Enemy Territory (1987) User Reviews

Why is this film not available on DVD?

[TheDarkMutt · 7/10 · 16 December 2009]

I was put on to this film by a friend of mine. It's a great flick with a good pace and interesting characters. Admitted some of the acting is a little shameful, but Jan Michael Vincent supplies us with a solid performance as the gruff ass kicking paraplegic with Knives in his wheel chair (how cool is that?). If you enjoyed the Warriors than this is definitely worth a watch.

But why is this not on DVD? Have searched high and low and can't find it anywhere.

Had to watch in poor VHS quality with German subs which was a little annoying, but did not detract from my enjoyment of the film.

Very sympathetic heroes ............

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 10 January 2012]

A nice assortment of characters, are terrorized by a gang called the "Vampires", while desperately trying to escape from a "project" high rise. The strength of this film is having very sympathetic heroes, Gary Frank, and Ray Parker Jr., interacting with likable tenants, including Jan Michael Vincent playing a whacked Vietnam Vet. The "Vampire"gang are all generic, unmemorable, minority thugs, with the notable exception of "The Count". The movie is both claustrophobic, and a real stretch of realism, but is nevertheless entertaining. Considering the limited budget, "Enemy Territory" is a surprisingly good film..... - MERK

"There's a war going on here"

[lost-in-limbo · 7/10 · 26 June 2010]

This was one of those films I constantly saw on the video previews of ex-rentals and each time I saw it pop up my hunger only grew to watch it. Produced by Charles Band's Empire pictures, "Enemy Territory" was a nice surprise (strangely not on DVD yet) and truly a sock 'em urban action survival romp that is compulsively brutal, raw and relentless in its tightly constructed surges.

Barry (Gary Frank) a struggling insurance salesman heads out to a rundown complex building the Lincoln Towers late one evening for a client (Frances Foster) to sign some very important papers for his company and especially for himself. However he gets caught in an altercation which sees him fighting for his life against a savage gang called the vampires, who rule the building at night. Also getting involved is Will (Ray Parker, Jr) a telephone repairman who comes to his aid. It's going to be one long night for the pair, as they try seeking help from the buildings tenants or it would be their blood for the vampires. They hunt at night for blood.

A low-budget, but well-pulled off enterprise by director Peter Manoogian. He creates a gritty edge from its surroundings (plenty of taut corridor running), where the pacing is fast, the tension is on boil and the claustrophobic build-up has you biting your finger nails. A simple-minded script keeps it tough, especially with its biting wit and a bit of social commentary lingers on urban decay. Still just take it as caught in the wrong place, at the wrong time situation. Coming to the forefront is the potent performances by the cast. Gary Frank is fittingly good in his meek portrayal and Ray Parker, Jr is affably brought across. Their chemistry simply crackles. The tremendous standout would be aggressively hammy and towering Tony Todd as the count, the leader of the gang. His speeches are pure poetry and he eats it up. A spunky Stacey Dash adds plenty of kick to her role and also Frances Foster. Jan-Michael Vincent would appear in a small part as a grizzled, resentful paraplegic Vietnam veteran. In the background is a pounding soundtrack.

gritty thriller in the projects

[davethorne700 · 23 August 2002]

New York has never looked so good! This is a gritty thriller set in a tower block, where an unfortunate insurance salesman finds himself trapped on the top floor in a building controlled by the local gang called the Vampires. The Vampires are out for blood after the salesman unwittingly insults one of the gangs younger members on his way to sign a deal which should earn him a nice commission. Luckily he gets some help along the way by none other than Ray Parker Junior, and together with some friendlier residents of the block, they try to escape certain death. Quite a tense movie with a cool soundtrack and a nice score. But the best thing is Tony Todd (pre - Candyman) as the demented evil leader of the Vampires and his sidekick - Psycho! I own a copy of this on VHS Pal and think it,s well worth watching if this sort of thing is your cup of tea.

