A disturbed Sondra Locke, five scumbags and Meathead (the bulldog)

I'm a fan of all five of the Dirty Harry films. "Magnum Force" is my favorite, a rare case where the sequel is superior to the original, while the first film is my least preferred, although I still like it. I just think the stories in the four sequels have more story drive and better characters. "Dirty Harry" seems languid and hollow by comparison, but it gets points for being the original film and establishing the series.

"Sudden Impact" is the only one in the series directed by the star and the second longest; it's probably my second favorite, although it's pretty much on par with "The Enforcer" and "The Dead Pool." Like the first two films, the topic is vigilante justice: If the Law can't or won't bring about justice, it compels the victimized citizen to seek it more directly.

Locke tends to get flack for a relatively short film career rooted in her relationship with Eastwood. But (1) This film proves she had the acting chops in that she plays the haunted artist superbly, and (2) I've seen her in SEVEN MOVIES and two of them WEREN'T Eastwood films -- "Willard" (1971) and "The Prophet's Game" (2000). Name the most popular actress of practically any decade and I guarantee you I've seen her in less films. In other words: Say what you will, but Sondra made her mark in cinema. Those who badmouth her are perhaps envious.

"Sudden Impact" is memorable for its dirtbag handful of antagonists with the loathsome Audrie Neenan and psychotic Paul Drake standing out. I like the climax at the nighttime carnival, although parts of it are too contrived (yeah, like the other installments weren't). The final doom of Mick (Drake) explains the movie's title.

It was shot in Santa Cruz & San Francisco, California.