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* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: [[HenpeckedHusband Prendergast]] and his wife. After he's been shown to be constantly needled by his workmates for sacrificing so much of his life and career to her, he says:
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* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: [[HenpeckedHusband Prendergast]] and his wife.wife, who has some unspecified mental illness. After he's been shown to be constantly needled by his workmates for sacrificing so much of his life and career to her, he says:
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* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Foster, aka D-fens. Even if he was unstable, you can't blame him and you just have to sympathize with him when you see how his country "thanked" him for his services.
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* SuicideByCop: See ShootHimHeHasAWallet.
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* [[spoiler:AlasPoorVillain]][=/=][[spoiler:DownerEnding]]: Depending on how you see it. In the [[HappierHomeMovie home videos]], it's revealed he was already on a short fuse.
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* [[DeadLittleSister Dead Little Daughter]]: For Prendergast.
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* {{Retirony}}: Played with. It's Prendergast's [[LampshadeHanging last day working as a cop]], and he's actually going into early retirement because he's afraid of getting killed on the job. Much {{lampshaded}} by his collegues. [[spoiler:Not only does Prendergast survive, but he decides not to retire after all.]]
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* {{Retirony}}: Played with. It's Prendergast's [[LampshadeHanging last day working as a cop]], and he's actually going into early retirement because he's afraid of getting killed on the job. Much {{lampshaded}} and discussed by his collegues. [[spoiler:Not only does Prendergast survive, but he decides not to retire after all.]]
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* AnAesop: GoingPostal is not a good way to deal with life.
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** The film also inverts the trope:
-->'''Prendergast:''' What did this guy look like, Angie?
-->'''Angie:''' He looked like you, only he had hair.
-->'''Prendergast:''' What did this guy look like, Angie?
-->'''Angie:''' He looked like you, only he had hair.
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* IfICantHaveYou: More like "If I can't visit my daughter" for Foster.
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* {{Yandere}}: Foster himself towards Beth.
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* SympatheticInspectorAntagonist: Prendergast.
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** "[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Take some shooting lessons asshole]]"
* InstantExpert: Averted, Foster wonders aloud how gang members can perform such complex twisting actions with a ButterflyKnife, and he never learns to do it
* InstantExpert: Averted, Foster wonders aloud how gang members can perform such complex twisting actions with a ButterflyKnife, and he never learns to do it
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** "[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Take some shooting lessons asshole]]"
lessons, asshole]]."
* InstantExpert: Averted, Foster wonders aloud how gang members can perform such complex twisting actions with a ButterflyKnife, and he never learns to doitit.
* InstantExpert: Averted, Foster wonders aloud how gang members can perform such complex twisting actions with a ButterflyKnife, and he never learns to do
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* PetTheDog: Foster has one when he discovers that the people barbequeing are just the family of the caretaker. He immediately stops ranting about cutting his hand on the barbed wire fence, and assures them he has no intention of hurting them and he's just trying to get home to his daughters birthday. He also reacts in horror when he thinks that he's hurt their little girl (until the father tells him the blood on her is from his cut hand).
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* PetTheDog: Foster has one when he discovers that the people barbequeing are just the family of the caretaker. He immediately stops ranting about cutting his hand on the barbed wire fence, and assures them he has no intention of hurting them and he's just trying to get home to his daughters daughter's birthday. He also reacts in horror when he thinks that he's hurt their little girl (until the father tells him the blood on her is from his cut hand).
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* RandomPasserbyAdvice: Foster decides to give a road crew doing make work and snarling traffic "something real to fix" but can't figure out how to operate his rocket launcher. A kid observing the traffic jam helpfully informs him.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:Det. Prendergast puts Foster in his place during the final showdown.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:Det. Prendergast puts Foster in his place during the final showdown.
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* RandomPasserbyAdvice: Foster decides to give a road crew doing make work and snarling traffic up "something real to fix" but can't figure out how to operate his rocket launcher. A kid observing the traffic jam helpfully informs him.
*TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:Det. TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Detective Prendergast puts Foster in his place during the final showdown.
*
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** Should be noted that once D-Fens realises he's just killed the neo-Nazi, his threats against his wife become increasingly violent and morbid, whilst his actions (such as at the golf course) more and more insane. Probably justified, as D-Fens knows that he will eventually be apprehended for his actions, and decides to throw caution to the wind and at least see his daughter one more time.