B-Movie Jewel

[ricardovs27 · 7/10 · 19 May 2006]

This flick is a good representative of the 80's underrated B-movies, that gets you not by the quality, but specially by the lack of it. The best thing is when a movie does not take itself seriously, the essence of a nice low-budget production. The acting is poor and over the top, the surroundings are clearly used from another pictures done before, very goofy lines and involuntary humor. And you gotta love it! All these are present here, helped by the reverse Midas touch of the prolific producer Charles Band, notorious for his Roger Corman wannabe personality, that guarantees the fun for a penny. In the story, a phone company worker (Ray Parker Jr., whose sole glory was the making of the hit song "Ghostbusters", in his acting debut) is caught up in the middle of a crisis with a violent street gang called the Vampires, that control a project building where a rundown insurance salesman played by Gary Frank stepped on the wrong toe by touching a gang member after dark; the Vampires leader, The Count (Tony Todd), wants blood to make amends and the duo must fight for their lives until the sun comes up, with the helping hand of some courageous inhabitants. This suspense is OK, the situations are OK, I am OK and you are OK. Be OK by watching this OK movie. You'll feel just OK after.

The film has a lot to offer and should be more widely seen.

[tarbosh22000 · 7/10 · 28 July 2014]

Barry (Frank), a New York City-based insurance salesman, has been down on his luck lately. But when his boss offers him a policy with a potentially large commission, he jumps at the chance. The only problem is, he must go into the Lincoln Towers, a frightening, dilapidated housing project not exactly friendly and welcoming to his kind (i.e., White outsiders). However, feeling he has nothing really to fear, and needing the money, he goes into the towers. But it's not long until Barry discovers that the buildings are controlled by a street gang known as The Vampires, led by an intimidating psycho known as The Count (Todd). His gang members are extremely loyal to him, and when he sends out the order to kill "The White Ghost", as well as a kind Vietnam vet helping him survive, Will Jackson (Parker Jr.), who the gang calls "The Blood Traitor", all hell breaks loose. With the assistance of Toni Briggs (Dash) and another Vietnam vet, Parker (JMV), the frazzled Barry is going to learn, over the course of one hellish night, that there are some things in life more valuable than money. Will he ever escape ENEMY TERRITORY? Enemy Territory is an under-appreciated gem that seemingly got lost in the video store shuffle. More people need to seek this movie out: it's engaging, intense, and completely worth seeing. Sadly, it was one of Ray Parker Jr.'s only major film acting roles. He probably found it to be an easy transition from serenading us about ghosts to fighting Vampires. He even predates John McClane in being a barefoot hero in a high-rise. But the movie as a whole isn't a knockoff of Die Hard (1988), like so many others were at this time. Try to imagine a cross between The Warriors (1979), Chains (1989), Dead End City (1988), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Tenement (1985) and The Raid (2011). And coincidentally, Tony Todd would return to the projects with Candyman (1992). So while the movie suffers from the common problem of slowing down a bit and getting a tad repetitive pre-climax, on the whole it's a solid, absorbing winner.

Plus, this was to mark the first and only time RPJ met JMV. Vincent puts in what is honestly one of his best performances of his that we've seen to date. He seems angry and focused, and not at all drunk. His role is cool, that of an embittered, wheelchair-bound Vietnam vet who is heavily armed (even his wheelchair is tricked out with weaponry, which, needless to say, is awesome). He even calls Barry "jerk meat", which must be a distant cousin to Judd Nelson's immortal "Jerk Beef" of a few years later. JMV is always the trendsetter. Speaking of Barry, Frank did an excellent job in the role, but we also feel Judge Reinhold could have played that part. But then again, Hostage Train proves that the man can do literally anything.

Featuring some great, un-PC dialogue and box art that features the WTC towers prominently, Enemy Territory is from another time in history. A time when movies were actually good. The film has a lot to offer and should be more widely seen. We recommend it.

wow...thought i was the only one!

[tenthousandtattoos · 6/10 · 25 April 2007]

This is great! I want this movie on DVD!!!! I thought to myself this movie couldn't possibly have scored good on IMDb i didn't think anyone else liked it! It was one of those movies I "grew up" watching...and haven't forgotten it to this day...can practically play it scene for scene in my head :) I used to do a double bill when I was like, 13-14yo, I'd watch the Warriors (1979) and then follow up with Enemy Territory...they were the perfect B-movie popcorn combo - both set in gritty NY...the old, hardcore NY - 70's and 80's...what a time to live there! And both take place in the space of one night - to me, this creates so much tension in a film...i love the sunrise scenes when the nightmares are over...perfect. I recommend the Warriors if you like this movie, and vice-versa.

