Bullet Points: Project Eliminator

Learning new things is something we should all strive for. I feel like I am learning something new all the time. Unfortunately I am not learning a new language or new skillset that could better my lot in life. I learn completely useless things, like the fact that 1991’s Project Eliminator was a sequel to 1988’s Striker with Frank Zagarino reprising his role as John Slade…

• Keep On Truckin’: The last we saw John Slade in Striker he was being offered a ride from a trucker. The first time we see John Slade in Project Eliminator he is riding shotgun in the cab of a semi-truck and being dropped off at a truck stop. As I mentioned in the intro, Frank Zagarino (aka Zags) is once again portraying John Slade, but he has a different look. Slade is sporting a few days worth of stubble and long hair (aka a lion’s mane). Slade hits up a payphone and calls his old buddy Ron, who tells him he’ll pick him up in 30 minutes and he plans on introducing Slade to a millionaire so he should clean himself up. So Slade heads into the truck stop convenience store and after dealing with the proprietor’s profiling, asks if there’s a place he could clean up. The proprietor, probably feeling guilty that he assumed Slade was there to rob him, takes him over to the building next door that has a functioning restroom. While Slade is shaving, some actual robbers show up at the store wearing Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter masks, making Project Eliminator the second movie released in July of 1991 using that gimmick.

• Fly in the Ointment: The Presidents of the United States did not expect that a man with John Slade’s training was going to be present when they decided to rob the convenience store and as a bonus rape a female customer who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Slade saves the woman before things go too far, taking out both Nixon and Carter with ease. When the cops show up they hassle Slade for his long hair, which seemed strange for a movie from 1991 but whatever. The cops push Slade too far and he knocks them out, then ties them and the two robbers up to a pole outside the truck stop and that’s when Ron Morrell (David Carradine, P.O.W. the Escape) rolls up to pick up his old war buddy John Slade.
• The Doctor Will See You Now: In addition to running his own café, Ron does work for a brilliant scientist, Dr. Markson (Joshua Bryant). Markson has spent most of his career developing weapons and his latest creation is a laser shooting drone. But after decades of assisting the military-industrial complex Markson is sick of it and wants to use his skills to help mankind (specifically the homeless), not destroy it. So after one demonstration of his prototype he hits the self destruct and officially retires from that line of work. Ron realizes Markson’s sudden retirement might ruffle some feathers and he tries to entice Slade to stay on in a security like role for the good doctor. And Ron was right on the money… because amongst the homeless people camped around Markson’s facility, there’s another old “war buddy” of Ron and Slade doing some recon work, Elias (Brett Baxter Clark, Shootfighter II).

• Walk With Elias: We find out that Elias is in cahoots with dirty FBI Agent Willis (Drew Snyder, Commando), Willis sees a chance to profit from the drone and the knowledge that resides in Dr. Markson’s head. Willis has hired Elias to kidnap Markson and his daughter Jackie so Willis could force Dr. Markson to create another drone for Willis’ gain. Both Elias and Willis realize that Ron and Slade are likely going to be a problem and they aren’t wrong… but eliminating that threat is going to prove to be much easier said than done. When the action picks up Zags really shines as super soldier John “Striker” Slade, especially when he hops on his motorcycle. It was nice seeing David Carradine look like he was enjoying himself in this one and not phoning it in. And props to Brett Baxter Clark for not only looking the part of an action movie heavy but pulling his share of the load too.

After enjoying Project Eliminator, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a third John Slade movie that I was unaware of. I wouldn’t rank Project Eliminator among my favorite Zags movies, but I would rank Project Eliminator among my favorite David Carradine movies. Zags and Carradine worked well together and without that chemistry I am not sure I would have enjoyed the movie as much as I did.

You might not enjoy this review without these Bonus Bullet Points…

• If You Ever: …wanted to hear David Carradine play the piano and sing a little ditty called “Trouble Maker”, then Project Eliminator is the movie for you.
• AKA: According to IMDb, Project Eliminator was released on DVD under the title Black Ops: Predator Drone. Considering the actual drone appears in the movie for a matter of minutes that is an awful title and awfully wordy too.
• Familiar Heels: Brett Baxter Clark’s Elias did have some minions working with him and they included David “Shark” Fralick who conveniently played Shark. I remembered Fralick from his work in Desert Heat and Executive Target… Frank Rivera played Carlos. I remembered Rivera from his work in Final Impact and Recoil.