Judge and Jury

After a brutal capture ends his life by electrical chair, the infamous killer Michael Silvano apparently returns from death in a crackle of energy and vengeance. The authorities who put him away find themselves being stalked by a remade threat that seems immune to conventional justice. Grace Silvano, Alex Silvano, and a seasoned investigator named Joseph Meeker become entangled as a string of brutal confrontations tests loyalties and nerve. The story blends gritty urban crime with horror film staples, pulling viewers into tense chases, claustrophobic set pieces, and moments of grisly payoff. The cast anchored by Martin Kove in the title role and David Keith as the investigator keeps the pace relentless enough to sustain the creeping dread.

Directed by John Eyres, Judge and Jury arrived in 1997 as a lean genre piece. The screenplay is by John Cianetti and Amanda I Kirpaul, anchored by Martin Kove and David Keith. The film leans on practical stunt work and a brisk, no frills style that fits its budget.

The film did not register major nominations or wins on major awards circuits. It exists mainly as a modest direct to video release that fits squarely in the late 90s horror action niche. No marquee awards were associated with it, though it found a small audience in niche festivals.

Judge and Jury never sparked a wide cultural conversation. It remains a footnote in late 90s horror, with a modest following among genre fans who appreciate practical effects and grindhouse vibes. There are no iconic scenes widely cited in pop culture, though some midnight screening crowds recall the finale's grindhouse energy.

Critical reception leaned mixed to negative, as is common for late 90s direct to video horror. The movie wrestles with vengeance, corruption, and the fragility of justice, and anchors its effort with gritty turns from Kove and Keith. Some viewers find it solidly entertaining while others see familiar, worn-out tropes. Its themes echo the era's fascination with street level crime and the cost of punishment.