Out of Bounds (1986)

Directed by Richard Tuggle. Starring Anthony Michael Hall, Jenny Wright, Glynn Turman, Jeff Kober, Raymond J. Barry, Michele Little, Jerry Levine, Pepe Serna, Ji-Tu Cumbuka. [R]

Dumb, scarcely credible thriller sees callow Iowa small-towner Hall arrive in the big city of Los Angeles to visit his brother, and less than 24 hours later, he’s on the run and wanted by some nasty people, wrongfully accused of murder and in possession of a suitcase full of heroin. Change of pace for Hall, but nothing he or just about any other character in sight does feels connected to reality or whatever flimsy personality characteristics they’re provided—the hero starts out as an “aw shucks” naif, but his reactions to the increasing danger are absurdly contrived, and he becomes so unflappable and skillful by the second half he might as well be sporting shades and chewing on a toothpick. Made with hardly any energy or style, it’s as D.O.A. as the protagonist’s blank-eyed gaze, which doesn’t even perk up when dealing with a “soft” punk waitress (Wright) who inexplicably goes all-in to help the kid out. Meat Loaf has a small role; British post-punk rockers Siouxsie and the Banshees cameo, performing “Cities in Dust” in a club.

27/100