Shoot to Kill (1988)

Taglines: It’s about staying alive.

Shoot to Kill movie synopsis. Sidney Poitier returned to the big screen in this action-thriller, after a decade-long absence. When a cunning murderer vanishes into the rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest, pursuing FBI agent Warren Stantin (Poitier) must exchange familiar city streets for unknown wilderness trails.

Completely out of his element, Stantin is forced to enlist the aid of expert tracker Jonathan Knox (PLATOON’S Tom Berenger). The killer has infiltrated a guided hiking trip led by Knox’s girlfriend Sarah (Kirstie Alley, at the height of her Cheers fame). Viewers don’t know which of the hikers is the killer, and the tension lasts well into the movie.

Shoot to Kill (known outside North America as Deadly Pursuit) is a 1988 American adventure crime thriller film starring Sidney Poitier, Tom Berenger, Kirstie Alley, Clancy Brown, Richard Masur, Andrew Robinson, Kevin Scannell, Frederick Coffin and Michael MacRae. The film was directed by Roger Spottiswoode.

About the Story

A man is discovered breaking into his own jewellery shop in the dead of night. Questioned closely, it is discovered that his wife is being held hostage at their home by Steve, a brutal extortionist who demands the diamonds in the shop’s safe in exchange for the woman’s life. After Steve kills the family maid, FBI agent Warren Stantin (Sidney Poitier) hands over the diamonds, but Steve kills the jeweller’s wife anyway, and escapes.

Feeling that he has failed, Stantin becomes obsessed with finding Steve, and he chases Steve into the rugged forests of the state of Washington, where Steve joins up with a group of sportsmen who plan to trek into the wilderness on a fishing trip. Steve’s plan is to kill them and force their guide, Sarah (Kirstie Alley), to lead him through the wilderness to the Canada–US border.

Stantin must team up with Sarah’s mountain-man boyfriend Jonathan Knox (Tom Berenger) to pursue Steve. Jonathan does not believe city slicker Stantin can keep up on a tough cross-country hike that includes some rock climbing, and Stantin is determined to prove himself. They pursue Steve and Sarah into the wilderness and eventually to the streets of Vancouver. The movie also featured a chase scene aboard the BC Ferries Queen of Vancouver. After a long chase, Stantin manages to shoot Steve in an underwater struggle.