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** Should be noted that once D-Fens realises he's just killed the neo-Nazi, his threats against his wife become increasingly violent and morbid, whilst his actions (such as at the golf course) become more and more insane.crazy. Probably justified, as D-Fens knows that he will eventually be apprehended for his actions, and decides to throw caution to the wind and at least see his daughter one more time.
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*** Though, in the context of the movie, it could be the case of people moving from country to country. The Korean could have been Chinese by ancestry, but of Korean nationality, and the Japanese cop could have had ancestors who moved from Korea to Japan.
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* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: D-Fens is very seriously pissed off when the neo-Nazi praises him for shooting people and even says "[[NotSoDifferent You and I are the same]]".
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* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: D-Fens is very seriously pissed off when the neo-Nazi praises him for shooting people and even says "[[NotSoDifferent You We're the same, you and I are the same]]".me]]".
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** Except it was implied that Foster had some severe anger management problems before breaking down; The videotape with him and his family shows him getting increasingly aggravated over pretty much nothing. Sure, he was hard-working, but I think the point is that not everyone would snap like the film shows.
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** He also has a literal PetTheDog at his daughter's home in Venice: After Beth and Adele make a run for it, Foster watches the home movie from when he bought the puppy. In the present day, he pats the dog lovingly.
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* FromBadToWorse: How a really bad day can turn into a freaking nightmare.
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* ItGotWorse: How a really bad day can turn into a freaking nightmare.
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* KickTheSonOfABitch: Everyone D-fens meets.
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* KickTheSonOfABitch: Everyone Every {{Jerkass}} that D-fens meets.
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* NotSoDifferent: Averted: Prendergast is subjected to a lot of the same pressures and depersonalization and signs of social decay as Foster, but handles it with more grace and patience. However, the neo-Nazi [[InvokedTrope invokes this]] to D-FENS ("You and I are the same"), predictably pissing him off.
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* NotSoDifferent: Averted: Prendergast is subjected to a lot of the same pressures and depersonalization and signs of social decay as Foster, but handles it with more grace and patience. However, the neo-Nazi [[InvokedTrope invokes this]] to D-FENS ("You ("We're the same, you and I are the same"), me"), predictably pissing him off.
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* AttemptedRape: The neo-nazi accuses Foster of being gay, and goes on to try and rape him.
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* AttemptedRape: The neo-nazi accuses Foster of being gay, and goes on to try and rape raping him.
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Removing wick to Did Not Do The Research per rename at TRS.
Deleted line(s) 68,69 (click to see context) :
* DidNotDoTheResearch: No insurance company will pay benefits on a loss caused during commission of a felony. [[SenselessSacrifice This adds an especially cruel twist to the ending when you think about it.]]
** This may have been an intentionally-written piece of character error, rather than lack of research. Similar to Foster not knowing how much money the US spent on Korea. The characters' mistakes add to the realism of the film (such as the cop who asks Prendergast for his "John Doe" instead of "John Hancock"). Indeed, it does make the ending a lot more poignant.
** This may have been an intentionally-written piece of character error, rather than lack of research. Similar to Foster not knowing how much money the US spent on Korea. The characters' mistakes add to the realism of the film (such as the cop who asks Prendergast for his "John Doe" instead of "John Hancock"). Indeed, it does make the ending a lot more poignant.
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* SeriousBusiness: Getting jumped by a business man with a baseball bat will no doubt piss off some gang members, but shooting up a street in the vain hope they hit what might not even be him? Even that's extreme.
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** Should be noted that once D-Fens realises he's just killed the neo-Nazi, his threats against his wife become increasingly violent and morbid, whilst his actions (such as at the golf course) more and more insane. Probably justified, as D-Fens knows that he will eventually be apprehended for his actions, and decides to throw caution to the wind and at least see his daughter one more time.
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* Troll: Foster whilst dealing with the bum. Best demonstrated when he hands over his briefcase.
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* Troll: {{Troll}}: Foster whilst dealing with the bum. Best demonstrated when he hands over his briefcase.
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* Troll: Foster whilst dealing with the bum. Best demonstrated when he hands over his briefcase.
