Fatal Beauty, released in theaters on October 30, 1987, explodes into the neon-tinged streets of Los Angeles as narcotics detective Rita Rizzoli (Whoopi Goldberg) goes undercover to buy a deadly new cocaine strain named “Fatal Beauty.”
The botched deal thrusts Rizzoli into a violent manhunt for the criminals trafficking the drug, and she quickly finds herself up against crime kingpin Conrad Kroll (Harris Yulin), his enigmatic bodyguard Mike Marshak (Sam Elliott), and a motley crew of dealers and thugs.
Rizzoli’s investigation turns personal when a close informant dies of an overdose, sending her down a tunnel of revenge and redemption as more young lives are threatened by the lethal narcotic.
Goldberg brings a raw, hard-boiled charisma to Rita Rizzoli, a detective driven both by her traumatic past and fierce desire for justice.
Elliott provides solid counterweight as Marshak, Kroll’s security chief whose loyalties are not always clear.
The supporting cast includes Ruben Blades as Rizzoli’s steadfast partner, John P. Ryan as her frustrated police superior.
Brad Dourif, Charles Hallahan, James LeGros, Jennifer Warren, M.C. Gainey, David Harris and Clayton Landey round out the cast.
Cheech Marin makes a brief appearance as a bartender.
Director Tom Holland keeps the pace brisk, with gunfights and drug busts scattered between moments of personal reflection and dark humor.
What sets Fatal Beauty apart from standard cop thrillers is its willingness to treat its heroine’s wounds and struggles seriously. Goldberg’s Rita is not only a cop; she’s a recovering addict, and her emotional history adds gravitas to every showdown and high-stakes confrontation.
The narrative pulls together threads of family loss, community devastation, and the blurred lines that police must walk in the war on drugs.
The script is laced with sharp exchanges and moments of empathy amid the action.
Jennifer Warren and Whoopi Goldberg in Fatal Beauty (Photo/MGM/UA)
Reception for Fatal Beauty
Fatal Beauty grossed $2.7 million on its opening weekend, finishing fourth at the box office.
The film would gross $12 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave Fatal Beauty three out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Fatal Beauty’s legacy resides in its mix of gritty crime drama with doses of dark comedy and social commentary.
While the film didn’t make waves at the box office, it’s remembered for giving Goldberg a rare action lead and touching on issues of addiction and corruption beneath the pulpy surface.
Its jittery 1980s style and Goldberg’s performance earned cult attention, representing an unconventional but earnest attempt to reinvent the tough cop genre in the Reagan era.
For fans of subversive detective stories and star-powered action, Fatal Beauty remains a bold, rough-edged time capsule.
