"The Human Factor" was made in 1975, which means it's turning 40 years old this year. And yet, the themes and several aspects that feature here are still painfully relevant nowadays as well. I'm writing this user-comment in January 2015, not even two weeks after the cowardly terrorist attack in Paris, France, and still during the aftermath of numerous terror alerts all across Europe. The film centers on American families being the unwary and innocent targets of ruthless Italian left-wing terrorists. Whether for political or religious reasons, embassies and authorities in various countries are still protecting their compatriots that work abroad out of fear for kidnapping or murder. It's truly sad to see that the world hasn't changed one bit and that humanity is still as selfish and extreme as it ever was. But hey, I'm just supposed to write a review
The final project of director Edward Dmytryk, who was particularly famous in the forties & fifties thanks to movies like "Crossfire" and "The Caine Mutiny", is a tense and engaging action/thriller with a handful of harshly violent sequences and a remarkable lead role for veteran actor George Kennedy. He stars as NATO computer specialist John Kingsdale, working in Naples and playing computer games with his friendly colleague most of the time. But when he returns home to his beloved wife and three children one night, they have been viciously massacred by unknown assailants for an unknown reason. After the funeral the deeply saddened John hesitates one moment to shoot himself through the head, but he shoots the TV-screen instead and vows to personally track down his family's killers. With the help of his colleague and their computer equipment, John discovers that he deals with a group of terrorists that invade the homes of American families through responding to newspaper ads. He prevents another massacre, but meanwhile John himself is also chased by the local authorities. "The Human Factor" is an overall very solid vigilante/revenge thriller. The script is occasionally tedious and confusing due to all the computer slang, especially during the first half of the film, but this is widely compensated during the explosive final act, with a furious battle in a Naples' backstreet alley and a gritty finale inside a crowded supermarket. Several people pointed out that George Kennedy was an odd choice to play the mad avenger, but he's a terrific all-around actor and brings more realism to the part. If, for example, Charles Bronson would have played John Kingsdale, "The Human Factor" would have been more stereotypical and a lot less persuasive. Recommended!
21 Reviews
A decent revenge saga.
Hey_Sweden3 March 2019
George Kennedy gets to be pretty badass in this routine but entertaining revenge thriller, playing John Kinsdale, an American computer programmer working for NATO in Italy. One night, he comes home from work to find that his whole family has been savagely executed. He's grief-stricken but also determined to mete out bloody vengeance. The people responsible are a left-wing terrorist group whose modus operandi is targeting American families living in Rome.
The final project for the filmmaker Edward Dmytryk, whose classic credits include "The Caine Mutiny" and "Crossfire", "The 'Human' Factor" still is relevant in some ways, especially for any person who has lost loved ones as a result of a terrorist act. Back then, the plot (concocted by Peter Powell and co-star Thomas Hunter) was somewhat unique for heavy reliance on the technology of the day. The script also heavily relies on viewer acceptance of what the computers in this film are able to accomplish. In 1975, computers were still fairly exotic and mysterious things to some people, and screenwriters could have them figure out any number of things. The computer intelligence here even takes the time to determine what Kinsdales' chances of success are in his mission of vengeance.
The Italian setting helps quite a bit in the telling of this competently made, and viscerally effective, picture. Kennedy is a classic type of hero who can shoot scores of bad guys without having to reload his gun, who can run the cops a good chase, and who keeps fighting even after being struck by gunfire himself. This is one of his most amusing roles, to be sure.
Other aspects of value include the Ennio Morricone soundtrack (at times, it bears the faintest resemblance to his "Once Upon a Time in the West" score) and the excellent international cast: Sir John Mills, Raf Vallone, Barry Sullivan, Rita Tushingham, Shane Rimmer, Haydee Politoff, Arthur Franz. Producer Frank Avianca plays the role of the terrorist Kamal; that's a 12 year old Danny Huston (in his film debut) cast as one of Kinsdales' sons.
