

As violence escalates in Los Angeles and heinous murders are committed, Steven Hardin, a young judge of the California Supreme Court, must struggle with his tortured conscience and growing despair as he watches helplessly as the ruthless criminals brought before his court go free because clever lawyers find obscure loopholes in the law.
Acting
Hal Holbrook's creepy avuncular menace.
Direction
Hyams makes LA feel like a pressure cooker.
Writing
The rare thriller that punishes the 'solution.'

Director
Peter Hyams
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Hyams shot this back-to-back with '2010'—same paranoid visual palette, wildly different genres.
Released at peak 'tough on crime' Reaganism, it's a fascinating liberal anxiety film disguised as a thriller.
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