Crime Cult Classic

Investigative reporters descend into city tunnels and uncover murder—plus unexpected martial arts action.

CRIMINAL ACT

1989 · 1h 33m · R · Crime / Horror / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Two investigative reporters track down reports of giant rats in a city sewer system.

Quick Answer

What is Criminal Act about?

Criminal Act is a 1989 American crime, horror, and thriller film directed by Mark Byers about two investigative reporters who discover murderous real-estate developers while probing reports of giant rats in city sewers.

Programmer's Pick

Criminal Act knows how to mix a city sewer’s grit with newsroom glamour and a karate kick or two. If you ever wondered what would happen if Lois Lane went undercover in a grindhouse, here's your answer.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Pam Weiss and Sharon Fields are investigative reporters whose latest assignment takes an unexpected turn after a rat emerges in their newspaper's bathroom. Following the trail from their own building’s basement into the city’s labyrinthine tunnels, the pair expect the stuff of horror movies but instead encounter a deadly plot involving crooked real estate developers. Despite their glamorous exteriors, these two reporters are more than capable of holding their own, flaunting surprisingly effective martial arts skills when their investigation leads to danger. With a blend of crime, horror, and thriller elements, the film sets up a tense cat-and-mouse beneath the city streets, where not everything lurking in the shadows is what it seems.

Details & Specs

Director: Mark Byers
Writer: Daniel Yost
Release: 1989
Runtime: 1h 33m
Country: United States of America
Language: English, Spanish
Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller
Also Known As: Tunely, Tunnels

Cast & Crew

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Director: Mark Byers Writer: Daniel Yost

Catherine Bach Pam Weiss

Charlene Dallas Sharon Fields

Nicholas Guest Ron Bellard

John Saxon Herb Tamplin

Vic Tayback The Exterminator (Greengrass)

Cork Hubbert Slater

Victor Brandt Lance Bellard

Luis Ávalos Coroner RT Ray Tillotson Wayne Sherman

Rick Zumwalt Tiny BL Barbara Lusch Val JM Jeanie Moore Hungry Hooker SB Syd Beard Apple Bob SM Scott McKay Ratman MJ Michael J. Scherlis Police Officer

Sonia Jackson Police Officer HM H. Mark Vuille Police Officer DC David Chung Sailor PD Phyllis Delio Women's Room Screamer JS Jeff Smolek Karate Instructor RH Rita Herring Karate Student

Michael Joiner Detective Jones

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Independent Film Murder Surprise Ending Kidnapping Bound And Gagged Photographer Knocked Unconscious Abduction Reporter Basement Rat Woman Bound And Gagged Karate Tunnel Toilet Sewer