The silly and not terribly plausible script never does bother to really explain what the villains hope to accomplish with their killings, but Dmytryk keeps the pace fairly consistent and basically made a watchable enough film for people who love a fun revenge yarn.
Seven out of 10.
The final project for the filmmaker Edward Dmytryk, whose classic credits include "The Caine Mutiny" and "Crossfire", "The 'Human' Factor" still is relevant in some ways, especially for any person who has lost loved ones as a result of a terrorist act. Back then, the plot (concocted by Peter Powell and co-star Thomas Hunter) was somewhat unique for heavy reliance on the technology of the day. The script also heavily relies on viewer acceptance of what the computers in this film are able to accomplish. In 1975, computers were still fairly exotic and mysterious things to some people, and screenwriters could have them figure out any number of things. The computer intelligence here even takes the time to determine what Kinsdales' chances of success are in his mission of vengeance.
The Italian setting helps quite a bit in the telling of this competently made, and viscerally effective, picture. Kennedy is a classic type of hero who can shoot scores of bad guys without having to reload his gun, who can run the cops a good chase, and who keeps fighting even after being struck by gunfire himself. This is one of his most amusing roles, to be sure.
Other aspects of value include the Ennio Morricone soundtrack (at times, it bears the faintest resemblance to his "Once Upon a Time in the West" score) and the excellent international cast: Sir John Mills, Raf Vallone, Barry Sullivan, Rita Tushingham, Shane Rimmer, Haydee Politoff, Arthur Franz. Producer Frank Avianca plays the role of the terrorist Kamal; that's a 12 year old Danny Huston (in his film debut) cast as one of Kinsdales' sons.
The silly and not terribly plausible script never does bother to really explain what the villains hope to accomplish with their killings, but Dmytryk keeps the pace fairly consistent and basically made a watchable enough film for people who love a fun revenge yarn.
Seven out of 10.
Watched filming on NATO base
yllennoc-7946626 March 2019
Recently watched this film after not seeing it for many years and it brought back many memories. I was stationed on the AFSOUTH NATO base at the time and the camera crews were there a few days doing exterior shots of the cast in some scenes. It was strange seeing this as I had just arrived there not long before and was even stranger to see the finished film at the base theater after it was released. Every time a scene would pop up showing the base or other recognizable spots (like the Navy Exchange at the climax) the audience would cheer. Not one of the best thrillers I'd seen but they did an adequate job for what it was probably budgeted for. I agree with some of the review that the cast seemed to be miscast (Kennedy never came across to me as the sort of actor that would be the lead in a film) and a bit long in the tooth. Overall everyone I knew enjoyed it but thought it could have been better. Sophia Loren also did scenes on the base in another film though it was filmed when I was not there and I'm sorry to say I can't recall it's title - though I think it was about her helping an orphaned girl.
Impressioning
fresca10221 December 1999
When I first saw this movie, I was only 9 years old. The movies idea, losing one's entire family to terrorists, haunted me for years. George Kennedy's strong portrayl of a father who is obsessed about tracking down the killers of his family, can easily be outdone by newer more daring plots. For it's time though, The Human Factor was 'on the edge of your seat' suspense that left you with a weary, empty feeling when the movie was over. Although dated, I feel it can still create an emotional response for someone who looks for more than special effects in a picture. Too bad it is out of print.
"Eye for an eye" in Naples
shakercoola7 May 2018
A British suspense thriller; A story about a middle-aged NATO electronics expert who aims to track down the killers of his family aided by a colleague and access to an early version of the internet. This is a vigilante justice melodrama which has a modicum of suspense and conviction. George Kennedy's arresting performance as a middle-aged nerd, an everyman, hulking around Campania and Lazio like an out of control ox lends a touch of realism to scenes of lex talionis. However, his character's violent tendency is unexplored so the emotional cards fail to stack fully in his favour. Ennio Morricone's score responds with just the right emotional tone throughout.
