WFG RATING: B

A Scotti Brothers Pictures production. Directed by Richard C. Sarafian. Produced by Tony Scotti. Written by Michael Thomas Montgomery. Cinematography by Peter Lyons Collister. Edited by Gregory Prange.

Stars Gary Busey, Yaphet Kotto, Seymour Cassel, Bert Remsen, Denise Galik, William Smith, and Judith Barsi.

In this throwback review, a man returns home and finds himself having to clean up the town from a deadly gang.

After serving time in prison, ex-Vietnam War veteran Buck Matthews is returning home. The sheriff, who doubles as his parole officer, always had it in for Buck and warns him not to do anything stupid. Meanwhile, Buck is just happy to return home to his wife Christie and daughter Jennifer. He gets a job at the old construction company again but starting as a worker. One night, he finds a local nurse, Dawn Reynolds, attacked by a local biker gang. Buck saves her and is hailed a local hero.

However, to the biker gang, they want revenge. Learning where Buck lives, they unleash an assault that leaves Christie dead and Jennifer in a catatonic state. Having had enough, Buck gets help from an old friend he helped in prison. Armed with a new truck, Buck begins his revenge against the biker gang. When the sheriff warns Buck of his actions and threatens to send him back to jail, soon-to-be-retired sergeant J.D. and the local reverend come to Buck’s defense. When Buck discovers where the biker gang hangs out after they kidnap Jennifer from the hospital, he is ready for a new brand of war. 

1986 was definitely a year of movies. Aside from some of the top A-list films, a ton of lesser known cult classic were on the horizon that year. One such film is this, made by Scotti Bros. Pictures, as in the record label who delved briefly into films with this and the following year’s comedy He’s My Girl. The title is based (but not inspired) on the theme song from Rocky III from Survivor and it reminds you of that as the song is played quite a bit throughout the film with one other song on the soundtrack, “Gravity” by James Brown. 

Gary Busey proves he can play an All-American hero type in Buck, a former Vietnam War vet imprisoned and released. The biggest detractor upon his return is the local sheriff, played by Seymour Cassel. The second they lock eyes, he has it in for him right away. However, he does have an ally in Yaphet Kotto’s J.D., who is on the verge of retiring and is constantly hoping Buck keeps his side of the street clean, even after the assault. However, we know where this is going to go and results in J.D. helping Buck in his greatest time of need.

William Smith plays the leader of the biker gang, Blade. He doesn’t say much but with his bald head and moustache, Smith gives off an intimidating vibe. Aside from Blade, the only other gang member that gives off any sort of vibe is James Staszkiel’s Raider-Napper, who is so unhinged he doesn’t even talk and his demise is perhaps one of the most shocking of the film. The finale pits Buck on the ground and J.D. in the air against the biker gang in their desert hideout where it leads to a final showdown between Buck and Blade going mano-a-mano.

Eye of the Tiger is one of those All-American hero flicks saving a small town but is pretty good thanks to Gary Busey’s straight-laced performance (compared to some of his later over the top stuff…Gingerdead Man anyone?) and some pretty decent action pieces. Definitely one for those who love 80’s B-movies. 

The film can be seen on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Plex.