In this written review, Jamie Dyer takes a look at Code of Silence, starring Chuck Norris. It was originally released by Orion Pictures in 1985, even getting a cinema release in the UK. In short…What did Jamie think?
I’ve recently had a run of watching Chuck Norris movies, after reading The Last Action Heroes by Nick de Semlyen. The ad-supported version of Amazon Prime’s video streaming service, previously called Freevee, has done an excellent job of providing free Chuck Norris films to eager fans like me. Code of Silence had intrigued me ever since I heard about it, as it’s considered one of Norris’ best films. Unusually for the time, it’s one of the few films Norris made away from Cannon Films in the ’80s — and at first glance, it does feel different to his usual fare.
What is Code of Silence About?
The film features Norris as cop Eddie Cusack. When a fellow officer deliberately kills a blameless person during a chaotic gang bust, the camaraderie of the force protects him. Eddie, however, doesn’t agree. While his colleagues give him the cold shoulder, he finds himself caught in the middle of a gang rivalry. When the daughter of a gang leader becomes entangled against her will, Eddie steps up to sort things out — alone.
My thoughts
This felt like a film trying hard not to be a typical Chuck Norris vehicle, and succeeds mostly. There are still moments where Chuck takes on the bad guys with unique precision, but he’s not as invincible as we usually see. Eddie is painted as a good man with solid morals and lightning reflexes — but has weaknesses, and the story needs that. Chuck embraces it, bringing his strength of “strong and silent” — you’re with him all the way.
The direction by Andrew Davis is incredibly strong, with plenty of tension between the action scenes. Everything feels earned and organic. There’s more character development here than I’ve come to expect from a Norris film, and that helps make it feel more tangible.
There’s no getting around it: this is a film from the 1980s. It’s a heightened action movie. There’s smoking, drugs, guns, and over-the-top violence. The bad guys are stereotypes. What I will say to counter is that the enemy are not as one-dimensional as they could be. The film tries to give them backstories, especially through the daughter’s storyline, which makes her situation feel more affecting.
The Cast
Alongside Norris, the cast delivers strong performances. I particularly enjoyed Dennis Farina as his original partner and friend — he brings humour to some of the darker moments. I was drawn to him even more because I’d just watched him in Get Shorty (1995). I read that he was an actual police officer around the time this was filmed, and it shows — he’s totally believable.
Props also to Molly Hagan in her first movie, playing the gang leader’s daughter. She doesn’t have loads of screen time, but her chemistry with Norris is sweet and adds depth. I really liked the breakfast scene with Pirrelli (played by Ralph Foody), which helps flesh out some backstory without slowing things down.
Action Sequences
The action sequences are well executed, with plenty of them scattered throughout the film. I especially liked the huge leap from atop a train into the river. The sequence near the end, where Eddie takes on the bad guys solo, was gripping. The shot timing is spot on, and Norris’s understated performance works well. And let’s not skip past the 1980s police robot. Honestly? I thought it was pretty cool.
The fight sequences are standard for this era, but not as cartoonish as I would expect from a Norris picture.
Conclusion
Overall, I think this was a decent movie. It’s grittier than most Chuck Norris films, but still has a Hollywood glaze. It’s still him, but less of a cartoon. Norris feels more human here, rather than the superhuman figure we usually get. He knows what’s right, shows quiet compassion, and doesn’t always win — but he never stops trying. The supporting cast help elevate things, and while it’s very much a product of its time, it remains compelling. Code of Silence (1985) is available to stream on Amazon Prime, free with ads!
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