The Deadly Recruits

The Deadly Recruits

PG-13 1986 · 92 min · ★ 10.0 · Thriller

Based on the novel by Anthony Price and originally aired in the UK as part of the "Chessgame" television series, this British spy thriller stars Terence Stamp as David Audley, former Oxford professor turned intelligence agent.

Directed by Roger Tucker · Written by John Brason

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

Amazon Prime VideoFlixFlingAmazon Prime Video with Ads

Rent or Buy

Amazon VideoFlixFling

Cast

Make it a double feature

3h 44m together

The Deadly Recruits

Die Hard

A close match in mood and era.

More from Roger TuckerSee all →

GangstersGangsters · 1976
Gangsters
8.51976
SeriesDramaCrime
A pioneering show starring Maurice Colbourne as Birmingham gangster John Kline. The show was noted for its gritty true-life quality, and often graphic violence.
ShoestringShoestring · 1979
Shoestring
7.71979
SeriesCrimeDrama
Shoestring is a BBC detective drana set in Bristol and starring Trevor Eve as private detective Eddie Shoestring, who operatee his own show on Radio West, the local radio station. The programme ran between 30 September 1979 and 21 December 1980, in two series with 21 hour-long episodes. Eve opted not to return after two series, as he wanted to diversify into theatre, so the production team changed the setting to Jersey and created Bergerac, also following a detective returning to work after a bad period in his life.
The ProfessionalsThe Professionals · 1977
The Professionals
7.61977
SeriesAction & AdventureCrime
The lives of Bodie and Doyle, top agents for Britain's CI5 (Criminal Intelligence 5), and their controller, George Cowley. The mandate of CI5 was to fight terrorism and similar high-profile crimes. Cowley, a hard ex-MI5 operative, hand-picked each of his men. Bodie is a cynical ex-SAS paratrooper and mercenary whose nature ran to controlled violence, while his partner, Doyle, comes to CI5 from the regular police force, and is more of an open minded liberal. Their relationship is often contentious, but they are the top men in their field, and the ones to whom Cowley always assigned to the toughest cases.
LovejoyLovejoy · 1986
Lovejoy
7.41986
SeriesComedyDrama
The adventures of the eponymous Lovejoy, a likeable but roguish antiques dealer based in East Anglia. Within the trade, he has a reputation as a “divvie”, a person with an almost supernatural powers for recognising exceptional items as well as distinguishing genuine antique from clever fakes or forgeries.
StrangersStrangers · 1978
Strangers
7.31978
SeriesCrimeDrama
Strangers is a 1978–82 ITV police procedural created and principally written by Murray Smith, based on characters created by Kenneth Royce in his novel series and subsequent 1977–78 television adaptation The XYY Man. Don Henderson and Dennis Blanch reprise their roles, respectively, of Detective Sergeant (DS) George Bulman and Detective Constable (DC) Derek Willis. A group of police officers are brought together from across the country to the north of England. There, the fact that they're not well-known gives them the advantage to infiltrate where a more familiar local detective could not. Despite being based around a comparatively small team of detectives, a regular feature in its early years is that few episodes feature the entire team, with most using just two or three regulars in any major role.
Centre PlayCentre Play · 1973
Centre Play
7.01973
SeriesDrama
Anthology series of half hour plays produced in BBC's Television Centre's studios.
BulmanBulman · 1985
Bulman
7.01985
SeriesCrimeDrama