Enemy Territory

[dukeakasmudge · 5/10 · 20 February 2017]

Enemy Territory was a pretty good movie & better than I expected it to be.I watched it from start to finish on the edge of my seat, wondering if & how Ray Parker Jr. (Yes, that Ray Parker Jr.) & the insurance salesman would make it out of the projects alive.Speaking of Ray Parker Jr., I didn't realize he was in the movie until I saw it on IMDb.Kadeem Hardison was in it as well as A-Train.A young Tony Todd was most evil as the leader of The Vampires & Jan-Michael Vincent was great as the Vietnam vet who turned his apartment into a bunker & the only tenant The Vampires were scared of because he was the only 1 who would shoot back. (Did Jan-Michael Vincent's character remind anybody else of Rowdy Roddy Piper or was it just me?) Even though it did keep me on the edge of my seat the entire time & was better than I expected, Enemy Territory isn't a movie I'd watch that often but I would watch it again.It had my attention while it was on but after it was over, I was like...... I'd recommend anybody & everybody go see it though.It's most definitely worth watching, at least once

Great stuff for those who miss the drive-in...

[woolleysheep2000 · 9/10 · 13 April 2003]

Though made in 1987, 'Enemy Territory' most resembles a drive-in exploitation movie from the seventies. Silly script, over-acting by all concerned, non-stop action and a dated 'urban' soundtrack all mean one thing - FUN!!! I've seen this countless times now, but enjoy it at every viewing. Pretty hard to find (and still no DVD release) but worth it for those seeking a 'drive-in' fix......8/10

Candyman Vs Ghostbusters

[shawnblackman · 6/10 · 29 September 2016]

A late 80's action thriller that has a yuppie insurance salesman visiting a housing project apartment building in New York at night. While in the building to collect a premium he has a mishap with a gang member from a group that all themselves The Vampires. This sets off a war between the gang and the tenants in a place the police won't go.

This flick was awesome. The Vampire gang was led by a young, skinny Tony Todd which he did just after Platoon. I met Tony Todd a couple years ago and meant to ask him if he had this on DVD because he did tell me he collects DVDs and I've never seen an official release of this one yet.

As well as Tony Todd you have Ray Parker Jr. helping the insurance guy get out of the apartment alive and playing a Vietnam vet in a wheelchair was Jan-Michael Vincent kicking ass. The film reminded me of Tenement: Game of Survival (1985) which the writer probably watched with elements of Assault On Precinct 13. The tension just keeps building in this one. An enjoyable film that's not too heavy.

looks more like 70's drive-in than 80's flick

[trashgang · 4/10 · 7 December 2010]

I found this flick at a convention for less than 1 euro on "The Company Motion Pictures" label. The bar-code started with 87 so I knew it was a Dutch label. They brought out some hard to get titles on DVD but they were just some VHS rips with unremovable subs of course. Nevertheless, I have seen this DVD going up to 30£ on ebay. The other strange part of this movie is that it was made by a director, Peter Manoogian, not well known but he was second unit director on a lot of horror flicks (The Slayer and Galaxy Of Terror) so he surely know his stuff. Another strange thing is that this is still OOP but contain some actors that had fame in 1987. Ray Parker Jr. was known for Ghostbusters (1984), Gary Frank for a lot of roles in series of the 80's, Jan-Michael Vincent for his lead role in the Airwolf series (1984) and Tony Todd is notable here in one of his first roles just before breaking through as a horror icon best known for The Candyman (1992) franchise. The flick itself never bored me, you just keep watching how they will survive the attack of the Vampire gang. It's also especially worth looking at in the beginning for the atmosphere of NY. I was there around that time and saw 42nd at the end of its glory, I even stayed at a hotel just between the grindhouses. Years later (90's) I went back, everything was gone. Anyway, it's low budget, look at the storyline, look at shadows from crew, look after 5 minutes into the film and see the microphone appearing in-camera. It happens a few times, the location is for almost 85 minutes the same, so it surely get's that drive-in feeling. It doesn't look like a flick from the end of the 80's. The effects are cheap, it's normal that it didn't got a proper release but still, worth watching for exploitation, grindhouse fans, if you can find it...

If you like The Warriors and King of New York, you'll like this movie!

