Walter Hill may not be the first filmmaker movie fans bring up when discussing well-known action directors, but he’s certainly one of the best. Beginning his career as a screenwriter, Hill was involved in the development of many of the most iconic films of the ‘70s and ‘80s, including numerous Paul Newman films and the Alien series. As a director, Hill not only made several of the best action films of the time, but also was a leading figure in the ‘80s revival of the Western genre. His films are characterized by Western archetypes, simple yet symbolic characters, and a rugged Peckinpah-like sense of machismo that is equal parts nonchalant and unflinchingly savage. Basically, Hill makes amazing movies.
While he may not be a household name like Steven Spielberg or James Cameron, Hill has made an indelible mark on action cinema, and deserves more recognition for his achievements. He’s still active in Hollywood today, recently directing the western Dead for a Dollar. Hill has also retained his connection to the Alien franchise, and has been hinting at a potential Alien 5 for years. Perhaps we’ll see that one day, but in the meantime, let’s shed some appreciation on six of Hill’s greatest directorial efforts.
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6 Streets of Fire (1984)
Universal Pictures
A self-described “Rock & Roll Fable,” 1984’s Streets of Fire follows a soldier-for-hire fighting his way through an apocalyptic punk rock dreamscape to save a kidnapped rock singer. In his review for the film, Roger Ebert notes that Hill “likes characters who stand tall and represent good or evil and settle the matters of the universe with unlimited violence.” Indeed, the film takes a classic good vs. evil narrative and transplants it to a beautifully-realized, neon-lit 1950s-flavored city of eternal night. It’s an incredibly unique film that moves along at a fast pace, satisfyingly cut to rocking tunes written by Jim Steinman, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, and Ry Cooder. Streets of Fire is an under-seen and underrated ‘80s action gem that deserves more love.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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5 48 Hrs. (1982)
Paramount Pictures
One of the best detective movies of the ‘80s, 48 Hrs. is the prototypical buddy-cop movie. It’s also the movie that launched Eddie Murphy to stardom, and remains a highlight of his film career. It’s about a tough cop and a wild convict who team up to catch a pair of criminals within 48 hours. It’s a genre-defining action classic that seamlessly blends uproarious comedy with brutal violence. Pairing up Murphy with the tough-talking Nick Nolte was a stroke of genius, and together their buddy-cop partnership is one for the history books.
4 The Long Riders (1980)
United Artists
Hill famously once said that every film he’s done has been a Western. While previously Hill had applied his Western themes and sense of morality to contemporary settings, his 1980 film The Long Riders finally afforded him the chance to make a proper gunslinging adventure. This Western chronicles the exploits of the Jesse James gang, and stars four sets of acting brothers portraying real-life brothers. James and Stacy Keach star as the James brothers, David, Keith, and Robert Carradine star as the Younger brothers, Dennis and Randy Quaid star as the Miller brothers, and Christopher and Nicholas Guest star as the Ford brothers. The film is an exhilarating and highly detailed period-piece, and notably features one of David Carradine’s all-time best performances. The film was also highly influential in the revival of the western genre that took place in the 1980s.
3 Southern Comfort (1981)
20th Century Fox
Despite Hill’s denial that his 1981 film alludes to the war in Vietnam, it’s difficult not to see a connection: Southern Comfort tells of a doomed National Guard training exercise deep in the Louisiana swamp. The naive but gung-ho soldiers run afoul of the local Cajuns, resulting in a harrowing fight for survival in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by enemies who live off the land and know every nook and cranny of the treacherous bog. It’s a grueling thriller with echoes of Deliverance that’s made highly original and satisfying by Hill’s adept direction. While not typically classified as such, the film is essentially a horror movie, possessing a tone which Den of Geek aptly describes as “uncomfortably tense and undeniably menacing; this film masterfully leaves us on edge from start to finish.”
2 The Driver (1978)
More than 30 years before Nicolas Winding Refn dazzled audiences with his car-centric neo-noir thriller Drive, Hill made the similarly stylish (and similarly titled) neo-noir The Driver. The film is about a getaway driver, referred to only as “The Driver” and played by Ryan O’Neal, who is hunted by The Detective, played by Bruce Dern. Initially released to negative reviews, The Driver has since been re-evaluated as one of Hill’s best and most influential films. It’s a tight and simple story, told via three central unnamed characters whose histories and motivations are only hinted at throughout the film. It’s overtly stylized and intentionally spare – leaving the viewer to make their own conclusions about who’s right and who’s wrong. The action is exhilarating and directed with a confident swagger that only Hill is capable of. This under-seen actioner is one of the most carefully crafted films of the ‘70s, and a true masterpiece of the genre.
1 The Warriors (1979)
Capping off our list of the best Walter Hill films is The Warriors, one of the most highly regarded cult films of all time. This 1979 thriller centers on a street gang who’s framed for murder and must fight their way from the north side of the Bronx all the way down to their home turf in Coney Island. Much like Streets of Fire, the story takes place in a neon-lit, dream-like cityscape, and every scene is dripping with the stripped-down, carefully realized essence of cool that Hill built his career around. It’s an essential viewing for cult film fans and the ultimate testament to Hill’s ingenuity and incredible filmmaking ability.