Bulman is a 1985–87 police procedural created and principally written by Murray Smith. Produced by Granada Television for ITV, it is the second and final spin-off from The XYY Man (1976–78), and following Strangers (1978–82). Don Henderson reprises his iconic role as former DCI George Bulman, ostensibly retired from and repairing old clocks but active as a private investigator, with Lucy McGinty as his assistant. The duo are frequently drawn into the clandestine world of the secret service through the machinations of security chief Bill Dugdale or Bulman's former superior Jack Lambie.
Bombay BlueBombay Blue · 1997
Bombay Blue
7.01997
SeriesDrama
Scotland Yard Agents Donald Sumpter and Shan Khan come to Mumbai in search of a Drug Dealer and are helped by a cop and a journalist. Shan falls in love with a girl whose brothers are searching for her because her father is on his deathbed and wants to meet her once. However, they encounter bureaucratic obstacles on the way which frustrate them at each step.
BergeracBergerac · 1981
Bergerac
7.01981
SeriesDrama
Jim Bergerac is a detective sergeant in The Foreigners Office who likes to do things his own way. While dealing with his own personal demons Bergerac has a knack of finding trouble, and sometimes causing it.
Dempsey and MakepeaceDempsey and Makepeace · 1985
Dempsey and Makepeace
6.81985
SeriesAction & AdventureDrama
Dempsey and Makepeace is a British television crime drama made by London Weekend Television for ITV, created and produced by Ranald Graham. The leading roles were played by Michael Brandon and Glynis Barber, who later married each other on 18 November 1989. The series combined elements of previous series such as the mis-matching of British and American crime-fighters from different classes as seen in The Persuaders! and the action of The Professionals.
The BillThe Bill · 1984
The Bill
6.81984
SeriesCrimeDrama
The daily lives of the men and women at Sun Hill Police Station as they fight crime on the streets of London. From bomb threats to armed robbery and drug raids to the routine demands of policing this ground-breaking series focuses as much on crime as it does on the personal lives of its characters.
The New Adventures of Robin HoodThe New Adventures of Robin Hood · 1997
The New Adventures of Robin Hood
6.51997
SeriesSci-Fi & FantasyAction & Adventure
Sherwood Forest outlaw Robin Hood and his partners -- Marion Fitzwalter, Little John and Friar Tuck -- use magic, sorcery and courage to fight royal soldiers, evil knights and others who try to oppress the impoverished people of 12th-century England.
Call Me MisterCall Me Mister · 1986
Call Me Mister
6.01986
SeriesCrimeDrama
Australian ex-cop Jack Bartholomew goes to Britain when he discovers he's heir to a family title; when he doesn't get on with his new family, he starts working as a private detective.
The Enigma FilesThe Enigma Files · 1980
The Enigma Files
6.01980
SeriesDramaCrime
The Enigma Files is a British television detective drama that ran for a single series of fifteen episodes in 1980. Detective Chief Inspector Nick Lewis is tasked with investigating unsolved crimes.
Crown CourtCrown Court · 1972
Crown Court
5.71972
SeriesDrama
Crown Court is an afternoon television courtroom drama produced by Granada Television for the ITV network that ran from 1972, when the Crown Court system replaced Assize courts and Quarter sessions in the legal system of England and Wales, to 1984.
SaracenSaracen · 1989
Saracen
5.01989
SeriesDrama
Saracen is a 1989 British television drama series. Made for ITV by Central Television, it starred Christian Burgess and Patrick James Clarke in the title roles. 13 episodes were made which were shown throughout the autumn of 1989.