[robespierre9 · 8/10 · 18 November 2008]

Just bought this on video to see Jan Michael Vincent's part. What a fun movie this was! Urban decay as literal nightmare - huge ghetto apartment, graffiti everywhere, people out to kill you, gangs running rampant - this movie has it all! It captures 'scary' New York very well. I guess you might call it soft-core Blax-sploitation. The music is 80's, but the sheer adrenaline this movie creates still registers today. Jan Michael Vincent has one of the best cameos you will ever see in a movie! He plays 'Parker', a whacked out, bubba-Vietnam vet in a wheelchair (still handsome, but crazed!) who tries to help a remarkably decent-acting Ray Parker Jr. (Yes, the very same Ghostbusters singer in his first acting role) and his white companion. JMV gives an electrifying performance! One wishes he could have had more screen time - but it's well worth seeing his brilliant 10 minutes! Tony Todd (yes, the "Candyman" himself!) is also great as the "Vampire" gang leader in this.

BRILLIANT LATE NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT!!!

[lukem-52760 · 7/10 · 25 July 2018]

Enemy territory is a fantastic 80s urban Thriller i love this film, this has that exciting & creepy atmosphere & tone like Assault on precinct 13 (1976) & alot of that 80s punk gangs feel that you get in the Death wish films & many others.This little survival film is about a really bad neighbourhood somewhere in new York City that has a really run down tenement building that is the dark hunting ground of a gang of black thugs called the Vampires who have a crazy leader played by the Awesome TONY TODD!!! & on a late Friday evening i believe or Saturday evening? Anyway IT'S getting late & nearly dark & an insurance salesman played really well by GARY FRANK has to go into the building to make a quick sale-a quick signing & back out but things go very wrong & very serious & he ends up trapped in the big scary building with the Vampires gang hunting him. A great little B-movie fun & exciting Thriller with a vety gritty look & creepy high rise building & it works perfectly with tense scenes & some other cool characters who happen to be in the building or live there such as will (RAY PARKER JR ) who is a good guy & wants to help get Barry out of the building alive!!! Also small roles for other characters like JAN MICHAEL VINCENT'S ex Vietnam nut who loves guns & STACEY DASH (Clueless) who also wants to help. ENEMY TERRITORY is great exciting fun with an AWESOME cast & an AWESOME location to for an urban survival Thriller to be set in. This is my DIE HARD set in a big building & came out a year before!!! This is better & more fun.

Wow!

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 31 August 2023]

Enemy Territory isn't available on DVD even and to find it, you have to look on YouTube. And you know, I think it's worth tracking down. It's such a strange film, directed by Peter Manoogian. He also made parts of The Dungeonmaster, Demonic Toys, The Eliminators and Arena, which I would say is a pretty great run of films. It was written by Stuart Kaminsky and Bobby Lindell, who don't have all that many credits.

It's the kind of movie that John Carpenter really likes to make, you know, a siege of a building or a film about escaping one of those places whole being surrounded by superior forces. Or even Roberta Findlay, who made Tenement or Maura O'Connell and Paul Donovan's Canadian urban invasion movie Siege. Or Walter Hill's Trespass or the Stephen Hopkins movie Judgement Night.

Barry Rapchick (Gary Frank, who mainly has worked in TV) was once a successful insurance execution, but now he's more interested in drinking. To save what's left of his career, he has to go to Lincoln Towers, perhaps the most frightening place in New York City, to complete the life insurance policy of Elva (Frances Foster). At the same time, Will Jackson (Ray Parker Jr.) comes to repair the phone lines and see his girlfriend.

Barry doesn't understand the many rules that comes with living in Lincoln Towers, like how the Vampires see it as their castle. They're a cult, more than a gang, led by the Count (an absolutely deranged Tony Todd who as always is the best thing in this movie), who mark Barry for death just for touching one of their young members, Decon (Theo Caesar).

As they try and stop him from leaving, the building's security guard and Decon are both killed. He's soon trapped in Elva's apartment along with Will as his reluctant partner, as he wants to get out just as bad. Elva sends them to find her granddaughter Toni (Stacey Dash) and they all go to find Mr. Parker (Jan-Michael Vincent), who is pretty much the only person the Vampires fear. He's a disabled Vietnam vet who hates just about every race and who has armed himself with an arsenal including a weapon-launching wheelchair.

The Vampires have taken Elva and Toni and want to exchange them for Barry, but Mr. Parker goes wild, shooting everyone he can before taking one to the chest and dying himself. The trio of Barry, Will and Toni learn that a young kid named Chet Cole (Deon Richmond) knows of a way out that no one else does. The little guy sneaks out of bed and takes them there. You may wonder if a kid being in danger is too much. Well, that kid has a baseball bat that he uses to knock one of the Vampires, Psycho (Robert Lee Rush), down an elevator shaft.

