HARD HUNTED (1992)
“Hard Hunted,” a 1992 action flick directed by Andy Sidaris, is a quintessential entry in his “Bullets, Bombs, and Babes” series, blending softcore thrills with B-movie bravado. Set in Hawaii, the plot follows federal agents Donna Hamilton (Dona Speir) and Nicole Justin (Roberta Vasquez), part of an elite all-female squad called “The Agency.” They’re tasked with recovering a nuclear trigger stolen by Kane (R.J. Moore), a suave arms dealer plotting to sell it to the highest bidder. The trigger’s hidden in a jade Buddha, smuggled aboard Kane’s yacht, prompting a high-stakes chase across sun-soaked beaches and azure waters.
The team—rounded out by Edy (Cynthia Brimhall) and Lucas (Tony Peck)—faces Kane’s goons, including the treacherous Mika (Mika Quintard), who defects mid-mission. Double-crosses pile up as Kane’s pilot, Raven (Al Leong), bombs their base, leaving Donna with amnesia after a crash. Rescued by a smitten radio DJ (Rodrigo Obregón), she’s hunted by Kane’s crew while her squad scrambles to regroup. The action ramps up with jet ski chases, topless shootouts, and exploding helicopters, all shot with Sidaris’ signature low-budget flair—think Playboy aesthetics meets James Bond knockoff.
Characters like Silk (Carolyn Liu), a sultry assassin, and Skip (Skip Ward), a grizzled ex-agent, add to the chaos, though the plot often takes a backseat to gratuitous skin and stunts. In the climax, Donna recovers her memory, reunites with Nicole, and storms Kane’s lair. A barrage of gunfire and a rigged plane take out Kane and Raven, securing the trigger. The women celebrate, mission accomplished, with a wink to the camera.
Critics trashed “Hard Hunted” for its wooden acting and thin story, but fans embrace its unapologetic schlock—big hair, bigger guns, and a parade of bikinis. It’s pure ’90s exploitation, a guilty pleasure for action-trash aficionados.
