The second straight to video sequel to William Lustig's 'Relentless' is a sleepy, straight forward Los Angeles serial killer outing. It can be quite unpleasant and loathsome with its dour approach to the generic material. Too bad it stays on cruise control for most part with a real lack of thrills and investigative intrigue for such a short winded running time. Leo Rossi's role is now more prominent, yet his delivery feels more like someone tiredly going through the emotions. The smart-alec humour which worked in the previous films, just doesn't have the same effect here. In a way there's no bite to it with mainly poe faced Rossi's "I rather be elsewhere" attitude sort of coming out in the dialogues. Robert Costanzo fairs much better as his detective partner. On the other hand William Forsythe's perversely smarmy, and underlit intensity as the killer does all the heavy lifting. There's personal history between the two characters, detective (Rossi) and killer (Forsythe), which the script later reveals. Sadly this drummed up angle, goes nowhere and in the end we are left with a very unmemorable, and underwhelming payoff. Meg Foster is also missed.
8 Reviews
Good Actors Deserve Better
refinedsugar19 November 2023
Let's recap Det. Sam Dietz (Leo Rossi). In the original, he's a former NYC cop who moves to LA and gets a promotion. Then he catches his first serial killer but not before things hit too close to home. In the sequel 'Dead On' mere months have passed and already he's on the case of another serial killer. He closes it and then makes amends to his family. In 'Relentless 3' he moved away for three years but things haven't worked out (divorced) and now he's back in LA. Where he's asked to consult on another serial killer because as Captain Phelan (Tow Bower) puts it "you're the best we've got."
The series is strictly meat & potatoes following a bare bones formula, but logic is starting to fall by the way side. Why is Dietz considered the best? By my calculations, he hasn't been doing this very long at all. How can he have caught four serial killers with ex-partner Roy (Robert Costanzo) given the timeline? What's Dietz's obsession with answering the phone at the worst of times? Can he treat any woman in his life right? His son? Catching killers above all else is this what they mean by 'Relentless'?
Rossi continues holding his own. Thankfully he's been dialed back from the loudmouth jerk he was in the previous entry. I always enjoy seeing character actors such as Bower (Die Hard 2, Clear & Present Danger) and Costanzo (Total Recall, Undisputed 3: Redemption). Likewise William Forsythe. His killer is an improvement from the last sequel, but unfortunately under developed given the dynamics, past history.
After 'Relentless 3' there's no getting past this basic by the numbers cop catches a killer routine where they don't do more than necessary. The whole angle they're trying for here isn't fleshed out & feels hollow. The ending has a very much thrown together & rushed quality to it. This is slightly better than the first sequel, but that isn't saying much.
The series is strictly meat & potatoes following a bare bones formula, but logic is starting to fall by the way side. Why is Dietz considered the best? By my calculations, he hasn't been doing this very long at all. How can he have caught four serial killers with ex-partner Roy (Robert Costanzo) given the timeline? What's Dietz's obsession with answering the phone at the worst of times? Can he treat any woman in his life right? His son? Catching killers above all else is this what they mean by 'Relentless'?
Rossi continues holding his own. Thankfully he's been dialed back from the loudmouth jerk he was in the previous entry. I always enjoy seeing character actors such as Bower (Die Hard 2, Clear & Present Danger) and Costanzo (Total Recall, Undisputed 3: Redemption). Likewise William Forsythe. His killer is an improvement from the last sequel, but unfortunately under developed given the dynamics, past history.
After 'Relentless 3' there's no getting past this basic by the numbers cop catches a killer routine where they don't do more than necessary. The whole angle they're trying for here isn't fleshed out & feels hollow. The ending has a very much thrown together & rushed quality to it. This is slightly better than the first sequel, but that isn't saying much.
What a let-down
Wizard-88 January 1999
The first was mediocre, the second was great, but the third entry STINKS! Leo Rossi's character here is repulsive and not likable in any way. Everybody acts unbelievably stupid here. Pre-release cuts to prevent the movie getting an NC-17 also hurt the film. The actor who plays the villain actually isn't bad, considering the material he's given.