Can they make it the rest of the way out? Is the Count unkillable? Will the cops come even after refusing to get near a place where so many of their number have been killed?

Enemy Territory has the budget of a TV movie, but has a great idea that getting rid of the money that is weighing you down is the only thing that can save your life. Ernest Dickerson replaced the other DP when he was let go and as always he knows how to get so much out of so little. He shot this the same year he did Eddie Murphy Raw and would go on to direct some great movies of his own like Juice, Surviving the Game (another movie I need to see), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight and Bones.

It also has Ray Parker Jr. Not singing the theme but in the movie. He's also in Disorderlies and seeing as how I've written about that movie twice today, I should probably get to that soon.

Tony Todd is the heart of this movie. I could say that for nearly everything he's done, but he takes this from a simple trapped in a building movie to outright audacity. He deserves all the credit he gets.

Very underrated

[legend316 · 31 October 2001]

I saw this movie a looooooooooooong time ago. At that time I didn't like it. But I decided to try it again to see whether I like it better now. I think that when you re-watch a movie after a few years the possibility is there that you will like it even more or hate it even more. The more movies you watch the more you broaden your horizon and the more your opinion on movies changes. Well, after re-watching this movie my conclusion was "Oh my god, this is great stuff". And it is. It's very 80ies and has a lot of suspense. You are into it very fast and then it's a long ride till the end. Just awesome.

Extremely cheesy action/siege thriller.

[HumanoidOfFlesh · 7/10 · 23 August 2012]

A merciless street gang called the Vampires and led by "Candyman" himself Tony Todd is terrorizing the tenants inhabiting the Lincoln Towers.An insurance salesman Gary Frank and a telephone repairman Ray Davis Jr. are trying to survive the night of terror and destroy evil gang."Enemy Territory" by Peter Manoogian of "Demonic Toys" and "Seedpeople" fame is a cheesy action thriller which suddenly disappeared into obscurity.It's pretty fun and entertaining flick with plenty of violence and some cult one-liners.It was filmed in lower Manhattan and briefly in Los Angeles.If you are into cheesy Empire/Full Moon horror movies check out this fairly rare and forgotten urban survival film.7 black gangs out of 10.

Racist, horribly acted and uncompromising.

[blackxmas · 7/10 · 18 October 2000]

You really don't see a movie like this for the performances. It's all for the action. Yes this movie is somewhat racist, but it also says a lot about life along the way, how we treat people according to race and environment, how we view that 'Nam-rattled vet in a wheelchair down the hall who resembles a drugged out Jan-Michael Vincent. Seriously, this film could've been a minor classic with a stronger cast, sort of one of those uncompromising horror epics as LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and HILLS HAVE EYES. Why, if Wes Craven had made this instead of HILLS HAVE EYES 2, DEADLY FRIEND, SHOCKER, PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS, and VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN, he wouldn't have had to wait 12 years between the original NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST and SCREAM to once again be heralded a genius of the thinking man's horror cinema. A person with his wit, intelligence and genuine talent behind the camera could've made this one something that transcended the action/horror/ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13-type genre. As it stands though, it's a decent night out in exploitation cinema as long as you give the themes some good thought afterwards.

Nightmare night at Lincoln Tower the Vampire's gang domains, forgotten picture from the eighties!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 8 May 2023]

According my files I had watched this movie in 1993, however I'd forgot the title and leading casting, recently after an exhaustive research at internet turned out useless, since I give up, suddenly yesterday looking old movies at Youtube "Territory Enemy" draw my attention and watching the early scenes, the bull's eye!! That is, the long searching is over.

During the eighties New York neighborhoods had a spreading of gangs, Spanish, punks and Blacks and so on, each one at your space, a young insurance salesman Barry (Gary Frank) in dire straits by lowest sales is called by his Boss by collect a signature of an retired teacher Elva Briggs (Francis Foster) at bad area on Lincoln Towers, needing money from commission he agreed, the problem is the night is near and no one dares stay there on the night, due the building where Elva lives is ruled by menacing gang self-called The Vampires lead by the odd and bleak Count (Tony Todd).