Dmytryk's last stand
robert-temple-128 February 2012
This is the last film made by the famous director Ed Dmytryk before his death. However, he must have been failing more than in health, as his creative juices seem largely to have dried up for this one. I hate to say this, because two of my old pals were involved in the production: George Davis ('in charge of production') and Roy Parkinson, Production Manager. George and Roy liked to work together whenever possible, and I can just imagine that George raised a sizeable portion of the budget for this project. He died just after Christmas in 1999, and most of the films he worked on in his long career are not listed on IMDb. Production accountants often get no screen credits, although they are the custodians of all the producers' darkest secrets, and I learned a few from George! As for Roy, it appears that he is still alive aged 95, and I hope his charming wife Lana is too. George and Roy were two of the most honest and decent men I ever knew, and this seems a fitting occasion to pay tribute to both of them. There was one occasion in particular when I had to consult with them about a most important and difficult decision involving the jobs of many people, and their support helped me to make it and eased me through a crisis of conscience caused by an act of financial corruption by the Boulting Brothers. George Davis and Roy Parkinson came from a generation when loyalty and values still existed and were widely held, though such qualities are today a vanishing commodity in a world ruled by greed. George Kennedy was a curious choice for a lead actor in this action movie, as he was already a bit old and getting overweight. Of course, he is good, but he would have been better 10 years earlier. And this is in any case really a sixties movie made in the seventies. Much of the casting is of well known names from an earlier era who are either given very little to do so that their talents are wasted (such as Rita Tushingham and John Mills) or who look shockingly past their sell-by date, such as Raf Vallone looking like a ghost of himself. The script is weak, and Dmytryk does little to save it. This is one of those films where in the story vengeance is seen to be done, and there's none of that 'they should have a fair trial' stuff, so this is a particularly gritty suspense film. I only wish it had been a better one.
Violent revenge melodrama.
barnabyrudge3 September 2003
Did Edward Dmytryck really once direct The Caine Mutiny? On the evidence of this totally uninvolving, blood stained revenge tale, it's hard to believe that Dmytryck ever possessed any directorial talent. The Human Factor is slow-moving, cynical and emotionless.
Also difficult to smallow is the presence of several fine actors. George Kennedy looks suitably frantic throughout, but is unable to make his predicament convincing due to poor scripting. John Mills has a major supporting role but his performance is as cold and inexpressive as the tone of the whole film. Raf Vallone (an Italian Oliver Reed look-a-like) meanders in and out of the story pointlessly as a policeman out to solve a multiple murder.
The story has Kennedy as a NATO war-game computer programmer who lives and works in Naples, Italy. He returns home one day to find his wife and children dead, clinically executed by a mystery gunman or gunmen. He uses his computer access to track down the killers, and figures out that those responsible are a terrorist gang intent on murdering American families that live in Europe. Instead of passing this information on to the police, he decides to turn vigilante, tracking down and killing the terrorists himself.
By 1975, film-makers clearly understood that audiences were hungry for Death Wish style revenge stories. But here, they have left out the sensational aspects of films like Death Wish, and tried (unsuccessfully) to give their story a political subtext. All this does is to slow down the action and make the plot treacherously confusing. The unpleasant finale, in which the villains lay siege to a crowded supermarket, is the only sequence which comes close to being powerful but it is over so quickly that you might miss it if you blink. All things considered, The Human Factor is a pretty dismal movie experience.
Also difficult to smallow is the presence of several fine actors. George Kennedy looks suitably frantic throughout, but is unable to make his predicament convincing due to poor scripting. John Mills has a major supporting role but his performance is as cold and inexpressive as the tone of the whole film. Raf Vallone (an Italian Oliver Reed look-a-like) meanders in and out of the story pointlessly as a policeman out to solve a multiple murder.
The story has Kennedy as a NATO war-game computer programmer who lives and works in Naples, Italy. He returns home one day to find his wife and children dead, clinically executed by a mystery gunman or gunmen. He uses his computer access to track down the killers, and figures out that those responsible are a terrorist gang intent on murdering American families that live in Europe. Instead of passing this information on to the police, he decides to turn vigilante, tracking down and killing the terrorists himself.
