RAW DEAL (1986): Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Forgettable Detour into Generic Action

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career in the 1980s was defined by big, bold roles that cemented him as one of the greatest action stars of all time. From the primal intensity of Conan the Barbarian (1982) to the sci-fi brilliance of The Terminator (1984), and even the ensemble survival horror of Predator (1987), Schwarzenegger’s star power elevated him above the standard action hero. That’s why Raw Deal is such a puzzling entry in his filmography. Released in 1986, sandwiched between some of his most iconic work, this forgettable gangster-revenge flick feels like a massive step backward for the Austrian Oak.

While Schwarzenegger’s physical presence is as commanding as ever, Raw Deal surrounds him with a lifeless plot, bland characters, and uninspired action. The movie isn’t outright terrible—there are a few flashes of Arnold’s signature charisma—but compared to his other work from the same era, this film barely leaves an impression. It’s as though Raw Deal was created to fill a gap in his schedule rather than to showcase the talents of one of cinema’s most bankable stars.

A Plot That Plays It Too Safe

Raw Deal casts Schwarzenegger as Mark Kaminsky, a former FBI agent turned small-town sheriff, living in semi-retirement after being forced out of the bureau for excessive brutality (of course). But when an old friend from the FBI, Harry Shannon (Darren McGavin), calls on him to infiltrate a Chicago mob syndicate and avenge the murder of Shannon’s son, Kaminsky agrees to go undercover. What follows is a fairly standard revenge story where Kaminsky works his way up the ranks of a criminal organization, pitting rival factions against each other and dispensing justice with a combination of brute force and bullets.

If that premise sounds generic, that’s because it is. The storyline is a bland mix of undercover-cop tropes and revenge-movie clichés, with little to distinguish it from a dozen other crime thrillers of the era. Where The Terminator (1984) gave us an unforgettable blend of sci-fi and horror, or Commando (1985) fully embraced its absurd, over-the-top action, Raw Deal plays everything frustratingly straight. There’s no humor, no edge, and no memorable twist to set it apart.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s films often thrive on larger-than-life stakes—battling an alien hunter in Predator or leading a slave rebellion in Conan the Barbarian—but Raw Deal feels small and inconsequential. It’s just Arnold vs. some gangsters in suits, and the stakes never feel high enough to warrant his involvement.

A Performance That’s (Mostly) on Autopilot

Schwarzenegger has always been known for his charisma, and even in his less successful films, he usually manages to shine. In Raw Deal, however, he seems uncharacteristically subdued. As Mark Kaminsky, he’s a far cry from the unstoppable force of nature we saw in The Terminator or the wisecracking commando we loved in Commando. The script doesn’t give him much to work with, and Arnold doesn’t inject enough of his own personality to compensate.

One of the biggest problems with Kaminsky as a character is that he’s bland. Schwarzenegger’s most iconic roles often emphasize his physicality or his unique screen presence, but in Raw Deal, Kaminsky is supposed to be just a regular guy—a sheriff who can inexplicably overpower, outshoot, and outsmart every mobster in Chicago. There’s little depth or complexity to the character, and as a result, Schwarzenegger doesn’t have much room to stretch his acting muscles.

That being said, there are a few moments where Arnold’s natural charm shines through. One scene in particular—where Kaminsky smirks and delivers the line, “You should not drink… and bake!” after tossing a thug into a flaming pastry oven—is so bizarre and unexpected that it borders on self-parody. Unfortunately, these flashes of personality are few and far between, and most of the film feels like a missed opportunity to showcase what made Schwarzenegger so magnetic in the first place.

Action That Lacks Impact

One of the most disappointing aspects of Raw Deal is its lackluster action sequences. Schwarzenegger’s best films are defined by memorable, larger-than-life set pieces: the final showdown at Cyberdyne in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), the jungle ambushes in Predator (1987), or even the mall brawl in Commando (1985). But in Raw Deal, the action is generic and uninspired, consisting mostly of shootouts in warehouses, offices, and parking lots.

The climax, which sees Kaminsky taking down an entire mob syndicate by himself, should have been an exhilarating display of Schwarzenegger’s brute force and charisma. Instead, it’s a painfully by-the-numbers sequence with dull gunplay, predictable choreography, and zero tension. Even the explosions—a staple of any good Schwarzenegger movie—feel half-hearted here.

Compare this to Commando, where Arnold took down a small army single-handedly in one of the most gloriously absurd finales in action history. In Raw Deal, you get the sense that nobody was having fun, least of all Schwarzenegger.

Supporting Characters That Fail to Impress

Another major issue with Raw Deal is its forgettable supporting cast. Darren McGavin (A Christmas Story) does his best as Kaminsky’s FBI friend, Harry Shannon, but his character’s arc is predictable and unremarkable. Kathryn Harrold, who plays Monique, a nightclub singer with a tenuous connection to the mob, is wasted in a role that’s neither fully developed nor particularly compelling.

And the villains? Completely forgettable. Robert Davi, known for his menacing roles in films like Die Hard and License to Kill, is criminally underused as a mob enforcer, while Sam Wanamaker’s mob boss, Luigi Patrovita, is a cookie-cutter antagonist with no memorable traits. Schwarzenegger movies thrive on iconic villains—whether it’s the cold, efficient T-1000 in Terminator 2 or the hulking alien in Predator—but Raw Deal fails to deliver anyone worthy of standing toe-to-toe with Arnold.

A Missed Opportunity in Every Way

What’s perhaps most frustrating about Raw Deal is how unambitious it feels. This was released during Schwarzenegger’s meteoric rise to superstardom, at a time when he was redefining what an action movie could be. Raw Deal feels like a relic from an earlier era, a low-effort crime thriller that doesn’t know what to do with its star.

It’s especially disappointing when you consider the films that came before and after it. In Commando (1985), Schwarzenegger embraced the absurdity of the action genre with an over-the-top performance that became instantly iconic. And in Predator (1987), he elevated what could have been a simple monster movie into a masterpiece of tension, camaraderie, and explosive action. Raw Deal, by contrast, feels like a placeholder—a film that exists only because someone thought, “Hey, let’s put Arnold in a mob movie.”

Final Thoughts: A Forgettable Chapter in Arnold’s Legacy

Raw Deal lacks the spectacle, humor, and energy that define his best work, and it fails to take advantage of his unique talents. For fans of Schwarzenegger, it’s worth watching as a curiosity—an early attempt to shoehorn him into a more grounded role—but don’t expect to come away impressed.

If you’re in the mood for peak Arnold, stick with The Terminator, Commando, or Predator. Those films showcase why he became an action icon. Raw Deal, on the other hand, lives up to its title—it’s a raw deal for Schwarzenegger and for his fans.