Straight off the naïve Barry asking info over Elva's apartment he touches in shoulder of an underage teenager, that replays with harsh words claiming been part of the Vampire's gang, an old security guard appears and warns the teenager to stop the offences, also Barry to be there nearby the night, has been a white guy, he escort Barry at Elva apartment and waiting for his safe returning.

Nonetheless the Vampire gang is already warning about the "Ghost" as they refer a white man at their domains at such time and worst he has been threatened to one of them, then it trigger a warfare, the first victim is the security guard, then sudden appears Will (Ray Parker Jr.) just visiting an easy lady, hearing the riot he aiding Barry and get refuge at Elsa's apartment for a while that advises them to escape through the window toward two floor below, what a mess.

Reaching there they found the gorgeous Elsa's granddaughter Toni Briggs (Stacy Dash) that warning them over a former crippled soldier Parker (Jan-Michael Vincent) who is the only man whereof the Vampires afraid, they looking for him at his bunker apartment, he living there at wheelchair surround by heavy guns, after that reaches the Vampires claiming the ghost.

This urban nightmare "Enemy Territory" is a spin-off as The Warriors, Assault of Precinct 13, Game of Survival just named a few, highly underrated and as far I know never was release officially anywhere, was the Stacy Dash debut a beautiful young girl, a solid performance of Tony Todd, Jan-Michael Vincent, still Gary Frank got lost along the way, hope someday it came out on DVD.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 1993 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 7.5.

A really nifty, enjoyable and unjustly overlooked 80's urban action thriller

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 12 January 2007]

Wimpy, down on his luck insurance salesman Barry Rapchick (well played by Gary Frank of TV's "Family" fame) is sent by his unsympathetic jerk boss into a rundown and dangerous inner city section of the Big Apple to get elderly retired schoolteacher Elva Briggs (a fabulously feisty Frances Foster) to sign a $100,000 dollar policy so Barry can collect a hefty commission. Barry runs afoul of the violent street gang the Vampires who are led by the ruthless and vicious the Count (deliciously essayed with eye-rolling, rip-snorting, scenery-gnashing hammy élan by a pre-"Candyman" Tony Todd). Pretty soon Barry's being chased around the dilapidated Lincoln Towers apartment complex by the Vampires, who want him dead after Barry accidentally kills one of their number. The only folks who come to Barry's aid are heroic telephone repairman Will Jackson (a pretty decent and likable turn by singer Ray Parker, Jr., who crooned the hit theme song for "Ghostbusters") and Briggs' comely granddaughter Toni (a splendidly sassy'n'sexy Stacey Dash).

Capably directed with considerable aplomb by Peter Manoogian, with strong performances from a bang-up cast, polished cinematography by Ernest R. Dickerson, a nonstop fast pace, a substantial amount of tension, a nice cameo by Deborah Benson (one of the imperiled campers in the superior sylvan slasher "Just Before Dawn") as a secretary, lots of gut-busting profane dialogue, several amusing moments of inspired witty humor, and frequent outbursts of excitingly staged action, this nifty little picture makes for a fun reprise of "Assault on Precinct 13th" which substitutes the projects for a police station. WARNING: Possible *SPOILER* ahead. My sole quibble: Jan-Michael Vincent's neat turn as Parker, a bitter, crippled Vietnam veteran who's so paranoid that he lives in a heavily armored bunker and has a motorized wheelchair which comes complete with a cool knife-throwing device is unfortunately cut short way too soon when a pistol-packing thug fatally blasts him right in the chest. That minor criticism aside, this flick overall earns top marks as one highly enjoyable and unjustly overlooked sleeper.

TOTALLY AGREE TOTALLY UNDERRATED

[mackdaddyspliffs · 10/10 · 20 March 2003]

This movie, i must have watched it 40 times...but not in the last 10 years, would love to watch and see if it still scares me, it invoked alot of emotion in me as a child...racism....hatred...violence...all wrapped up into one big burrito is what you have here...i loved this movie, and it was my first exposure to a VERY underrated actor, Tony Todd...although reaching mimimal success as candyman...and recently as a 2 bit part of a mortician in final destination...he is very good onstage with the creepy image, needs to be his own villain!!! wtg tony 10:10

Ray Parker Jnr ain't afraid of no Ghosts....Or Vampires!!!

