Ransom (1977)
A deadly crossbow killer holds a resort town hostage in this lean, tension-filled 1977 crime thriller from director Richard Compton.
Ransom - Movie Information
- Original Title: Ransom
- Release Year: 1977
- Directed by: Richard Compton
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Thriller
- Age Rating (US): PG
- Runtime: 1h 30m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 29, 1977 (United States - PG)
- Alternative Titles: Ransom (US), 1 million $ par meurtre (FR)
- Production Companies: New World Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Ransom - Plot
A Native American travels around a resort town, murdering cops and rich people with a high-powered crossbow, while demanding that the town's richest residents pay him money to stop the killings.
Ransom - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the deadly game of cat and mouse unfold:
The demand is simple...$5,000,000 or the whole town dies!
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Ransom - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Richard Compton
Main Cast
- Oliver Reed
- Deborah Raffin
- James Mitchum
- Stuart Whitman
- John Ireland
- Paul Koslo
- Julienne Wells
- Kim Hopkins
- Arch Archambault
Writers
- John C. Broderick
- Ronald Silkosky
Producers
- James V. Hart
Ransom - FAQs
Who are the main actors in Ransom?
Ransom features Oliver Reed as Nick McCormick, Deborah Raffin as Cindy Simmons, and James Mitchum as the Tracker. The cast also includes Stuart Whitman as William Whitaker, John Ireland as Chief Haliburton, and Paul Koslo as Victor, rounding out a solid ensemble for this 1977 thriller.
What is Ransom about?
Ransom follows a Native American man who terrorizes a resort town, picking off police officers and wealthy residents with a high-powered crossbow. His chilling demand: the town's richest citizens must pay up — or the killings continue. It's a tense cat-and-mouse thriller with a distinctly 1970s edge.
What is the crossbow killer's motive in Ransom?
The killer in Ransom targets cops and wealthy resort-town residents, using a high-powered crossbow as his weapon of choice. His motive is financial extortion — he demands a substantial ransom from the town's richest inhabitants, threatening to keep killing until his demands are met. The film plays this as both crime thriller and social commentary.
Where can you stream Ransom (1977)?
You can watch Ransom on the Shout! Factory Amazon Channel as part of a subscription, or catch it for free on Fawesome. It's a great find for fans of 1970s crime thrillers looking for something a little off the beaten path.
When was Ransom released?
Ransom was released in the United States on April 29, 1977. Distributed by New World Pictures and rated PG, it arrived during a golden era for low-budget American genre cinema, fitting neatly into the decade's appetite for gritty crime and action thrillers.
Who directed Ransom (1977)?
Ransom was directed by Richard Compton, a filmmaker who carved out a niche in 1970s exploitation and action cinema. Compton brought a lean, no-frills approach to the material, keeping the tension tight across the film's 90-minute runtime.
What is the age rating for Ransom?
Ransom carries a PG rating in the United States. While that might seem mild by today's standards for a film involving a crossbow-wielding killer, it reflects the rating conventions of the late 1970s. Parents may still want to preview it before watching with younger children.
What are some movies similar to Ransom?
If you enjoyed Ransom, you might also like Bloody Friday (1972), House on the Edge of the Park (1980), or Bone (1972) for a similar 1970s crime-thriller vibe. For more modern picks, Fast Charlie (2023), The Virtuoso (2021), and Red Right Hand (2024) offer comparable tension and action.
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