Bullet Points: Crack House

1989’s Crack House is an example of a movie that while released by Cannon, was not produced by Cannon. And that is probably why we didn’t see Charles Bronson, Michael Dudikoff or Chuck Norris waging a war on drugs in Crack House.

• Star Power: Even without the inclusion of any of the usual Cannon stars, Crack House has two legit action legends Richard Roundtree and Jim Brown. Roundtree plays a cop who works the gang task force. Jim Brown played against type as Steadman, a misogynistic drug dealing slime ball.

• Young Love: The story that unfolds in Crack House revolves around two young lovers, Rick (Greg Gomez Thomsen) and Melissa (Cheryl Kay). Both have big plans for the future, Rick has left the gang he was affiliated with (Los Pochos) and has plans on enlisting in the Air Force. Melissa has dreams of becoming a fashion designer. But after a romantic night with Melissa in the front and back seat of his mom’s convertible, things are about to take a dramatic turn for Rick.

• Just When He Thought He Was Out: It started off innocently enough, Rick asked his cousin Jesus (leader of Los Pochos) if he can borrow his Nova so he could take Melissa out for her 18th birthday in style… but moments after Jesus handed Rick the keys to the Nova, The Grays, the rival gang in the neighborhood does a drive by and Jesus is killed. Rick is pissed and reverts back to his gangbanger ways… Rick and Los Pochos are going to avenge Jesus’ death. They make their way to Jammer’s house (the head of The Grays) and the bullets start flying… the police show up and Lt. Johnson has to reluctantly arrest Rick.

• From Bad to Worse: When Melissa goes to visit Rick in jail, he calls the whole thing off… there’s no future for him now and he doesn’t want to hold Melissa back from fulfilling her dreams. Melissa tries to reason with him, but he walks away. Bad things continue to happen for Melissa… with Rick out of the picture, Melissa is now easy prey for B.T., a guy who has been trying to hook up with her forever. Melissa is reluctant at first, but when B.T. comes to her aid after she is nearly raped by one of the Pochos, she finds herself spending more and more time with B.T. This eventually leads to Melissa smoking crack and banging B.T. (short for Big Time) in the back of his van. But things get even worse when B.T. finds himself in debt to drug kingpin Steadman and since B.T. has no money… Steadman takes Melissa as payment and turns her into a crack whore.

• Outside the Box: When word gets back to Rick that Melissa has become property of Steadman, he pitches an idea to Lt. Johnson of infiltrating Steadman’s operation and getting the necessary evidence to bring Steadman down (and in turn rescue Melissa). The danger level rises as Rick puts it all on the line for love… but will this story have a happy ending?

Crack House unapologetically presented a world of sex, drugs and violence and was basically a late 80’s take on the type of exploitation cinema that stars Jim Brown and Richard Roundtree found themselves starring in a decade and a half earlier.

Now allow me to exploit the Bonus Bullet Points gimmick one more time…

• Who Am I (What’s My Name)?: Even if you never saw Crack House you would know this character’s name is Jammer and he is an OG!
• If You Ever: …wanted to see Jim Brown force a woman to take a hot shower because she stunk, then this is the movie for you.
• AKA: The working title for the movie was Rock House, which could explain why there are a few “Rock House” references in the dialogue but nobody ever utters the words “Crack House”.
• Playmate of the Month: Crack House was the first and only piece of acting that Cheryl Kay did. However if you want to see more of her, she was Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in August of 1985 under the name Cher Butler.
• If You Ever: …wanted to hear Richard Roundtree laught about a kid in a wheelchair, then this is the movie for you.
• Familiar Face: Anthony Geary (Penitentiary III) plays Dockett… a teacher at the high school that Rick and Melissa attend… but as the movie progresses, we begin to learn that Dockett is much more than a mild-mannered high school teacher.