More Like This

The Calendar KillerThe Calendar Killer · 2025
The Calendar Killer
6.22025
MovieCrimeThriller
Klara is going to die today unless she kills her husband instead. The Calendar Killer has given her that impossible choice. When Jules starts his night shift at a telephone safety helpline for lonely women on their way home, Klara's call reaches him. He soon becomes her last hope for survival and races against time to save her.
Stage FrightStage Fright · 1950
Stage Fright
6.81950
MovieThriller
A struggling actress tries to help a friend prove his innocence when he's accused of murdering the husband of a high-society entertainer.
Along Came a SpiderAlong Came a Spider · 2001
Along Came a Spider
6.32001
MovieCrimeMystery
After the harrowing death of his partner, forensic psychologist and best-selling author Alex Cross cannot forgive himself and has retreated to the peace of retirement. But when a brilliant criminal kidnaps a senator's young daughter, he is lured back into action as the kidnapper wants to deal with Alex personally. Teamed with Jezzie Flanigan, the Secret Service agent assigned to protect the missing girl, Alex follows a serpentine trail of clues that leads him to a stunning discovery - the kidnapper wants more than just ransom.
The Perfect StormThe Perfect Storm · 2000
The Perfect Storm
6.52000
MovieDramaAdventure
In October 1991, a confluence of weather conditions combined to form a killer storm in the North Atlantic. Caught in the storm was the sword-fishing boat Andrea Gail.
The Time MachineThe Time Machine · 1960
The Time Machine
7.41960
MovieThrillerAdventure
A Victorian Englishman travels to the far future and finds that humanity has divided into two hostile species.
PaybackPayback · 1999
Payback
6.81999
MovieActionDrama
With friends like these, who needs enemies? That's the question bad guy Porter is left asking after his wife and partner steal his heist money and leave him for dead -- or so they think. Five months and an endless reservoir of bitterness later, Porter's partners and the crooked cops on his tail learn how bad payback can be.
L.A. ConfidentialL.A. Confidential · 1997
L.A. Confidential
7.81997
MovieCrimeMystery
Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.
Starship TroopersStarship Troopers · 1997
Starship Troopers
7.11997
MovieAdventureAction
Set in the future, the story follows a young soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry. Rico's military career progresses from recruit to non-commissioned officer and finally to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war between mankind and an arachnoid species known as "the Bugs."
Die HardDie Hard · 1988
Die Hard
7.81988
MovieActionThriller
High above the city of L.A. a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages, and declared war. One man has manages to escape... An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside. He's alone, tired... and the only chance anyone has got.
You Only Live TwiceYou Only Live Twice · 1967
You Only Live Twice
6.61967
MovieActionThriller
A mysterious spacecraft captures Russian and American space capsules and brings the two superpowers to the brink of war. James Bond investigates the case in Japan and comes face to face with his archenemy Blofeld.
The ShiningThe Shining · 1980
The Shining
8.21980
MovieHorrorThriller
Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter. But they aren't prepared for the madness that lurks within.
Wild at HeartWild at Heart · 1990
Wild at Heart
7.01990
MovieCrimeThriller
Young lovers Sailor and Lula hit the road to start a new life together away from the wrath of Lula’s deranged, disapproving mother, who has hired a team of hitmen to cut the lovers’ surreal honeymoon short.
From Russia with LoveFrom Russia with Love · 1963
From Russia with Love
7.11963
MovieActionThriller
Agent 007 is back in the second installment of the James Bond series, this time battling a secret crime organization known as SPECTRE. Russians Rosa Klebb and Kronsteen are out to snatch a decoding device known as the Lektor, using the ravishing Tatiana to lure Bond into helping them. Bond willingly travels to meet Tatiana in Istanbul, where he must rely on his wits to escape with his life in a series of deadly encounters with the enemy.