[Radish4ever · 8/10 · 4 May 2013]

Insurance salesman Barry (Gary Frank) visits an urban ghetto to sell insurance to a client and has a run in with a young member of a vicious street gang called the Vampires. This gang runs the district. Soon their leader, aptly named 'The Count' (Tony Todd) hears about this and wants Barry dead. Barry is trapped in the apartment building with no way out; we soon see the murder of an elderly cop who tries to protect Barry so we know the gang mean business. Barry teams up with Ray Parker Jnr and they also enlist the help of the only man the gang supposedly fears, the wheelchair bound Parker, a Vietnam War veteran, (played by Jan-Michael Vincent). However they are totally outnumbered. The vampires are after blood.

The film is fast paced and entertaining but does has strong violence and racism in as well so be warned. Sadly this film is hard to find and seems to have disappeared since the VHS days. Ray Parker Jnr is first class and you question why he never became a mega star. Tony Todd is a great presence as always and it's sad that Candy man was the height of his career, he deserved better. He does seem to enjoy himself in the role as the count. Jan-Michael Vincent completes a great cast. Also a great music soundtrack from the Boogie boys an American hip hop band group from New York, where this film was shot. The band sadly spilt up a year after this film was made.

Watch out for the clever ending; note the gang are called Vampires when you look for this. This film is worth the effort to hunt down even if it's only an old VHS you can find. Deserves a DVD release.

Not bad, but not particularly memorable.

[ChoiBaby · 16 January 1999]

When the sun goes down and the moon shines brightly, the tenants inhabiting the Lincoln Towers tremble in fear...terrified of an evil, omnipotent presence, a merciless street gang calling themselves the "Vampires." The Vampires are lead by none other than Tony Todd as the Count! As the King of these apartments, he strikes fear into the hearts of his innocent prey...

Gary Frank is an insurance salesman, an ordinary, blue collared John Doe. Ray Parker Jr.mis a telephone repairman. The two share absolutely nothing in common except for the necessity of survival. Caught in the warfare of the Vampires' vicious nightly activities of chaos and total fanatical frenzy, the two must align together if their chances of surviving the Vampires' ordeal is at all, to say the least, tenuous. The hunted duo's lives are in jeopardy. Their only essence to triumph over adversity is a motley of courageous souls including a tough elderly woman, her beautiful teenage granddaughter, Toni (Stacey Dash), and a crippled, psychopathic Vietnam veteran (Jan-Michael Vincent. This Vietnam vet may very well serve as much of a hostile threat rather than an ally to both Frank and Ray Jr. The clash between good and evil continues in a vortex of anxiety and perturbation until the last survivors of both sides meet in a final confrontation...

Enemy Territory is a creepy urban thriller with satisfactory performances and a fair amount of tension and uneasiness. Gary Frank enunciates a couple of sly one-liners. Ray Parker Jr. does little but sneer at Frank's naivete of the whole distressing situation the two are experiencing. The two also manage to save each other's rear ends a few times from the aggression of the innumerable Vampire gang members. Tony Todd is a scream as the leader of the hardened Vampires. He conveys a bad-to-the-bone antagonist who shows everyone who is the boss of the territory... Tony Todd arrogantly proclaims himself as the emperor of his territory, and he does a great job playing a demonic guy on the edge. Jan-Michael Vincent gives a nutty performance as an insane Vietnam veteran who's screws are not tightened on properly.

This low budget formula offers a few violent action scenes and lots of blood. Don't watch this movie on a full stomach! I also observed how offensively mean-spirited and racist this movie was at times.

Enemy Territory is not bad, but not particularly memorable. The cast is good, the violence is shrill, and the apprehension pierces one's nerves. Still, you can't help but to feel a sour taste in your mouth once this film is finished. This is due to the rough characteristics protruding throughout the duration of this film. An interesting and unique journey into the depths of "Enemy Territory!"

RATING: ** out of ****.

One of the many hidden gems of the 1980s!

[SSS-1984 · 8/10 · 17 September 2023]

Shot on location in NY back when it was still NY & not a Disneyfied dumpster fire for trendy tourists & homegrown hipsters to flock to, "Enemy Territory" captures a moment in time when NY was on the cusp of gentrification. Since the film centres on a crumbling, crime ridden & graffiti covered tenement, it's easy to imagine that many viewers from the current generation will look down upon the NY that was as a hellish place in dire need of the makeover it would recieve in the early 21st century. But for those who lived it through the 80's & 90's, a film like "Enemy Territory" is more likely to strike a nostalgic chord...