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The film received mostly positive reviews and is still well-regarded. RottenTomatoes gives it a 75% positive ranking. With critics pointing at its take on depression, paranoia and anger. The most vocal criticisms came from Korean American Coalition, which regarded its portrayal of minorities to be offensive. It was a modest box office hit. It earned about 41 million dollars in the United States market, where it was the 35th most successful film of its year. The film reportedly inspired the song "Man on the Edge" (1995) by Music/IronMaiden, and received a parodic {{Homage}} in the Music/FooFighters' video for "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PkcfQtibmU Walk]]".
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The film received mostly positive reviews and is still well-regarded. RottenTomatoes gives it a 75% positive ranking. With critics pointing at its take on depression, paranoia and anger. The most vocal criticisms came from Korean American Coalition, which regarded its portrayal of minorities to be offensive. It was a modest box office hit. It earned about 41 million dollars in the United States market, where it was the 35th most successful film of its year. The film reportedly inspired the song "Man on the Edge" (1995) by Music/IronMaiden, and received a parodic {{Homage}} in the Music/FooFighters' video for "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PkcfQtibmU Walk]]".
Walk]]".
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* BewareTheNiceOnes[=/=]TheDogBitesBack: This movie shows how it could end up with if a hard-working, white collar familyman snaps.
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* BewareTheNiceOnes[=/=]TheDogBitesBack: This movie shows how it could end up with if a hard-working, white collar familyman snaps.
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** WhiteAndGreyMorality: Pendergast vs Foster.
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** WhiteAndGreyMorality: Pendergast vs Foster.
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--->'''Sergeant Prendergast:''' "It's hard to lose your beauty when that's all you've got."
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--->'''Sergeant Prendergast:''' "It's hard to lose your beauty when that's all you've got." "
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** Somewhat [[{{Truth in Television}} truth in television]] as all too often, bystanders rather than the actual target get killed in street shootings, not to mention, they [[{{Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy}} don't know how to aim]].
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** Somewhat [[{{Truth in Television}} truth in television]] TruthInTelevision as all too often, bystanders rather than the actual target get killed in street shootings, not to mention, they [[{{Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy}} [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy don't know how to aim]].
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--->'''Foster''': Do you know that I build missiles? I helped to protect America. You should be rewarded for that. But instead they give it to the plastic surgeons, you know they lied to me.
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--->'''Foster''': Do you know that I build missiles? I helped to protect America. You should be rewarded for that. But instead they give it to the plastic surgeons, you know they lied to me.
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* InstantExpert: Averted, Foster wonders aloud how gang members can perform such complex twisting actions with a [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knife]], and he never learns to do it
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* InstantExpert: Averted, Foster wonders aloud how gang members can perform such complex twisting actions with a [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knife]], ButterflyKnife, and he never learns to do it it
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* PreMortemOneLiner:
---> '''Foster''': Good! Good, freedom of religion. Now you get the swing of it. Feels good to exercise your rights, doesn't it? (opens fire).
---> '''Foster''': Good! Good, freedom of religion. Now you get the swing of it. Feels good to exercise your rights, doesn't it? (opens fire).
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* PreMortemOneLiner:
PreMortemOneLiner:
---> '''Foster''': Good! Good, freedom of religion. Now you get the swing of it. Feels good to exercise your rights, doesn't it? (opens fire).
---> '''Foster''': Good! Good, freedom of religion. Now you get the swing of it. Feels good to exercise your rights, doesn't it? (opens fire).
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--->'''Sergeant Prendergast:''' Is that what this is about? You're angry because you got lied to? Is that why my chicken dinner is drying out in the oven? Listen, pal, they lie to everyone. They lie to the fish. But that doesn't give you any special right to do what you did today.
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--->'''Sergeant Prendergast:''' Is that what this is about? You're angry because you got lied to? Is that why my chicken dinner is drying out in the oven? Listen, pal, they lie to everyone. They lie to the fish. But that doesn't give you any special right to do what you did today.
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* RemonstratingWithAGun: A famous example.
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* RemonstratingWithAGun: A famous example.
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** He [[BatterUp uses the baseball bat]] to beat up a couple hoodlums, and pockets their [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knife]].
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** He [[BatterUp uses the baseball bat]] to beat up a couple hoodlums, and pockets their [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knife]].ButterflyKnife.
Changed line(s) 148,149 (click to see context) from:
* SpiritualSuccessor: ''GrandTheftAuto'' (the successor); ''TaxiDriver'' (what it's a successor to).
