Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Terror Squad Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 6, 2022

1987’s “Terror Squad” is an odd combination of “The Breakfast Club” and “Red Dawn,” trying to play around with international issues of the day in a B- movie setting. The whole thing is very Troma-esque, and director Peter Maris isn’t one to push through his limited budget and make something challenging out of exploitation elements. Instead, he’s in charge of an actioner, and one that’s wildly uneven, spending the opening half in an extended chase, while the closing half is mostly about people standing and talking. There are limitations to “Terror Squad,” and it’s not a good film, but there’s something funky about the endeavor that keeps its compelling, especially when campiness creeps into view, revealing a needed sense of humor to a largely stern tale of terrorism.

Yassir (Kavi Raz) is a Libyan resident sneaking into America with a handful of countrymen, planning to execute a major attack on a small town in Indiana, beginning with an assault on a nuclear power plant. Chief Rawlings (Chuck Connors) is called into action, steering the chase to Hoosier High School, where Yassir takes students in detention hostage, with bad boy Johnny (Bill Calvert) ready to fight back.

Taking inspiration from terrorism concerns of the 1980s, “Terror Squad” tries to bring such horrors to America, with Yassir representative of Libyan concerns, fed up with U.S. policies toward the Middle East, looking for payback for all the blood that was spilled in his own country. Naturally, the gang attacks rural Indiana, trying to send a message by attempting to blow up a nuclear power plant, and when that doesn’t work, they tear through the city, killing anyone in the streets. “Terror Squad” gets things going with this initial car chase, finding the Libyans on the move and local law enforcement in hot pursuit, with Rawlings even running over the body of a dead civilian to keep up.

What’s amazing about “Terror Squad” is how long the opening chase is. One expects the action to come to a close after five minutes, but Maris isn’t going to fill an entire film with that kind of directorial cowardice, managing to stretch the killing spree for over 30 minutes, with a huge portion of the endeavor devoted to speeding cars, gunfire, and occasional crashes, giving the production some stunt work to handle. It’s certainly something to behold. A procedural vibe enters the feature, watching Indiana cops, firemen, and S.W.A.T. teams start to organize their response, which isn’t fast enough, finding the Yassir managing to kill a good portion of the community before the Libyans make their way to Hoosier High School, which just happens to have a classroom of kids and their surly teacher to collect, triggering a hostage standoff, which replaces the never-ending action of the opening half.

The teens in “Terror Squad” are the usual sort of stereotypes, with a bullying jock, an undersexed nerd, a painted misfit, a cheerleader, and a brainy type joining Johnny for punishment, facing a fed-up teacher who wants nothing to do with these kids. Hoosier High is a strange place, offered an introduction that has school janitor Gus jamming with Johnny on guitar, performing a boiler room concert for a select few. Gus is a good dude, happy to help the troubled teen, but don’t fall in love with the character, because he, like many others, has no chance to defend himself once the Libyans enter the building. These Uzi-brandishing baddies (with an unlimited supply of bullets) are out for blood, and “Terror Squad” tracks the development of their panic, trying to keep order in the classroom while beginning their negotiation with Rawlings, who remains in the parking lot holding back everyone.

One of the great ideas in the feature is the generally buffoonery of Rawlings, who’s never been involved with a high-pressure hostage situation before, trying to work with everything he learned while watching “Dog Day Afternoon.” It’s difficult to tell if this character was created in Mark Verheiden’s screenplay or just brought to life by a clearly checked-out Connors, who has little interest in physical movement, either photographed sitting in a car or standing beside one. Laughs may be unintentional here, but that’s part of the fun of “Terror Squad,” watching a moron try to organize a rescue plan while more trained, thoughtful pros are forced to wait for his order. It’s either the crude reality of filmmaking or an especially sharp criticism of law enforcement from Verheiden. Either way, it’s highly amusing.

Terror Squad Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "brand new 2K master." It isn't clear what Code Red is working with here, but the viewing experience isn't a fresh look at the 1987 picture, offering a softer appreciation for screen detail. Facial surfaces aren't crisply defined, along with costuming. Exterior dimension is adequate as the action heads around the small town, while interiors provide a basic understanding of decorative additions and hallway tours. Color registers with some age, but primaries are appreciable while examining blue skies and period outfits. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is chunkier. Source has some wear and tear, with occasional scratches.

Terror Squad Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides a basic listening event, with some age on dialogue exchanges. Intelligibility isn't threatened. Scoring offers simple synth support. Sound effects are pronounced, managing all sorts of violence, including gunfire and explosions.

Terror Squad Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (3:38, HD) is a brief chat with actor Kavi Raz, who provides a career overview, ending up with his time on "Terror Squad," amusingly pointing out his fatigue with acting jobs that require him to play a terrorist. Memories of co-star Chuck Connors are offered, and Raz shares his surprise with the cult longevity of "Terror Squad," hoping fans check out his other work.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:38, SD) is included.

Terror Squad Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Terror Squad" spends too much time with the terrorists, who circle through their frustrations, fears, and threats one too many times. Perhaps the writing is aiming to emphasize the troubling realities of international events involving U.S. interests, but it all comes out like a bad television movie, keeping the Libyans agitated and trigger happy, adding more to their body count. Johnny eventually slips away, going into John McClane mode inside the building, working to create weapons to help stop the invaders, and when that fails, physical acts of heroism are ordered up. Maris doesn't have style, but he does have an appetite for low-budget mayhem, trying to make something happen with bus stunts and firing rockets, but he also doesn't seem to understand how shattered glass works, so expectations for slick action should be lowered. "Terror Squad" does have a problem with momentum, offering extended wildness before extended stillness, but it's hard to deny the goofy pleasures of the feature, which is happy to serve up broad characters engaging in dangerous business, merging teen cinema and cop T.V. for another overview of foreigners looking to destroy America from within. Only this time, there's Chuck Connors, and boy howdy, he has no idea what he's doing.