Independent Films, Film Profiles

Wanted: Dead or Alive (film)
by Gary Sherman

Wanted: Dead or Alive is a 1987 film directed by Gary Sherman and starring Rutger Hauer (in a rare outing as a hero) as Nick Randall, the descendant of the character Josh Randall, played by Steve McQueen in the 1958 television series of the same name.Nick Randall is a Los Angeles-based bounty hunter and an ex-CIA operative, who is asked by a former co-worker to help track down terrorist Malak Al Rahim. However, Malak Al Rahim is also looking for Randall, and Randall's employers tell him where to find him, resulting in the death of his best friend, Sgt. Danny Quintz, and his girlfriend Terry, eventually forcing a showdown on the waterfront.The famous ending had Randall bringing out Rahim handcuffed with a grenade jammed in his mouth while Randall is holding the pin. Randall explains to his bosses that they should send his payment to the family of one of Rahim's victims and he'll just keep the extra bonus for bringing him in alive. As he starts to leave, he says, "Fuck the bonus" and pulls the grenade pin out.