...The script itself doesn't really have much of a story, if any. But that isn't really the point of the film. "Enemy Territory" is a pure chase film of the kind which would continue into the 90's with the cult classic, "Judgement Night". But while that film was played deadly serious, "Enemy Territory" takes a more humourous approach. To call the film an Action/Comedy would be inaccurate since the Comedic aspect does not detract from the seriousness of the situation. The overall tone is simply lighter than the common Thriller despite the film being fairly violent on a regular basis. But even so it's never gratuitous...

...Caught up in the carnage is a W. A. S. P-ish insurance saleman who just so happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. His first encounter with an all-black street gang leads to a fatality & he's soon fleeing the gang until he has no choice, but to fight back. Aided by singer Ray "Ghostbusters" Parker jr (making his acting debut), "Enemy Territory" has some Buddy Movie moments, but is not exactly comparable to the same year's "Lethal Weapon". Our two protagonists are soon (albeit briefly) joined by a third in the form of the late Jan Michael Vincent playing a wheelchair bound & to be honest bigoted Vitenam veteran. It's eerily prophetic to see Vincent spouting venomous slurs whilst confined to a chair as the man himself would end up in one toward the end of his life & would become more known for his questionable remarks than his legacy in television & film. Rounding out the cast we have a very young Tony "Candyman" Todd playing the sadistic gang leader in a film stealing turn...

..."Enemy Territory" is well worth seeing out if you enjoy gangland set Thrillers or just NY cinema in general. The film strikes a perfect balance of hi-octane action & low budget amusement. The cast are all game, throwing themselves into their roles & the situation based script. Just why the film has been ignored for decades is baffling considering how many other & less deserving b-movies of yesteryear are being rediscovered today. It's the kind of film that you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who has seen it yet you'll also be hard pressed to find someone who's seen it that doesn't like it!

S. S. S.

Terror in the tenement

[videorama-759-859391 · 8/10 · 25 January 2015]

The Vampires are certainly an underrated gang, you don't want to mess with. ET is one of those 87 treasures, you never get sick of watching because of how entertaining and guiltily engrossing it is. The premise is fresh. One guy is in wrong place at wrong time, well wrong time, all the time. He shouldn't of been there. Frank, great to see in the lead is an insurance salesman, who has to make one last call, regrettably in the projects. We know when he gets back to his car, it isn't gonna be the same as how he left it. The catalyst here was that Frank tapped a black kid gangster on the shoulder to ask him where his client was. This is enough to bring down the hell that ensues, where shortly after, on Frank's exit, the black kid is shot, and the rest of the gang that control these tenements want blood. It's a frightening situation and atmosphere, which has you asking many times before, "How could you live here?" Frank nicknamed The Ghost by the gang, becomes trapped in the building. burning with hate. Bring on Ray Parker Jnr- The Blood Traitor as named by our Vamps, in not a half bad performance, who teams up with Frank, not the best fighting duo, one must admit. These two are the only hope of getting out alive. Jan Michael Vincent really stuck out here as a crippled resentful vet (aren't they all), another suffering tenant, ready and armed, with mettle, who hasn't given up the fight. Enemy Territory really works where in the space of it's 85 minutes, we undermine the terrifying ambiance the movie projects. To carry a movie, only riding on this premise successfully for this duration, and make it continually exciting is impressive. ET is infectiously entertaining, a nifty, cute and cool little movie, gangland style. Track it down if you haven't seen it, if also watching for Ray Parker Jnr's only performance.

A long night ahead.

[paudieconnolly · 8/10 · 31 January 2021]

A cheap ex rental video 30 plus years ago leads to a night of terror for a ten year old, like the Warriors before it. The feeling of the trap tightening and luck running out. this could have found a cult following like the warriors. If had made a return on dvd would love to see a cleaned up version with improved sound and picture for dvd. Watching all these years later still great straight movie no flashbacks just stay with the characters from start to finish Or Top floor to basement. On the same weekend in 1992 I watched two movies. one would go on to have a cult following. The other remains lost on VHS . The warriors and Enemy territory both follow a long night where sunrise could bring survival both have that cat and mouse feel catch or survivor style something about both films felt real as a child. This sits you on the edge of your seat while enjoying the movie you nearly want it to end for the relief of the stars finally hopefully reaching safety . Very different stories but if a fan of the style of the warriors this could be for you. Low production high intensity.