's.