By 1975, film-makers clearly understood that audiences were hungry for Death Wish style revenge stories. But here, they have left out the sensational aspects of films like Death Wish, and tried (unsuccessfully) to give their story a political subtext. All this does is to slow down the action and make the plot treacherously confusing. The unpleasant finale, in which the villains lay siege to a crowded supermarket, is the only sequence which comes close to being powerful but it is over so quickly that you might miss it if you blink. All things considered, The Human Factor is a pretty dismal movie experience.
If our demands are not met all of you will die!
sol-kay9 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** "Death Wish" like film with the big and as harmless as a Teddy Bear John Kingsdale, George Kennedy, going ballistic when his family is massacred by a gang of international terrorists in their home in Naples Italy. Working for NATO as an electronic expert Kingsdale with the help of his computer expert friend Mike McAllister, John Mills, uses NATO's most state of the art commuter equipment, the ironically named 9/11 computer system, to track down his family's murderers and exact brutal revenge, not justice, on them.
Going against his good friend McAllister's advice in letting the law do the job of tracking his family's killers down Kingsdale with an 8% chance, according to he 9/11 computer system, of getting the job done and 92% chance of getting killed in trying goes all out in what seems like a kamikaze like attempt to finish the bloody job that he's about to start. A job that will leave a trail of corpses, terrorists and their victims, that is to end in a bloodbath at the NATO commissary in Naples!
Big George Kennedy despite his menacing size seems so out of shape that there's times in many of the movie chase scenes that he looks like he'll collapse from sheer exhaustion in chasing terrorists 100 pounds lighter and 20 years younger then himself. Getting a hold of one of the terrorists leader's the American Taylor, Thomas Hunter, Kennedy or Kingsdale needed a car to catch up with him in that there's no way to convince the audience that he could have done that on his own with just shoe leather! Huffing and puffing his way through the movie where in some scenes it looked like he needed oxygen to stay on his feet the almost out of breath Kingsdale finally gets to the NATO commissary where the terrorist group headed by Palestinian born Kamal, Frank Alvance, is hold up with some 100 hostages.
***SPOILERS*** Going into action before help, the Italian police and NATO forces, can arrive at the NATO commissary by driving a stolen car through it's front entrance Kingsdale blasts away at anything in his gun sights taking out the entire terrorist crew with Kamel the only survivor making a mad dash to the commissary's exits. With the heavy footed, at well over 250 pounds, Kingsdale catching up with him he makes sure that Kamel never gets a chance to stand trial by pumping a full magazine, that he reloaded his 9.mm with, of slugs into him!
Going against his good friend McAllister's advice in letting the law do the job of tracking his family's killers down Kingsdale with an 8% chance, according to he 9/11 computer system, of getting the job done and 92% chance of getting killed in trying goes all out in what seems like a kamikaze like attempt to finish the bloody job that he's about to start. A job that will leave a trail of corpses, terrorists and their victims, that is to end in a bloodbath at the NATO commissary in Naples!
Big George Kennedy despite his menacing size seems so out of shape that there's times in many of the movie chase scenes that he looks like he'll collapse from sheer exhaustion in chasing terrorists 100 pounds lighter and 20 years younger then himself. Getting a hold of one of the terrorists leader's the American Taylor, Thomas Hunter, Kennedy or Kingsdale needed a car to catch up with him in that there's no way to convince the audience that he could have done that on his own with just shoe leather! Huffing and puffing his way through the movie where in some scenes it looked like he needed oxygen to stay on his feet the almost out of breath Kingsdale finally gets to the NATO commissary where the terrorist group headed by Palestinian born Kamal, Frank Alvance, is hold up with some 100 hostages.
***SPOILERS*** Going into action before help, the Italian police and NATO forces, can arrive at the NATO commissary by driving a stolen car through it's front entrance Kingsdale blasts away at anything in his gun sights taking out the entire terrorist crew with Kamel the only survivor making a mad dash to the commissary's exits. With the heavy footed, at well over 250 pounds, Kingsdale catching up with him he makes sure that Kamel never gets a chance to stand trial by pumping a full magazine, that he reloaded his 9.mm with, of slugs into him!
Dirty George
bkoganbing25 July 2012
Edward Dmytryk ended his feature directorial career with this rather routine action film which is a little sluggish. The Human Factor was hardly the kind of film that a celebrated director should have gone out on. After all, Dmytryk has such classics as Murder My Sweet, Crossfire, and The Caine Mutiny to his credit.
George Kennedy is our hero/protagonist who has his wife and three children executed by terrorists who made his the first targeted family of an extortion plan to kill an American family every three days if the USA does not pony up some large coin of the realm.
As Kennedy is a computer programmer working and living in Rome he has access to some real intelligence gathering machinery. Colleagues like John Mills and Rita Tushingham help. Kennedy upsets Italian police inspector Raf Vallone with his pro-active approach and doing his own investigation.
The Human Factor is a slow paced film, but it does have a nice action packed climax where Kennedy takes care of business the way Dirty Harry Callahn would. You'll enjoy if you can wait that long.
George Kennedy is our hero/protagonist who has his wife and three children executed by terrorists who made his the first targeted family of an extortion plan to kill an American family every three days if the USA does not pony up some large coin of the realm.
As Kennedy is a computer programmer working and living in Rome he has access to some real intelligence gathering machinery. Colleagues like John Mills and Rita Tushingham help. Kennedy upsets Italian police inspector Raf Vallone with his pro-active approach and doing his own investigation.
The Human Factor is a slow paced film, but it does have a nice action packed climax where Kennedy takes care of business the way Dirty Harry Callahn would. You'll enjoy if you can wait that long.
Good revenge flick
dopefishie17 July 2023
It's fun to see George Kennedy in this kind of a role as a grieving father out for revenge. I've mostly only seen him in westerns up until now. Raf Vallone was excellent as the Inspector and always a pleasure to watch. The plot is pretty straightforward stuff so there's very little mystery to be had here.
Good soundtrack. Good action sequences toward the end (you have to wait for them).
The most interesting part was how old school and all-knowing the computers are in this film. Literally, the characters are physically connecting telephones to large computer machines in order to send and receive green text on a black screen, and they take everything the computer says as gospel. Lol. Those were different times.
Good soundtrack. Good action sequences toward the end (you have to wait for them).
The most interesting part was how old school and all-knowing the computers are in this film. Literally, the characters are physically connecting telephones to large computer machines in order to send and receive green text on a black screen, and they take everything the computer says as gospel. Lol. Those were different times.
Inhumane end for a talented and wasted director
Waiting2BShocked19 August 2002
Warning: Spoilers
** ENDING SPOILERS (which might save you the bother of watching it!!) **
NATO electronics expert Kennedy is out for blood after his family are done in by terrorists, with Mills on hand rather incongruously to give technical advice. The most worrying facet of this appallingly scripted and unprepossessingly staged bit of misanthropic reactionary violence is its marking of the passing of the surely senile Dmytryk; however its apogee of tastelessness is reached in the climactic supermarket shoot-out, replete with women and children cowering on the floor whilst blowsily unlikely 'Lone Wolf' Kennedy riddles his adversaries with very visceral holes amidst a maelstrom of baked beans and soap powder.
NATO electronics expert Kennedy is out for blood after his family are done in by terrorists, with Mills on hand rather incongruously to give technical advice. The most worrying facet of this appallingly scripted and unprepossessingly staged bit of misanthropic reactionary violence is its marking of the passing of the surely senile Dmytryk; however its apogee of tastelessness is reached in the climactic supermarket shoot-out, replete with women and children cowering on the floor whilst blowsily unlikely 'Lone Wolf' Kennedy riddles his adversaries with very visceral holes amidst a maelstrom of baked beans and soap powder.
