1998 would see Virginia Madsen star in Ambushed, an action thriller also starring Courtney B Vance, Robert Patrick and William Sadler.

Ambushed sees the film kick off with the killing of the leader of the local Klu Kiux Klan, Jim Natter (William Sadler) not a bad thing. The problem being that the killers left alive a witness, Jims’s son, Eric. He was waiting in the car then it all went down, and he saw everything.

He’s found later by two of the Police who are investigating the scene, Jerry Robinson (Courtney B Vance) and Mike Organski (William Forsythe). Unfortunately when Eric is found by Jerry he immediately starts spitting out racist bile directed in Jerrys direction, including a Nazi salute.

They take him to the Police Station where Eric continues his nonsense, but it isn’t long before they have to throw some concern in his direction anyway as it looks as though his fathers killing was the act of militants and they fear they might come after the boy next to protect themselves.
It’s agreed that Eric should be taken into protection till they can get to the bottom of it all. Jerry and Mike along with two other deputies, Dunbar (Scott Hinson) and Lawrence (David Keith) make the arrangements and set off to the safe house. But, on the way there they are ambushed. Dunbar is killed in the initial skirmish and Lawrence disappears in the confusion of it all.

Jerry, Mike and Eric soon learn that Lawrence was a part of it all and helped arrange the ambush. In a showdown Mike and Lawrence both shoot each other, but Lawrence has already shot Dunbar several times with Jerrys weapon. Mike dies but Lawrence manages to hold out long enough to tell the reinforcements that have arrived that it was all down to Jerry. He tells them that he is the one that set it all up and, he’s the one that killed Dunbar, Mike and himself.

Meanwhile Jim Natter is being heralded as some kind of saint by the leader of the local militant Church group the Patriot Christian Order, Shannon Herald (Robert Patrick).
Jerry is trying to get Eric and himself some help, but Eric begins to question why Jerry is trying to help him and why he’s trusting his black colleagues over his white ones. It dawns on Jerry that not only did Eric see who killed his Dad, but that they where white and this whole thing isn’t what it looks like on the surface.

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnd. Yeah, once again I don’t want to ruin anything too much but the film goes on from there pretty much as you’d expect it to do.

See, I say that but while on the surface it’s a generic kind of film it does have some nuance to it. The obvious racial slant on the story is all handled very well in my opinion, but gets a little fluffy when Eric starts to see that what he’s been taught isn’t necessarily correct etc – I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad thing but it is a bit predictable at the same time. And I guess that’s how I’d describe the film, predictable. Good, but nothing new to see here folks.
Virginia plays Lucy Monroe, Jerry’s girlfriend, which is a little controversial given the small town Southern mindset they find themselves in. It’s not a massive role for her to play but she does have plenty of moments to shine, and even a few action bits and bobs to do which is good to see. She’s not a damsel in distress or anything, she can handle herself.

It’s worth your time to watch – It’s a popcorn movie for the most part, and it’s done well. It’s well shot, well-acted and above average compared to how some of these kinds of films turn out.

Virginia previously worked with William Sadler on The Hot Spot, but once again they never share any screen time – Ships that pass in the night.

Availability:

Good on Region 1 DVD, seems to be plenty of copies floating around at any given time.

Gallery:

Trailer: