Killer Force is a slightly off-kilter heist picture, primarily because of its setting: the middle of a South African desert, with nothing but sand dunes for miles around all sides of the Syndicated Diamond Corporation. Some precious, uncut stones worth $20 million are targeted for thievin’ by a gang of criminals, and they need an inside man to help pull it off. Perhaps even one sleeping with a co-worker’s daughter (Octopussy herself, Maud Adams, never sexier).
That man is Bradley (Peter Fonda, Ghost Rider), SDC’s second-in-command of security. The wisenheimer works under the tyrannical rule of Webb (a truly menacing Telly Savalas, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), who’s such a jerk that it makes Bradley’s decision to aid the dark side that much easier. Whereas director and co-writer Val Guest (The Quatermass Xperiment) depicts that allegiance swing too quickly, it does keep Killer Force moving along — well and consistently, until the mano y mano finale.
I’m uncertain if the title refers to Webb’s bullying, under-my-thumb employment tactics or the dirty quarter-dozen of heist hatchers. It’s led by Simon Cowell look-alike Hugh O’Brian (1965’s Ten Little Indians), clad in manly neckerchief. His mercenary underlings are more notable, in that they’re played by Hammer legend Christopher Lee and double murderer O.J. Simpson. The latter can’t act, but damn, the dude can run! And, a terrific Fonda hero aside, that foot Juice is really all something as compact as this dynamite AIP release needs. —Rod Lott