Really hit home while working overseas!
philip-evans6 June 2007
I generally don't care for revenge films but this was a rare exception! I did not see it when it was first released, but a few years later while I was working as an American ex-patriot in Saudi Arabia. My family and children were with me in Saudi, and we lived on the local economy, as George Kennedy did in the movie. This movie really hit home with me and a lot of other ex-pats that were overseas at the time! It showed how vulnerable we really were living in a foreign country where we were quite often resented for even being there!
I've always been a George Kennedy fan, even though he's probably not the greatest actor of all time. He's a very likable and believable actor that consistently does a good job! I give him and this film both of my thumbs up!
I highly recommend this film to anyone that is even thinking about taking a job in a foreign country!
I've always been a George Kennedy fan, even though he's probably not the greatest actor of all time. He's a very likable and believable actor that consistently does a good job! I give him and this film both of my thumbs up!
I highly recommend this film to anyone that is even thinking about taking a job in a foreign country!
OBSCURE FILM...TERRORIST THREAT PERSONALIZED...EXCITING...GRITTY...OVERLOOKED
LeonLouisRicci9 August 2021
Low-Budget American-Italian Revenge Plot.
Personalized by an American Computer Programmer Stationed in Italy.
Last Film From the Celebrated Director Dymytryk Known for "Crossfire" (1947), "Murder My Sweet" (1944), "The Caine Mutiny" (1954), and Others.
His Hollywood Career became Exiled by the HUAC Witch-Hunt.
Intense Film, Anchored by a Determined, No-Nonsense George Kennedy.
After His Family is Executed, a Near-Suicidal Kennedy Regroups and Sets-Out on a Vendetta Against the Terrorist Responsible.
His Family, as it Turns was a Random Display of Activity to Extort Money and Prisoner Release.
Killing American Families Until Demands are Met.
The Computer Organization who Employs the Juggernaut who is Kennedy is Linked to the U. S. Govt and Specifically the Military.
Gets Help from Friendly Insiders and the Hunt is On.
Taut, Violent, and Suspenseful Film with a Surprisingly Effective Combination of Brains and Brawn from a Limited Actor.
Gritty, Far-Fetched, Wild and Primitive Display of 1975 Embryonic Computer Technology.
Films Date this Sort of Thing Profoundly and is Always an Awkward Attraction.
A Hidden-Gem Discovery.
Despite the Stone-Age Distraction of the Computers and the Hubris of its Overseer's Imaginary Capabilities,
The Film is Definitely...
Worth a Watch.
Personalized by an American Computer Programmer Stationed in Italy.
Last Film From the Celebrated Director Dymytryk Known for "Crossfire" (1947), "Murder My Sweet" (1944), "The Caine Mutiny" (1954), and Others.
His Hollywood Career became Exiled by the HUAC Witch-Hunt.
Intense Film, Anchored by a Determined, No-Nonsense George Kennedy.
After His Family is Executed, a Near-Suicidal Kennedy Regroups and Sets-Out on a Vendetta Against the Terrorist Responsible.
His Family, as it Turns was a Random Display of Activity to Extort Money and Prisoner Release.
Killing American Families Until Demands are Met.
The Computer Organization who Employs the Juggernaut who is Kennedy is Linked to the U. S. Govt and Specifically the Military.
Gets Help from Friendly Insiders and the Hunt is On.
Taut, Violent, and Suspenseful Film with a Surprisingly Effective Combination of Brains and Brawn from a Limited Actor.
Gritty, Far-Fetched, Wild and Primitive Display of 1975 Embryonic Computer Technology.
Films Date this Sort of Thing Profoundly and is Always an Awkward Attraction.
A Hidden-Gem Discovery.
Despite the Stone-Age Distraction of the Computers and the Hubris of its Overseer's Imaginary Capabilities,
The Film is Definitely...