* TookALevelInBadass: Bill's evolution from a normal everyday man into a [[TaxiDriver Travis Bickle]] - like VigilanteMan.
* TookALevelInBadass: Bill's evolution from a normal everyday man into a [[TaxiDriver Travis Bickle]] - like VigilanteMan.
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* SpiritualSuccessor: ''GrandTheftAuto'' ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' (the successor); ''TaxiDriver'' (what it's a successor to).
* TookALevelInBadass: Bill's evolution from a normal everyday man into a [[TaxiDriver Travis Bickle]] - like VigilanteMan.
* TookALevelInBadass: Bill's evolution from a normal everyday man into a [[TaxiDriver Travis Bickle]] - like VigilanteMan.
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* [[WhyWereBummedCommunismFell Why We're Bummed Communism Fell]]: Or more accurately Why We Felt Completely Emasculated When We Lost Our Job Due To The Early 90's Defense Budget Cuts.
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* [[WhyWereBummedCommunismFell Why We're Bummed Communism Fell]]: WhyWereBummedCommunismFell: Or more accurately Why We Felt Completely Emasculated When We Lost Our Job Due To The Early 90's Defense Budget Cuts.
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* ShipTease: Prendergast and Sandra obviously would be quite happy being more than police partners.
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Moved to YMMV page.
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* OneSceneWonder: The "Not Economically Viable!" Man. And the neo-Nazi freak is genuinely unsettling.
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fixed incorrect usage of the word \"nonplussed\"
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* DomesticAbuser: Bill towards his wife, to the point that she had a restraining order placed against him. Although when she explains to a police officer that the abuse was merely of an emotional nature (which is still just as serious as physical abuse) and that Bill never got physically violent, the cop appears nonplussed as if she's making a big deal out of nothing.
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* DomesticAbuser: Bill towards his wife, to the point that she had a restraining order placed against him. Although when she explains to a police officer that the abuse was merely of an emotional nature (which is still just as serious as physical abuse) and that Bill never got physically violent, the cop appears nonplussed is dismissive of her complaint, as if she's making a big deal out of nothing.nothing. In home movie footage, we see that Bill's anger issues sometimes manifested in scary outbursts directed toward his wife and child.
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TookALevelInBadass: Bill's evolution from a normal everyday man into a [[TaxiDriver Travis Bickle]] - like VigilanteMan.
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no point having the whole trope listing spoilered out, since someone has to highlight to find out what trope is being listed
Changed line(s) 141 (click to see context) from:
* ShootHimHeHasAWallet: [[spoiler: In D-Fens SuicideByCop, he pulls a watergun. As noted under Suicide By Cop below, an InvokedTrope.]]
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* ShootHimHeHasAWallet: [[spoiler: In D-Fens D-Fens' SuicideByCop, he pulls a watergun. As noted under Suicide By Cop below, an InvokedTrope.watergun, [[InvokedTrope invoking]] this trope.]]
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* [[spoiler: SuicideByCop: Used to guarantee his family received the life insurance payout.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: Bill's evolution from a normal everyday man into a [[TaxiDriver Travis Bickle]] - like VigilanteMan.
* TookALevelInBadass: Bill's evolution from a normal everyday man into a [[TaxiDriver Travis Bickle]] - like VigilanteMan.
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*
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[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/300px-Falling_Down_Poster_4099.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:"ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere."]]
-> ''"A briefcase, a lunch and a man on the edge\\
Each step gets closer to losing his head\\
Is someone in heaven are they looking down\\
'Cause nothing is fair just you look around\\
Falling down, falling down, falling down."''
-->--'''Music/IronMaiden''', "[[FilkSong Man on the Edge]]"
William Foster (MichaelDouglas) is divorced. William Foster is under court order to stay away from his family. William Foster lost his defense contractor job about a month ago (even if his mother doesn't know). William Foster wants to attend his daughter's birthday party. William Foster is stuck in traffic. William Foster's [[TheAllegedCar 1979 Chevy Chevette]] air conditioner has just broken down, [[HeatWave on the hottest day of the year]].
William Foster is having a very bad day.
William Foster is about to snap... and he doesn't care on whom.
Meanwhile, Det. Martin Prendergast (Robert Duvall), on his [[{{Retirony}} final day before retirement]] from the Police Department, faces his own frustrations with reasonably civilized maturity even as he tracks the strange series of violent incidents happening that day, perpetrated by a mysterious man known only by the nickname "[[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname D-Fens]]".