Even allowing that it was made in 1993 ...
markadmoore22 October 2018
... it's rubbish.
How it has a 5.3 rating I can't begin to imagine!
One example should be enough to stop you from wasting your time: The baddy strangles a policeman with ONE hand, while holding down ONE of the cops hands with his other. Why was the cop not bashing the baddy's head in with his free hand, or perhaps indulging in his own one handed strangling of said baddy, you might ask ...
I have not the faintest idea.
How it has a 5.3 rating I can't begin to imagine!
One example should be enough to stop you from wasting your time: The baddy strangles a policeman with ONE hand, while holding down ONE of the cops hands with his other. Why was the cop not bashing the baddy's head in with his free hand, or perhaps indulging in his own one handed strangling of said baddy, you might ask ...
I have not the faintest idea.
William Forsythe steals the show in this stand-alone sequel to an above-average series of killer thrillers
kclipper6 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
In 'Relentless', Detective Sam Dietz (Leo Rossi) defeated the notorious "Sunset Killer", then in 'Relentless 2', He tackled another highly-trained martial arts enabled serial killer. Now, in this third and powerful outing, Dietz returns to do battle with a new breed of sociopath in the form of the intense actor, William Forsythe. Forsythe plays Walter Hilderman, who is killing many women, mutilating them and then taunting the police by sending letters and pieces of skin in envelopes, and meanwhile interfering with Dietz's personal life and sanity.
This is definitely a stand-alone film in the series, and a very competent ensemble cast plays it out believably if not unpredictably, but the real treat is Forsythe's performance as the seductive Walter. Forsythe stated that he did extensive research on serial killers in order to construct the perfect persona of the silk shirt wearing, self-confident and brutal murderer, and it shows. This is the smooth-talking, charismatic guy that everyone likes, and that is what makes this such disturbing material to watch. Rossi is in top form as the stubborn, sometimes self-centered cop from the school of hard knocks, and Its interesting to see how his character's emotional problems with his job wreck havoc on his personal relationships and mental stability. Also thrown into the mix is a convincing performance by Savannah Smith Boucher as Walter's sympathetic live-in girlfriend that he continuously controls and torments emotionally and mentally, and Signy Coleman is good as Dietz's intelligent love interest.
This has few fatal flaws. The biggest being the extensive cuts made so that New Line Cinema can get its R-rating, and its evident in the editing. Another is the lack of appearance of Meg Foster, who brought so much to the series. Also, a very abruptly weak ending dampens the mood. Nonetheless, This is worthy for Forsythe's performance alone, who is agreed that this is some of his best and under appreciated work.
This is definitely a stand-alone film in the series, and a very competent ensemble cast plays it out believably if not unpredictably, but the real treat is Forsythe's performance as the seductive Walter. Forsythe stated that he did extensive research on serial killers in order to construct the perfect persona of the silk shirt wearing, self-confident and brutal murderer, and it shows. This is the smooth-talking, charismatic guy that everyone likes, and that is what makes this such disturbing material to watch. Rossi is in top form as the stubborn, sometimes self-centered cop from the school of hard knocks, and Its interesting to see how his character's emotional problems with his job wreck havoc on his personal relationships and mental stability. Also thrown into the mix is a convincing performance by Savannah Smith Boucher as Walter's sympathetic live-in girlfriend that he continuously controls and torments emotionally and mentally, and Signy Coleman is good as Dietz's intelligent love interest.
This has few fatal flaws. The biggest being the extensive cuts made so that New Line Cinema can get its R-rating, and its evident in the editing. Another is the lack of appearance of Meg Foster, who brought so much to the series. Also, a very abruptly weak ending dampens the mood. Nonetheless, This is worthy for Forsythe's performance alone, who is agreed that this is some of his best and under appreciated work.
Best Of The 'Relentless' Series
ccthemovieman-124 May 2006
As with the second in the series, this keeps getting better than the previous film but also gets sleazier, so there is a good and bad material here. It's a rough film, make no mistake, but it's very interesting all the way. It has many of the same elements the two other films had: some grisly scenes, rough language but a fast-moving film which really goes fast considering it's only 80-some minutes long.
