THE EVIL THAT MEN DO (1984)

Director: J. Lee Thompson

Writers: R. Lance Hill (as David Henry Lee), John Crowther, Fred A. Wyler (uncredited) (based on R. Lance Hill’s novel)

Producer: Poncho Kohner

Cast: Charles Bronson, Theresa Saldana, Joseph Maher, Antoinette Bower, José Ferrer, René Enriquez, Angélica Aragón, Raymond St. Jacques, John Glover, Amanda Nicole Thomas (as Nicole Thomas), Miguel Ángel Fuentes, Jorge Luke, Mischa Hausserman, Roger Cudney, Jorge Humberto, Robles, Anías de Melo, Carlos Romano, Conrad Hool (as Alan Conrad), Enrique Lucero, Constanza Hool, Joe Seneca, Eduardo López Rojas, Rodrigo Puebla, Richard Brodie, Ernesto Gómez,Cruz, Jorge Zepeda, Fernando Sáenz, Alfredo Tarzan Gutiérrez 

In Suriname, South America, journalist Jorge Hidalgo (Jorge Humberto Robles) is tortured to death by Clement “The Doctor” Molloch (Joseph Maher). Jorge is killed because he was critical of the torture methods Molloch demonstrates to government officials for use on their citizens. Torture specialist Molloch teaches brutal interrogation techniques to similar regimes around the world. Hidalgo’s friend, Hector Homlin (José Ferrer), visits retired assassin Holland (Charles Bronson), another friend of the murdered journalist. Homlin hires the reluctant Holland to stalk and kill the Doctor. 

The Flashback Fanatic movie review 

In 1984 actor Charles Bronson was in the midst of his late-career series of thrillers. Most of them capitalized on the reputation Bronson had achieved as vigilante Paul Kersey in Death Wish (1974) and its sequels. The murderous man of action aspect in Bronson characterizations was never more pronounced than in The Evil That Men Do. 

Films like Dirty Harry (1971) vented anger and anxiety about crime and the frustration over a justice system that seemed broken. Ever since Clint Eastwood’s iconic title role, most film heroes became increasingly brutal, which made lethal force the standard behavior for the good guy. By the 1980s, it was taken for granted in films that wasting the bad guy was the go-to solution for saving the day. Charles Bronson’s assassin Holland epitomizes that moviegoer mindset while impressing with his methodical and coldblooded efficiency. This is more edgy than the ever more elaborate and cartoonish thrills that many ’80s action films were embracing. 

Of course, what justifies Holland’s deadly mission is that his target Clement “The Doctor” Molloch is a practitioner of torture. We see Molloch employing his gruesome skills before an audience of South American government officials. This establishes an overwhelming sense of dread and outrage in the film audience. As in Dirty Harry and Bronson’s own Death Wish films, such villainy is so heinous that a certain death dealt to the perpetrator seems perfectly appropriate. 

There is an almost constant pall of oppression and sleaze hanging over the film. When the scene shifts to Guatemala, where Clement “The Doctor” Molloch is based, The Evil That Men Do demonstrates how appalling life is in a poor country ruled by a militaristic regime. Corruption and brutality are prevalent, and we see some of the villains engaging in their own risky, extracurricular activities. Drugs and casual sex with strangers are how these people find a release in this sordid society. This unsavory atmosphere adds an additional paranoid factor to the situation of Holland and Theresa Hidalgo tracking down their target to kill.

Too many people dismiss Charles Bronson as wooden, especially in his crowd-pleasing, exploitation films heyday of the ’80s. I think he is effective because he has presence. He was not a showoff and neither were the characters that he played. When someone is truly accomplished, they have self-assurance and do not need to try to convince others of their ability; it is the bullies and frauds that must threaten and brag because they can’t back up their bullshit. It is this aspect of Bronson’s persona that suits the characters he portrays. When we do see some stress or emotion leak through his reserved demeanor, it has greater impact. It seems like a sincere reaction that presents the audience a true emotional gauge to measure the severity of a situation. 

A fine example of this emotional gauge at work in The Evil That Men Do is when Bronson’s Holland is confronted with an enormous brute (Miguel Ángel Fuentes) in a sleazy bar. We know that Holland is offended and also a bit intimidated by the giant lout. It stresses to us that this is not just a movie moment and makes us all too aware of the very real danger in this situation. We soon find out that Holland is very good with his hands in the baddest way possible. 

There are many examples of such nasty intensity in this film. The violence is not glorified; it consists of the protracted sadism of the Doctor’s torture techniques or the quick and deadly action taken by the professional killer Holland. The Evil That Men Do never provides contrived stunts and heroics meant to wow an audience. It coldcocks the audience with coldblooded matter-of-factness. 

Joseph Maher earns our absolute disgust and hatred as Clement Molloch. This ruthless fiend behaves with refined detachment while conducting torture, yet he is easily distressed by any indication of threat. It seems that he is the sort of person who probably compensates for his own inadequacies and cowardice by exercising total power over others during his torture sessions. Anyone who would market torture deserves whatever they get. That is why we can get behind the idea of assassination as a just course of action in this film. 

Antoinette Bower is equally hissable as Molloch’s sister Claire. She seems just as sadistic as the Doctor when she attends his deadly demonstrations. Bower was a familiar guest star in many US television series during the ’60s and ’70s. I never knew she could be so accomplished at being abhorrent. 

As Rhiana Hidalgo, Theresa Saldana adds the emotional motivation to the mission of killing the Doctor. She and her young daughter Sarah (Amanda Nicole Thomas) accompany Holland to make him appear like a family man on holiday when he travels to Guatemala to find Molloch. Seeking revenge for the murder of her journalist husband does not transform Rhiana into a snarky, combat-ready action hero. Although Rhiana is an angry woman wanting justice, she is also traumatized by the ongoing violence and, at one point, wants to abandon the vendetta. This is another realistic aspect to the story that helps it all seem deadly serious. It does not pander to us, as many contemporary thrillers do, by shoehorning in representatives for multiple demographics of the audience to play hero. This is just a badass Bronson flick, so he is the one doing the ass kicking. 

Frequent Charles Bronson director J. Lee Thompson helms this film. Thompson had directed Bronson’s previous picture, the intense police procedural 10 to Midnight (1983). The old pro Thompson salvaged the film when it became apparent that the original director was not going to work out. At a moment’s notice, Thompson arrived in Mexico where the movie was to be shot and got the film in the can. 

This film is based on the novel by R. Lance Hill. Although somewhat streamlined, this adaptation is quite faithful to its prose source. The one major change is the film’s grisly and fitting conclusion. 

The Evil That Men Do is not a film that exists to showcase the machismo of its star performing asinine exploits. This film is about the brutal means used to avenge sanctioned brutality. To make that seem like it matters, The Evil That Men Do delivers danger and death with the one-and-only Charles Bronson instead of stunts and swagger with the wiseass hunk of the moment.