More on Prime VideoSee all →

Masters of the UniverseMasters of the Universe · 2026
Masters of the Universe
7.22026
MovieActionFantasy
After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia, where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor. To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela and Duncan/Man-At-Arms, and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
War of the WorldsWar of the Worlds · 2025
War of the Worlds
4.12025
MovieScience FictionThriller
Will Radford is a top analyst for Homeland Security who tracks potential threats through a mass surveillance program, until one day an attack by an unknown entity leads him to question whether the government is hiding something from him... and from the rest of the world.
The Devil's MouthThe Devil's Mouth · 2026
The Devil's Mouth
6.62026
MovieHorrorThriller
A group of college friends' Thailand adventure turns deadly when they become trapped in submerged caves with a dangerous predator. As oxygen runs low, past conflicts emerge in their desperate fight for survival.
The Sheep DetectivesThe Sheep Detectives · 2026
The Sheep Detectives
7.92026
MovieComedyFamily
George Hardy is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can't possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers.
The Wrecking CrewThe Wrecking Crew · 2026
The Wrecking Crew
7.12026
MovieActionComedy
Estranged half-brothers Jonny and James reunite after their father's mysterious death. As they search for the truth, buried secrets reveal a conspiracy threatening to tear their family apart.
My FaultMy Fault · 2023
My Fault
7.72023
MovieDramaRomance
Noah must leave her city, boyfriend, and friends to move into William Leister's mansion, the flashy and wealthy husband of her mother Rafaela. As a proud and independent 17 year old, Noah resists living in a mansion surrounded by luxury. However, it is there where she meets Nick, her new stepbrother, and the clash of their strong personalities becomes evident from the very beginning.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost WarTom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War · 2026
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War
6.92026
MovieActionThriller
Jack Ryan is reluctantly pulled back into espionage when an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy. Racing against time, he joins CIA allies Mike November & James Greer and sharp MI6 officer Emma Marlowe to battle a rogue black-ops unit in a high-stakes, deeply personal fight.
Crime 101Crime 101 · 2026
Crime 101
7.02026
MovieCrimeThriller
When an elusive thief whose high-stakes heists unfold along the iconic 101 freeway in Los Angeles eyes the score of a lifetime, with hopes of this being his final job, his path collides with a disillusioned insurance broker who is facing her own crossroads. Determined to crack the case, a relentless detective closes in on the operation, raising the stakes even higher.
Beast RaceBeast Race · 2026
Beast Race
6.82026
MovieActionScience Fiction
In future Rio de Janeiro, a young leader of the resistance must enter a deadly parkour-inspired competition in order to save his sister's life.
Our FaultOur Fault · 2025
Our Fault
7.42025
MovieRomanceDrama
Jenna and Lion's wedding brings about the long-awaited reunion between Noah and Nick after their breakup. Nick's inability to forgive Noah stands as an insurmountable barrier. He, heir to his grandfather's businesses, and she, starting her professional life, resist fueling a flame that's still alive. But now that their paths have crossed again, will love be stronger than resentment?
VengeanceVengeance · 2026
Vengeance
7.52026
MovieActionThriller
The brutal murder of the wife of “Toro,” a military hero in the special forces, turns him into a man with a single purpose: revenge. After a stroke of fate makes him a millionaire, Carlos transforms his fortune into an arsenal and, together with his closest soldiers, sets out to hunt down those responsible.
Your FaultYour Fault · 2024
Your Fault
7.12024
MovieDramaRomance
The love between Noah and Nick seems unwavering despite their parents' attempts to separate them. But his job and her entry into college open up their lives to new relationships that will shake the foundations of both their relationship and the Leister family itself.
Over Your Dead BodyOver Your Dead Body · 2026
Over Your Dead Body
6.42026
MovieActionComedy
A dysfunctional couple head to a remote cabin to "reconnect", but each has secret intentions to kill the other.
Jurassic WorldJurassic World · 2015
Jurassic World
6.72015
MovieAdventureScience Fiction
Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond.
Blade RunnerBlade Runner · 1982
Blade Runner
7.91982
MovieScience FictionDrama
In the smog-choked dystopian Los Angeles of 2019, blade runner Rick Deckard is called out of retirement to terminate a quartet of replicants who have escaped to Earth seeking their creator for a way to extend their short life spans.
Road HouseRoad House · 2024
Road House
6.92024
MovieActionThriller
Ex-UFC fighter Dalton takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.
Ice Road: VengeanceIce Road: Vengeance · 2025
Ice Road: Vengeance
6.32025
MovieActionThriller
Big rig ice road driver Mike McCann travels to Nepal to scatter his late brother’s ashes on Mt. Everest. While on a packed tour bus traversing the deadly 12,000 ft. terrain of the infamous Road to the Sky, McCann and his mountain guide encounter a group of mercenaries and must fight to save themselves, the busload of innocent travelers, and the local villagers’ homeland.
My Fault: LondonMy Fault: London · 2025
My Fault: London
7.42025
MovieDramaRomance
18-year-old Noah moves from America to London, with her mother who's recently fallen in love with William, a wealthy British businessman. Noah meets William’s son, bad-boy Nick, and soon discovers there is an attraction between them neither can avoid. As Noah spends the summer adjusting to her new life, her devastating past will catch up with her while falling in love for the first time.
Pretty LethalPretty Lethal · 2026
Pretty Lethal
6.82026
MovieActionThriller
A troupe of ballerinas find themselves fighting for survival as they attempt to escape from a remote inn after their bus breaks down on the way to a dance competition.
Your Fault: LondonYour Fault: London · 2026
Your Fault: London
7.52026
MovieRomanceDrama
Nick and Noah are both embarking on life-changing adventures that are threatening to pull them apart—Nick in business with his father and Noah starting a fresh chapter at Oxford University. Now living separate lives, and meeting new people, they find themselves entangled in temptations, rivalries, and betrayals and their bond is tested like never before. As secrets unravel and temptation rises, they must fight to hold onto each other—or risk losing everything.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter