The Dead Pool

Name: The Dead Pool
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: July 13, 1988
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 46
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson

1988

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 45 Ratings

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The Dead Pool

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: July 13, 1988 | R

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson

Summary: Dirty Harry Callahan investigates and strange game in which individuals bet on who will be the next celebrity to die. The game gets more serious for Dirty Harry when he becomes the next bet.

Director: Buddy Van Horn

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 91 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

The film is smart, quick, and made with real wit. It's never just a crude action movie, bludgeoning us with violence. It's self-aware, it knows who Dirty Harry is and how we react to him, and it has fun with its intelligence. Also, of course, it bludgeons us with violence. Read full review

Gene Siskel

Where the previous sequels have been mostly dour gun blasts, The Dead Pool is a thriller with wit and humor and tension. [15 Jul 1988, p.A]

Staff (Not Credited)

The Dead Pool isn't the best and brightest of the Dirty Harry films, either, but just as invincible. It's possible that Clint Eastwood and crew are just enjoying a bit of self-mockery with this one. Read full review

Mike Clark

The result isn't pretentious, but is the tongue-in-cheeking ever slight. The murders are treated as jokes, there's a horror-motif rock video, and Harry dodges enough bullets with Patricia Clarkson to arm Sands of Iwo Jima. [13 Jul 1988, p.1D]

Brad Laidman

This is Dirty Harry's greatest hits, which is a little fun and a little embarrassing. The best part of the film is a warped version of "Bullitt"'s San Francisco car chase through Pacific Heights. Read full review

Jay Carr

The Dead Pool is not a subtle movie or a bloodless one, although it does manage to put its own twist on the usual car chase sequence. [13 Jul 1988, p.59]

Jay Scott

In The Dead Pool, Dirty Harry is downright dusty. The erstwhile right-wing San Francisco homicide inspector has mellowed so much in the fifth installment of his adventures that he's become the darling of the liberal Bay Area media and he seems almost bored by blowing people away. [13 Jul 1988, p.C7]

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User Reviews

Struckworld

Jun 13, 2011

Completely underrated movie the Dirty Harry Franchise

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

IcelakeWang

Jun 12, 2013

I can’t understand why this movie got so low a score in average from critics, certainly it’s not for this movie’s being changeable, as Inspector Callahan keeps his iron heart and inflexible working style to the end, and shows not a trace of any possibility of change. Even with his constantI can’t understand why this movie got so low a score in average from critics, certainly it’s not for this movie’s being changeable, as Inspector Callahan keeps his iron heart and inflexible working style to the end, and shows not a trace of any possibility of change. Even with his constant role, this sequel of Dirty Harry deserves more cheers.
I gave it a score of eight, 1 point above that changeable third Iron Man.
By the interval of one or two years, this movie will appeal to me for another watching. Besides, the lady in the film looks so tender, but she lacks no courage.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

r96sk

Jan 18, 2022

*insert Marvel/Ryan Reynolds joke here*

'The Dead Pool', whilst being the weakest of the 'Dirty Harry' films and feeling a little out of place, is still good fun in my opinion. Clint Eastwood is supreme once more and is joined by some standout names in Liam Neeson and, to my big surprise, a*insert Marvel/Ryan Reynolds joke here*

'The Dead Pool', whilst being the weakest of the 'Dirty Harry' films and feeling a little out of place, is still good fun in my opinion. Clint Eastwood is supreme once more and is joined by some standout names in Liam Neeson and, to my big surprise, a certain yet to be famous Canadian-born actor!

This one features a very silly plot but it does make for mindless entertainment. I had a solid time with it, anyway. There is one ridiculous, yet amusing, car chase sequence. Due to that, and other parts, it kinda doesn't feel like it quite fits with the other releases, though that's not an issue in my eyes. Overall, it ends an enjoyable series well.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

eva3si0n

Jan 5, 2022

The Dead Pool is the last fifth Dirty Harry movie. 3 and 4 the film already looks like a self-replay, they tried to bring a new one to the fifth film, but it looks mediocre, the most important plot twist is read by the viewer even before the middle of the film. There is no suspense becauseThe Dead Pool is the last fifth Dirty Harry movie. 3 and 4 the film already looks like a self-replay, they tried to bring a new one to the fifth film, but it looks mediocre, the most important plot twist is read by the viewer even before the middle of the film. There is no suspense because of this. In general, The Dead Pool is a passing film, watched it more by inertia, after all the previous parts. But here there is a young Liam Neeson in an atypical applause and the most pleasant - the first appearance in the cinema Jim Carrey.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Tyranian

Jul 29, 2019

Probably the worst in the franchise though still somewhat enjoyable, Eastwood has lost his edge a bit.

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Broyax

Jan 27, 2017

Harry se fait vieux et l'heure de la retraite approche à grands pas : il a dégommé tellement de malfrats avec son Magnum qu'il en est devenu célèbre. Aussi est-il devenu une cible à son tour ! ma foi, voilà qui pouvait ou aurait pu donner lieu à quelque chose d'éventuellement intéressant ouHarry se fait vieux et l'heure de la retraite approche à grands pas : il a dégommé tellement de malfrats avec son Magnum qu'il en est devenu célèbre. Aussi est-il devenu une cible à son tour ! ma foi, voilà qui pouvait ou aurait pu donner lieu à quelque chose d'éventuellement intéressant ou au moins divertissant. Avec un peu de recul peut-être, le poids des années aidant... le poids d'un "anti-héros" sur-exploité pendant plus de 15 ans... une façon de tirer sa révérence avec dignité (non, pose cette arme Harry, c'est une façon de parler).

Si seulement on avait confié cela à un scénariste pas trop con qui n'essaie pas de vous endormir pendant la moitié d'un film qui ne dure qu'une heure et demi ! une histoire aux grosses ficelles qui rappelle un Columbo rassis que l'on regarde en ronflant. Suranné et dérisoire ce dernier Inspecteur Harry ! Clint a encore quelques bons mots et dégomme les vilains d'une seule balle, une seule et s'il prend la mouche avec sa hiérarchie, il fait mouche à chaque coup. Comme d'habitude. Mais la recette est devenue foireuse, il est temps de se retirer et de ranger le flingue. Au musée.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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