Relentless
Two Los Angeles police detectives hunt for a serial killer who randomly chooses his victims from a phone directory.
Why it matters
A grim, grindhouse-style serial killer hunt that captures late ’80s LA’s gritty, uneasy pulse before the procedural template ossified.
- Early example of the “random victim” slasher, predating similar tropes in ’90s crime horror.
- Stark, no-frills direction keeps the focus on the relentless grind of police work, not just the kills.
- Rough-around-the-edges performances lend authenticity to the buddy-cop dynamic, grounding the thriller in a tangible urban dread.
- For fans of pre-digital era crime horror where atmosphere and procedural detail build tension over cheap scares.
Director
6 horror films in catalog
Cast
Horror DNA
Gore
28
Slow Burn
33
Psychological
43
Supernatural
0
Creature
0
Disturbing
17
Fun Factor
33
Cerebral
0
Survival
33
Serial Killer
