Bullet Points: White Fury

Sometimes I watch an action movie and learn something about myself I never knew. I already know that I like action movies, and that is why I never pass up a chance to watch a David A. Prior film. I am talking about things in a movie that I would have never guessed I would have liked either on their own or combined. For example before I watched the 1990 movie White Fury, I never had the desire to try snowboarding even though I have been skiing countless times. I think snowmobiles look fun but have never tried one, and thrash metal is not the first (or second, or third, or…) genre of music I choose. But when I saw a man on a snowmobile chasing a snowboarder with a thrash metal soundtrack playing I suddenly have a favorite thing. I shouldn’t be surprised because David A. Prior knows how to make an action movie, and White Fury is no exception so stick around and you might just learn something about yourself.

• Thanks For the Use of Your Cabin – White Fury is a fairly simple story that involves champion snowboarder Danny and his girlfriend Christine heading up to a cabin to celebrate his win. Danny also invites his friend Greg who brings along Lesley, someone who he wants to get with even though she has no business in a mountain cabin environment. While the foursome is heading to the cabin, Tyler is robbing a bank with a couple of compadres (only Marcus is left after another is offed) which leaves lots of dead bank patrons and some robbers on the lam. Tyler is the leader of the gang and is played by Deke Anderson and he is the leader of the movie and acts circles around the mostly novice cast. Deke plays Tyler as a full on psycho and is the star of White Fury. Would anyone be surprised if Tyler ends up at the same cabin as Danny and his friends?

• Cabin Fever – I love when action movies have a little levity in between serious action. White Fury has the greatest (hyperbole) game of charades ever on film. Scenes like this show what the characters are made of, Danny and Christine are tough, Greg is a waste, and Lelsey is a complete hole. Tyler and Marcus end up at the cabin… color me shocked, but Danny is able to hide the money, forcing Tyler to keep the group alive until he gets his money, but not before he ends getting some from Lesley. Little does Tyler know that a bounty hunter who has been chasing Tyler for years is hot on his tale. Would anyone be surprised if the bounty hunter ends up at the same cabin as Danny and his friends?

• Cabin Pressure – While a lot of White Fury is set in the cabin, most of the action takes place outside. The one exception is the fight between Greg and Lesley that is a surprising match up filled with vulgar insults, slaps and half-hearted pushing. The insults flying back and forth with the wooden delivery was worth the price of admission. The groups end up outside as Danny has a plan to take out Tyler using his money against him and we have entered the chase portion of White Fury. If you like snowmobiles chasing snowboarders with a heavy metal soundtrack you will be entertained. If you like a bounty hunter showing up… color me shocked… and introducing himself with a rocket launcher, you will be entertained.

White Fury is not to be confused with a unique or high budget action film, and most of the players were only in a handful of other movies, if any other at all. That doesn’t mean that White Fury is not entertaining or suspenseful. There are two main reasons, one is David A. Prior and his action movie experience and the other is Deke Anderson. Tyler is crazy and while I won’t spoil anything, he doesn’t go down easy and definitely not how White Fury makes you think he will. Sean Holton Danny is believable just enough as a hero, just not as a snowboarder with either extreme up close shots of him clearly not snowboarding or far away shots with a mask on goggles as an obvious stunt double. Dig that ponytail though. The extended chase scene is the highlight for me and I am glad I watched to learn something new about myself. I have also learned that I can’t end these White Fury Bullet Points without some White Fury Bonus Bullet Points.

• Wrong Hand – When a park ranger stops by the cabin, Danny shakes his hand. Seems fine, right? He shakes with his left hand and there goes any sympathy when the ranger gets shot.
• Dentist Wet Dream – “My dick gets hard just watching her brush her teeth.”
• Understatement of the Year – After Greg’s girlfriend sleeps with a bank robber and then she gets shot and your best friend shoots two bank robbers, all Greg can ask is, “Who would have thought this weekend would have turned out like this?”
• Famous Last Words – “Senoritas with big butts. I like that.”