Guilty As Charged (1991)

Guilty As Charged Poster

Rod Steiger stars as a vigilante who with the aid of his helper, Isaac Hayes, captures men whom he considers evil and executes them in his homemade electric chair.

Film Summary
"Guilty as Charged" is a 1991 crime comedy film directed by Sam Irvin and starring Rod Steiger, Lauren Hutton, and Heather Graham. The film is a blend of dark humor, drama, and an unique perspective into the controversial subject of vigilante justice.

Plot
Rod Steiger represents the character of Kallin, a rich and zealous eccentric who has actually taken it upon himself to serve justice where he thinks the legal system has actually failed. After his daughter is murdered and her killer walks complimentary, Kallin takes things into his own hands by establishing a fancy system of capturing and penalizing those who leave the law. His house is geared up with cells for his captives, a court-like space for trials, and an inventive electrical chair for carrying out those found guilty.

Amidst these weird circumstances, he fulfills Lauren Hutton's character, a gorgeous and suave manipulator called Liz. Captured after a hit-and-run accident, Liz attempts to seduce Kallin and plan her way out of the macabre penalty. When Kallin's assistant, a previous detainee called Stuart, succumbs to Liz, the circumstance becomes even more complex.

Heather Graham's character, Kimberly, a cheerful girl who thinks in the good of humanity, shows up in Kallin's doorstep, delivering cookies. Kimberly persistently attempts to encourage Kallin to give up his course of retributive justice.

Review and Reception
"Guilty as Charged" is a blend of noirish and unusual humor blended with the chilling principle of vigilante justice. The film provokes thought on the morality of taking the law into one's own hands, regardless of its comic tone. Steiger's performance stands apart as he provides an eerie yet terrible disposition to Kallin's character, a man embittered with the loop-holes in the justice system. Hutton's representation of Liz is a mix of sexy beauty and shrewd intelligence, offering an interesting contrast to Kallin.

The film paved the way for an odd genre of 'funny criminal offense noir'. While it got mixed opinions, it has more than time, become a cult classic for an audience that appreciates its distinct genre twist.

Conclusion
In conclusion, "Guilty as Charged" is a film that handles dark funny with criminal activity and drama. It captures the viewer's attention with its distinctive plot and eccentric characters, while discreetly stimulating concerns about justice, punishment, and morality. Although it may not attract traditional audiences due to its dark and unconventional humor, it has carved a specific niche for itself in the cinematic world. Lots of have actually appreciated it for daring to get out of the convenience zone of genre-specific narration and check out a rather questionable topic with humor and drama.

Top Cast

  • Rod Steiger (small)
    Rod Steiger
    Kallin
  • Lauren Hutton (small)
    Lauren Hutton
    Liz
  • Heather Graham (small)
    Heather Graham
    Kimberly
  • Lyman Ward (small)
    Lyman Ward
    Stanford
  • Michael Beach (small)
    Michael Beach
    Hamilton
  • Irwin Keyes (small)
    Irwin Keyes
    Deek
  • Zelda Rubinstein (small)
    Zelda Rubinstein
    Edna
  • Mitch Pileggi (small)
    Mitch Pileggi
    Dominique
  • Michael Talbott (small)
    Michael Talbott
    Sparrow
  • Thomas F. Duffy (small)
    Thomas F. Duffy
    Evans
  • Shawn Thompson (small)
    Shawn Thompson
    Gary