The Stranger (1995 film)
Encyclopedia
The Stranger is a 1995
martial arts-action film directed by Fritz Kiersch
, starring former professional kickboxing champion Kathy Long
. The film bears many similarities to the 1973
Clint Eastwood
film High Plains Drifter
.
). The residents have been terrified into submission, and the local Sheriff Gordon Cole (Eric Pierpoint
) hasn't been the same since the gang raped and murdered his fiancée Bridget for trying to bring evidence of their crimes to the FBI. Tormented by grief and alcoholism, he no longer has the will to stand against them.
Things look bleak until one day, a mysterious young woman dressed in black leather (Kathy Long
) rides into town on a motorcycle and promptly starts killing members of Angel's gang. When Cole attempts to question her about the killings, he notices she bears a striking resemblance to his fiancée and is instantly attracted to her, much to the chagrin of local shopkeeper Sally Womack (Ginger Lynn Allen), who has wanted Cole for herself ever since Bridget's demise.
Fearing retaliation from Angel (who is currently out of town) for the deaths of his men, Sally implores Cole to arrest the woman, but feeling that she is essentially performing a service by eliminating the gang members, he refuses to take any action against her. Undeterred, Sally enlists the help of Cole's corrupt Deputy Steve Stowe (Ash Adams
) and the Mayor of Lakeview (Hunter von Leer
) to capture her, but their plan ultimately backfires resulting in Stowe's death. Meanwhile the woman, a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, continues to eliminate the bikers one by one as she awaits Angel's return.
During her time in Lakeview, the woman gets acquainted with several of the townspeople, most notably Bridget's younger sister Gordet (Robin Lynn Heath), who has been living as a vagrant ever since witnessing her sister's brutal death. After hearing her story, the woman takes the emotionally shattered girl under her wing and tries to help her reclaim her life.
Eventually Cole becomes romantically involved with the woman, but is unable to learn anything about her origin. She is undoubtedly the mirror image of his fiancée Bridget, but if the two are related, the woman gives no indication. However, when the subject of Angel is brought up, she angrily admonishes Cole for his inaction, causing him to storm off in a rage. When he tries to confess his love to her, she cryptically responds that he's "in love with a ghost".
With Angel's return imminent, the residents of Lakeview begin a full-scale evacuation. Though Sally tries to convince Cole to leave with her, he chooses to stay behind and help the woman defend the town. With Gordet acting as a lookout, Cole and the woman are able to work together to dispatch the few remaining members of Angel's gang. Finally, the woman meets Angel face to face on the street, where they fight to the death. Victorious, the woman bids farewell to Cole and Gordet and rides off into the sunset, leaving both of them and the audience to speculate about her identity.
1995 in film
-Top grossing films:-Events:* March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.* March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation....
martial arts-action film directed by Fritz Kiersch
Fritz Kiersch
Fritz Kiersch, real name George Keith Kiersch is an American filmmaker, writer and producer. He is best known for directing the horror classic, Children of the Corn and Tuff Turf.- Director :...
, starring former professional kickboxing champion Kathy Long
Kathy Long
Kathy Long is an American retired five time world kickboxing champion and mixed martial arts fighter.- Biography :Long was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in Sunny Mead, California...
. The film bears many similarities to the 1973
1973 in film
The year 1973 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces his second wife, Barbara Blakely. Blakely would later marry actor/singer Frank Sinatra....
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
film High Plains Drifter
High Plains Drifter
High Plains Drifter is a 1973 American Western film, with a hint of the supernatural, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood and produced by Robert Daley for The Malpaso Company and Universal Pictures. Eastwood plays a mysterious gunfighter hired by the residents of a corrupt frontier mining town...
.
Plot
For years, the tiny desert town of Lakeview, Arizona has been ruled by a vicious outlaw biker gang led by a man known as Angel (Andrew DivoffAndrew Divoff
Andrew Daniel Divoff is a Venezuelan film and television actor, best known for playing the evil Djinn in the two first Wishmaster films and the villains Cherry Ganz in Another 48 Hrs., Boris Bazylev in Air Force One, Ivan Sarnoff in CSI: Miami and Mikhail Bakunin in Lost.- Early life :Divoff was...
). The residents have been terrified into submission, and the local Sheriff Gordon Cole (Eric Pierpoint
Eric Pierpoint
Eric Pierpoint is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as George Francisco on Fox Network's Alien Nation. He has appeared on all of the Star Trek spin-offs. He played five characters in the four series from 1993 to 2005.He is the son of retired CBS news correspondent Robert...
) hasn't been the same since the gang raped and murdered his fiancée Bridget for trying to bring evidence of their crimes to the FBI. Tormented by grief and alcoholism, he no longer has the will to stand against them.
Things look bleak until one day, a mysterious young woman dressed in black leather (Kathy Long
Kathy Long
Kathy Long is an American retired five time world kickboxing champion and mixed martial arts fighter.- Biography :Long was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in Sunny Mead, California...
) rides into town on a motorcycle and promptly starts killing members of Angel's gang. When Cole attempts to question her about the killings, he notices she bears a striking resemblance to his fiancée and is instantly attracted to her, much to the chagrin of local shopkeeper Sally Womack (Ginger Lynn Allen), who has wanted Cole for herself ever since Bridget's demise.
Fearing retaliation from Angel (who is currently out of town) for the deaths of his men, Sally implores Cole to arrest the woman, but feeling that she is essentially performing a service by eliminating the gang members, he refuses to take any action against her. Undeterred, Sally enlists the help of Cole's corrupt Deputy Steve Stowe (Ash Adams
Ash Adams
Ash Adams , also known professionally by his given name of Jason Adams, is an award-winning American independent filmmaker, producer, writer, and well-known TV and movie actor.- Early life :...
) and the Mayor of Lakeview (Hunter von Leer
Hunter von Leer
Hunter von Leer is an American actor who has appeared in films, television shows, and television movies.His first film role was in the 1972 movie Unholy Rollers. He also acted in the 1977 Mel Brooks film High Anxiety and in Brooks's 1981 History of the World: Part 1...
) to capture her, but their plan ultimately backfires resulting in Stowe's death. Meanwhile the woman, a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, continues to eliminate the bikers one by one as she awaits Angel's return.
During her time in Lakeview, the woman gets acquainted with several of the townspeople, most notably Bridget's younger sister Gordet (Robin Lynn Heath), who has been living as a vagrant ever since witnessing her sister's brutal death. After hearing her story, the woman takes the emotionally shattered girl under her wing and tries to help her reclaim her life.
Eventually Cole becomes romantically involved with the woman, but is unable to learn anything about her origin. She is undoubtedly the mirror image of his fiancée Bridget, but if the two are related, the woman gives no indication. However, when the subject of Angel is brought up, she angrily admonishes Cole for his inaction, causing him to storm off in a rage. When he tries to confess his love to her, she cryptically responds that he's "in love with a ghost".
With Angel's return imminent, the residents of Lakeview begin a full-scale evacuation. Though Sally tries to convince Cole to leave with her, he chooses to stay behind and help the woman defend the town. With Gordet acting as a lookout, Cole and the woman are able to work together to dispatch the few remaining members of Angel's gang. Finally, the woman meets Angel face to face on the street, where they fight to the death. Victorious, the woman bids farewell to Cole and Gordet and rides off into the sunset, leaving both of them and the audience to speculate about her identity.
Partial cast
- Kathy LongKathy LongKathy Long is an American retired five time world kickboxing champion and mixed martial arts fighter.- Biography :Long was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in Sunny Mead, California...
as The Stranger - Andrew DivoffAndrew DivoffAndrew Daniel Divoff is a Venezuelan film and television actor, best known for playing the evil Djinn in the two first Wishmaster films and the villains Cherry Ganz in Another 48 Hrs., Boris Bazylev in Air Force One, Ivan Sarnoff in CSI: Miami and Mikhail Bakunin in Lost.- Early life :Divoff was...
as Angel - Eric PierpointEric PierpointEric Pierpoint is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as George Francisco on Fox Network's Alien Nation. He has appeared on all of the Star Trek spin-offs. He played five characters in the four series from 1993 to 2005.He is the son of retired CBS news correspondent Robert...
as Sheriff Gordon Cole - Robin Lynn Heath as Gordet
- Ash AdamsAsh AdamsAsh Adams , also known professionally by his given name of Jason Adams, is an award-winning American independent filmmaker, producer, writer, and well-known TV and movie actor.- Early life :...
as Deputy Steve Stowe - Ginger Lynn Allen as Sally Womack
- Hunter von LeerHunter von LeerHunter von Leer is an American actor who has appeared in films, television shows, and television movies.His first film role was in the 1972 movie Unholy Rollers. He also acted in the 1977 Mel Brooks film High Anxiety and in Brooks's 1981 History of the World: Part 1...
as Mayor Carl Perkins