Worth a Watch.
fairly watchable thriller
botfeeder16 April 2020
The negatives are: Terrible picture, apparently a made-for-TV movie but seems even worse resolution than standard definition. Plot is pretty plain vanilla.
Positives: It does make it a bit offbeat for the hero to be a fat nerd rather than a sex symbol. And the shootup scenes at the end were well done.
Neutral: Movies where tech plays a major role are always weird to watch when they're from an era when leading edge electronics was so primitive.
Positives: It does make it a bit offbeat for the hero to be a fat nerd rather than a sex symbol. And the shootup scenes at the end were well done.
Neutral: Movies where tech plays a major role are always weird to watch when they're from an era when leading edge electronics was so primitive.
Worth watching (once)
glockenspiel15 December 2001
Although it surely didn't wow me, I think this movie had an interesting and somewhat suspenseful storyline. George Kennedy was practically a superhero here: running up flights of stairs and jumping rooftops without pausing for breath, nailing every target with his trusty handgun, and fighting the bad guys despite knife and bullet wounds. How did he do it? Anyway, it was an extremely serious film without a joke or gag in there (hard to believe from this that George went on to be in the Naked Gun trilogy), so don't put it on if you're almost out of anti-depressants. You can have a bit of fun by counting Pepsi references, though. I counted 3.
Halfwit Gorilla Romps Through Naples
peterwcohen-300-9472009 November 2020
Wow. This was bad. Like a made-for-TV movie, but made for Bulgarian TV, circa 1975. What do you get? Sci-fi computer programs that are alleged to predict human behavior. Characters with absolutely zero character development or insight. Disjointed dialog that makes no sense. Editing by the pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey method. Three great actors -- George Kennedy, John Mills and Rita Tushingham -- who are massively embarrassed by the worst shlock any of them ever appeared in. And a lumbering oaf of a 'hero' who would rather risk the lives of innocents than call the police when he knows where the baddies are about to strike next. Oh, and the police? I don't wonder if the Italian government logged a complaint for making their cops look like dolts.
Fat man's revenge...
Mikew300117 September 2003
"The Human Factor" is a typical revenge movie in the wake of "Dirty Harry", "Death Wish" and "Straw Dogs" with an American special agent and computer specialist in Italy losing his family by a terrorist's assault at his home and taking bloody revenge.
This British-Italian co-production from 1975 contains many typical subplots of the seventies - conspiracy movies, secret agent films, left-winged political terrorism, high-tech-computers and revenge dramas. George Kennedy plays the hero and does a good job as hard-edged, desperate family father turning to a merciless killer, although he is no Clint Eastwood or Charles Bronson. Especially in a long hunting scene overweight Kennedy seems to be very out of breath...
The scripts lacks a bit of logic sometimes, as the real motivation of the terrorist group is never really explained, but all in all the film keeps the action, thrills and suspense always going and adds some very scary moments and furious action sequences, especially the big showdown in a supermarket. Ennio Morricone's sound tracks puts even more thrills and atmosphere to this dark political thriller that can be seen as a "sleeper" for fans of seventies' hardcore action cinema. Recommended!
This British-Italian co-production from 1975 contains many typical subplots of the seventies - conspiracy movies, secret agent films, left-winged political terrorism, high-tech-computers and revenge dramas. George Kennedy plays the hero and does a good job as hard-edged, desperate family father turning to a merciless killer, although he is no Clint Eastwood or Charles Bronson. Especially in a long hunting scene overweight Kennedy seems to be very out of breath...
The scripts lacks a bit of logic sometimes, as the real motivation of the terrorist group is never really explained, but all in all the film keeps the action, thrills and suspense always going and adds some very scary moments and furious action sequences, especially the big showdown in a supermarket. Ennio Morricone's sound tracks puts even more thrills and atmosphere to this dark political thriller that can be seen as a "sleeper" for fans of seventies' hardcore action cinema. Recommended!
