Calvin Dexter, a lawyer, is a man whose life has been marked by tragedy. When his only daughter is killed by a greasy boyfriend, he leaps into action. Cal doesn't wait for justice, he deals with the injustices committed against him. He is a Viet Nam veteran, part of a special force, that were trained for risky missions. As such, he has had the experience to deal with whatever comes his way.
When Senator Stephen Edwards asks him to look into the disappearance of his son in Bosnia, where the young man has gone on a humanitarian mission, he finds that the man who was responsible for what happened to the boy is no other than the evil Zoran Zilic, a sanguinary man, responsible for much of the atrocities during the war in that part of the world.
Cal decides to track down this paid assassin, but little does he know our own government is involved in the usage and protection of this scum bag, now hiding in South Africa. CIA director, Paul Devereaux, upon knowing how Dexter has found out about the war criminal, sends his henchman Frank McBride to eliminate Cal Dexter for him. Little does this corrupt government official realize the former Viet Nam veteran is ahead of all the evil forces and how he will avenge the murdered youth.
The film, which was made for television, is based on a Frederick Forsyth novel. Director Robert Markowitz, working on the screen treatment by Alan Sharp delivers a taut action movie. This is by no means an original story, as we have seen before how corrupt public servants can be behind vile acts of violence in the name of democracy.
"Avenger" was tailor-made for Sam Elliott. His Cal Dexter shows this actor at his best. We have always thought Mr. Elliott was a great character actor that could have been given more opportunities in which to shine. This film seems to prove he can deliver. James Cromwell plays the heartless director of the CIA with verve. Timothy Hutton is seen as the gofer for the head of the spy agency. David Hyman appears as Zilic.
This television movie is action filled for fans of this movie genre.
When Senator Stephen Edwards asks him to look into the disappearance of his son in Bosnia, where the young man has gone on a humanitarian mission, he finds that the man who was responsible for what happened to the boy is no other than the evil Zoran Zilic, a sanguinary man, responsible for much of the atrocities during the war in that part of the world.
Cal decides to track down this paid assassin, but little does he know our own government is involved in the usage and protection of this scum bag, now hiding in South Africa. CIA director, Paul Devereaux, upon knowing how Dexter has found out about the war criminal, sends his henchman Frank McBride to eliminate Cal Dexter for him. Little does this corrupt government official realize the former Viet Nam veteran is ahead of all the evil forces and how he will avenge the murdered youth.
The film, which was made for television, is based on a Frederick Forsyth novel. Director Robert Markowitz, working on the screen treatment by Alan Sharp delivers a taut action movie. This is by no means an original story, as we have seen before how corrupt public servants can be behind vile acts of violence in the name of democracy.
"Avenger" was tailor-made for Sam Elliott. His Cal Dexter shows this actor at his best. We have always thought Mr. Elliott was a great character actor that could have been given more opportunities in which to shine. This film seems to prove he can deliver. James Cromwell plays the heartless director of the CIA with verve. Timothy Hutton is seen as the gofer for the head of the spy agency. David Hyman appears as Zilic.
This television movie is action filled for fans of this movie genre.