TUFF TURF

Release Year: 1984

Starring: JAMES SPADER, KIM RICHARDS, ROBERT DOWNEY JR

James Spader shows promise in this fish-out-of-water drama about a Connecticut wise-ass whose interest in a girl from L.A.’s “wrong side of the tracks (cliché alert!)” could be his undoing. Spader’s character, Morgan, is not only motivated by his desire for Frankie (Kim Richards), but also by a nagging want to at least try to do the right thing (cliché alert #2!). When Morgan foils the mugging of an innocent man by the local gang of thugs whose leader is Frankie’s boyfriend, gritty tension, surprisingly brisk action sequences, a few laughs (supplied by Robert Downey Jr.) and a great synth-pop soundtrack are what’s on hand. 

Kim Richards, a talented, multi-faceted actress, never looked better. There’s lots of the big hair and exaggerated “punker” accoutrements (Mohawks, earrings, fingerless gloves, spiky clothes, tattoos, and graffiti) found only in 80's movies.

This little-seen, underappreciated gem is director Fritz Kiersch ’s (CHILDREN OF THE CORN) best film.