Parting Shots

Photographer Harry Sterndale (Chris Rea) is diagnosed with stomach cancer and given just six weeks to live. Once a successful photographer, Harry was bankrupted by an investment scam pushed on him by his shallow ex-wife Lisa (Diana Rigg), who promptly left him for another man. After a few days of brooding, the usually mild-mannered Harry becomes set on revenge. With nothing to lose, he obtains a gun from the black market and embarks on a mission to punish all those who wronged him, starting with Lisa. After the shooting, the police question him, but do not believe he is a killer.

Harry next targets Gerd Layton (Bob Hoskins), the corrupt financier behind the investment scam. Posing as a repair man, he sneaks into Layton’s home and drowns him in his own pool. His secretary Jill (Felicity Kendal) is aware of the murder but covers for Harry since her own parents were victims of Layton’s scam.

Brought together by the crime, Harry and Jill begin a relationship. They visit an upscale restaurant together but are abused and thrown out by the snobbish chef, played by Ben Kingsley. Later that night, Harry returns to the restaurant and shoots the chef in the car park. The next day Harry decides to hire a hitman, Jamie (Oliver Reed), to kill him so he can give Jill the resulting life insurance payout. Meanwhile, the police determine the gun used in the killing of the chef was the same one used to kill Lisa. The police raid Harry’s house, but with no physical evidence they reluctantly let him go. He borrows from the bank as much money as he can and spends it on lavish hotels and a new car. The last two victims of his killing spree are a bully from his school days and a back-stabbing former boss. Upon returning to London, he passes the gun to Jamie since he no longer needs it.

Harry is subsequently hospitalised by his cancer, but after operating they discover he has been misdiagnosed and his stomach pains were due to a simple ulcer. After the good news, Harry and Jill decide to marry. As they are leaving their hotel, Jamie takes a shot at Harry, however he misses and accidentally kills a foreign head-of-state staying in the same hotel. Jamie is apprehended and since he was using Harry’s gun and has no chance of release, he takes responsibility for all of Harry’s murders in a last act of charity.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:30