Another Robert Conrad Film

Conrad hunts a killer – Sworn to Vengeance (1993)

The 1990s saw less projects for Robert Conrad as he crept closer to retirement. However, many of the films, television shows, and made-to-tv movies he did make suggest a career that was still going strong. Sworn to Vengeance is one of those films. Another television film made by his production company, apparently it is based on a true story. It is about black sheep police Sergeant who hunts down the killer of three teenagers. At one point, Stewart (Conrad) quits his job and gets a position in the prison where his suspect is serving time for a different crime. Quickly, Stewart unearths a conspiracy of jealously and hubris. The strength of the film is the strange relationship he builds with the killer Michael (William McMamara), a chatty arrogant young man who seems determined to please Stewart without actually giving him the information he wants.

With the brutal murders, the autumnal look of the film, and the array of strange characters, Sworn to Vengeance reminds me a lot of Twin Peaks. One of Stewart’s key witnesses is a woman who sees a vision of the murders. It is established early on that Stewart is successful at his job because he is patient and persistent. You get the impression that he will work at the prison for as long as it takes. There is a strange yet compelling moment when, having found the dead bodies of the three teenagers, Stewart whispers into each of their ears stating that he will seek vengeance.

Some aspects of the film could have been developed further or cut. For example, we briefly see Stewart’s teenage children and meet his wife. The interaction, while offering Stewart a clear motivation, is rather underdone. His family disappears from the film. I feel he would have still been the same character had they cut this scene. Other details do work well, however. For example, we see him constantly stepping on the toes of other officers. Thus, suggesting why he is only a sergeant, despite his age and ability.

Conrad offers a lot of depth in this role. While he loses his temper at one moment, it is not a fighting film. He is a quiet and observant man with a strong determination that borders on the deranged. Despite the lack of punches, the film also ticks the other ‘Robert Conrad’ boxes. Wearing tight trousers, and at one point taking his shirt of randomly to demonstrate that even at fifty-eight he was still in good shape. However, overall, this is not a schlocky film. The brutality of the killings, the nuance in both Conrad and McMamara’s performances, and the tone of the film creates a cold and unsettled feeling.

Plot: 4
Script: 4
Intentional laughs: 2
Unintentional laughs: 0
Conrad’s performance: 4
Co-stars performance: 4
Macho rating: 2
Shirtless: 2
Tight trousers: 4
Fighting Conrad: 1
27/50