Leo Rossi once again stars but I liked his partner (Robert Costanzo) much better. William Forsythe once again plays a creepy killer. He seems to be typecast. The female lead is someone I haven't seen before or since: attractive Signy Coleman.
I did get confused a couple of issues such as how the detectives figured a few things out and that end. Also, whatever happened to "Marianne?" They do discuss something briefly but I couldn't get it. I don't claim this film is a great work of art: just entertaining.
Without giving anything I will say I liked the ending which wasn't the usual clichéd one. This is the only one in the series I would consider re-purchasing for DVD but it isn't available.
Leo Rossi once again stars but I liked his partner (Robert Costanzo) much better. William Forsythe once again plays a creepy killer. He seems to be typecast. The female lead is someone I haven't seen before or since: attractive Signy Coleman.
I did get confused a couple of issues such as how the detectives figured a few things out and that end. Also, whatever happened to "Marianne?" They do discuss something briefly but I couldn't get it. I don't claim this film is a great work of art: just entertaining.
Without giving anything I will say I liked the ending which wasn't the usual clichéd one. This is the only one in the series I would consider re-purchasing for DVD but it isn't available.
LOTS OF ACTION NONE STOP!!
whpratt120 April 2004
Warning: Spoilers
This is a great Crime film with plenty of action and lots of blood and guts through out the entire film. Leo Rossi (Sam Dietz),"Back by Midnight",'02 was a rough and tough detective who never gave up, no matter how many of his fellow cops got killed. Leo was relentless in trying to find a very sick Serial Killer who managed to kill all his victims even police men with out any problems. William Forsythe (Walter Hilderman),"Run for the Money",'02, kept everyone on their toes and gave a great supporting role. Savannah Smith Boucher,(Marianne),"Nursie",'02, gave a very hot and sexy performance, however, there was not much time for sex or romance in this film. In one scene a real bad guy gets pistol wipped To DEATH!!
When the fear stops you're dead.
jhpstrydom16 September 2009
Sam Dietz once again returns to track down another serial killer this time played by William Forsythe that taunts the police by sending them pieces of his latest victims.
My idea of a third installment is a film that should stray more from the first and second entries to give people something they haven't seen before in terms of the series, RELENTLESS 3 doesn't stray at all but it is by no means a weak entry, in fact it is actually a good sequel for a third film in a series, the role of serial killer is once again perfectly cast, putting William Forsythe and the word creepy in one sentence works great because the man shines the most when he plays a creepy character, Leo Rossi who again plays the role of Sam Dietz gives a great performance as he did in the first and the second, but one of the scene stealers is Robert Costanzo whose character and performance added a somewhat light hearted touch to a series that's been very much serious up to this point.
The storyline is basically a detective vs. serial killer type as in the first and second, but unlike the second film it concentrates less on the character story and more on the killer like in the first one, plus the highlight of the story is the ending, if you think you can predict it you're a genius because it one of the best endings I've seen in a while.
Overall, better than the first but not quite as good as the second but its worth a watch.
My idea of a third installment is a film that should stray more from the first and second entries to give people something they haven't seen before in terms of the series, RELENTLESS 3 doesn't stray at all but it is by no means a weak entry, in fact it is actually a good sequel for a third film in a series, the role of serial killer is once again perfectly cast, putting William Forsythe and the word creepy in one sentence works great because the man shines the most when he plays a creepy character, Leo Rossi who again plays the role of Sam Dietz gives a great performance as he did in the first and the second, but one of the scene stealers is Robert Costanzo whose character and performance added a somewhat light hearted touch to a series that's been very much serious up to this point.
The storyline is basically a detective vs. serial killer type as in the first and second, but unlike the second film it concentrates less on the character story and more on the killer like in the first one, plus the highlight of the story is the ending, if you think you can predict it you're a genius because it one of the best endings I've seen in a while.
Overall, better than the first but not quite as good as the second but its worth a watch.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