Take anything, but not my family!
stump6926 October 1999
Having just finished reading Maltin's one line summary of this film, I have to assume that he didn't see it, or has forgotten it if he did. "A violent, bloody chronicle..." he opines. Any man who truly loved his family would become violent and would spill the blood of those who took away his most cherished things on earth, his wife and children. I saw this film during it's initial release in Europe in 1975 and it gave me an enhanced appreciation for my family. I highly recommend it and will purchase it on DVD if it's available. The only reason I don't already own this film is I'd forgotten the title over the years. Thanks to the staff of IMDb for the excellent filmographies that allow searches of this type.
Very Good movie.
james1-494-8268577 April 2020
THOMAS HUNTER WROTE IT FOR HIMSELF
dasilentpardner-6503729 October 2022
Thomas Hunter was inexplicably chosen by Dino DeLaurentis in 1966 to head up a western film called 'The Hills Run Red,' a film that was originally earmarked for Burt Reynolds to star in. For whatever reason, Hunter was at the right place at the right time and won the role and the resulting Spaghetti Western, though no masterpiece, garnered Hunter some good reviews. It was generally agreed that he was highly attractive, could hold the screen, and had a promising future in film.
Flash forward nine years and the bloom was off the rose as they say. Hunter's career had not proved a dynamo and, a decade on, he wasn't as attractive as he once was. So he wrote a film and wrote a role for himself in it and the result is 'The Human Factor.' This film is no great shakes but it has a tight interesting revenge plot and, though dated by today's standards (mostly having to do with computer capabilities), the tension still holds up. George Kennedy is the pudgy everyman who seeks revenge (refreshing in the era of Charles Bronson), John Mills (just five years after his Oscar-winning turn in 'Ryan's Daughter') plays his friend and co-worker, and wide-eyed Rita Tushingham drifts in and out as another co-worker. And then there is Thomas Hunter as the bad guy, the role he wrote for himself.
There's a nice Ennio Morricone score, a surprise or two in the plot, and enough tension to keep one interested if not exactly glued to it.
A pretty solid actioner if you can accept the plotholes.
Great for fans of Thomas Hunter or '70's action flicks.
Flash forward nine years and the bloom was off the rose as they say. Hunter's career had not proved a dynamo and, a decade on, he wasn't as attractive as he once was. So he wrote a film and wrote a role for himself in it and the result is 'The Human Factor.' This film is no great shakes but it has a tight interesting revenge plot and, though dated by today's standards (mostly having to do with computer capabilities), the tension still holds up. George Kennedy is the pudgy everyman who seeks revenge (refreshing in the era of Charles Bronson), John Mills (just five years after his Oscar-winning turn in 'Ryan's Daughter') plays his friend and co-worker, and wide-eyed Rita Tushingham drifts in and out as another co-worker. And then there is Thomas Hunter as the bad guy, the role he wrote for himself.
There's a nice Ennio Morricone score, a surprise or two in the plot, and enough tension to keep one interested if not exactly glued to it.
A pretty solid actioner if you can accept the plotholes.
Great for fans of Thomas Hunter or '70's action flicks.
Do not confound with another HUMAN FACTOR in this DEATH WISH vs terrorists scheme.
searchanddestroy-128 February 2024
The first thing I want to say is that there is something in common between Edward Dmytryck and Otto Preminger: one thing. Both finished their career with movies with the same title: HUMAN FACTOR. Both thrillers, but one of them is more action oriented and the second more "political". Both movies speak of terrorism, but both films are different. George Kennedy plays a family man whose wife and kids are slaughtered by a group of terrorists and then, as you can guess, the father will go on a vengeance rampage. The middle of the film is not that excitng, only the ending is worth for this last Ed Dmytryck's film. Here, in this late seventies feature, it is question of terrorism - very in fashion in those periods - and more or less vigilante scheme. DEATH WISH meets terrorists. George Kennedy excellent, his most convincing role.
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