''Falling Down'' is a 1993 film directed by JoelSchumacher about one man's mental breakdown, and his feelings of alienation, disgust, and mounting rage against what he perceives to be an increasingly unfair and depersonalized world, accumulating weaponry and becoming something like a vigilante as he travels across the city, shoving people out of his way.
The film received mostly positive reviews and is still well-regarded. RottenTomatoes gives it a 75% positive ranking. With critics pointing at its take on depression, paranoia and anger. The most vocal criticisms came from Korean American Coalition, which regarded its portrayal of minorities to be offensive. It was a modest box office hit. It earned about 41 million dollars in the United States market, where it was the 35th most successful film of its year. The film reportedly inspired the song "Man on the Edge" (1995) by Music/IronMaiden, and received a parodic {{Homage}} in the Music/FooFighters' video for "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PkcfQtibmU Walk]]".
----
!!This movie contains examples of:
* AllAsiansAreAlike: Prendergast asks an Asian American detective to translate what a Korean store owner is saying. The detective points out that he is Japanese and only speaks English.
** It's even more flagrant when you realise the actor who played the Korean man (Michael Paul Chan) is Chinese, and the actor who played the Japanese cop (Steve Park) is actually Korean.
* AntiHero: Or VillainProtagonist? Foster is a very angry individual, and is driven to violent insanity by all the little social ills that rational people just learn to deal with. However, [[AntiVillain he is still very sympathetic]], despite his violent rage all he wants to do is see his daughter on her birthday.
** Foster becomes less sympathetic when you pay attention to how he treats the Korean store owner like complete crap and trashes the store for little to no reason except that he doesn't want to pay so much. He even flings bigoted racist remarks at the poor guy.
* ArmoredClosetGay: Nick the Nazi, who graphically fantasizes about Foster getting {{Prison Rape}}d by a black man.
* AsianStoreOwner: Whose place gets trashed after Bill tries to make change for the phone.
* AssholeVictim: Several variations are shown, almost to the point of deconstruction.
** The straight examples are the neo-Nazi store owner and the Latino gangbangers. The former is a twisted racist fuck who even tried to rape Bill when he made it clear that he didn't share the neo-Nazi's sick worldviews. The gangbangers first tried to rob Bill and when that didn't work out, even tried to kill him.
** It's [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] with the Korean store owner, who was needlessly being a JerkAss while Bill just needed some change, but one must remember that ''he has every right to set the prices in his own store''. If people opt not to shop there as a result, this is something the owner has to own up to as well. There's also the elder golfer, who's also a JerkAss and a malicious, stupid idiot who could potentially have wounded Bill severely with his golfball swing, but having to die right there on the golf course was still disproportionate. Fortunately his debatable death comes about due to a heart attack from overexcitement, rather than direct harm from Bill. There's also the man at the phone booth who was very rude to Bill but was not directly harmed in any way, merely scared shitless.
** Averted with Bill's other victims, who were just doing their job or trying to make by. The employees of the fast food place have to obey their company's guidelines; the construction worker was more condescending about it, but this is because Bill was harassing him about it. The terrified family in particular don't qualify in the slightest.
** In the cases above, Bill is noticeably more together. He is polite to the employees but still angry at the policy they represent. He also was only angry with the family at first then seemed apologetic for his actions. The store owner, it should be remembered, tried to attack Bill first and refused to reason with him at the start (The only reason Bill was buying to drink was because he refused to give him change). Overall it seems Bill doesn't take anger out on individuals, merely what they represent. Unless they attack him personally.
* AttemptedRape: The neo-nazi accuses Foster of being gay, and goes on to try and rape him.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: [[HenpeckedHusband Prendergast]] and his wife. After he's been shown to be constantly needled by his workmates for sacrificing so much of his life and career to her, he says:
-->'''Prendergast''': There's one more thing I forgot to tell you about my wife.
-->'''Sandra''': What's that?
-->'''Prendergast''': I love her.
* AxCrazy: Ultimately subverted, but it's a close call. Foster doesn't set out to go on a killing spree, he just kind of falls into that pattern accidentally and then goes with it once it's too late to change anything. The fact that some of his victims are AcceptableTargets makes it that much easier for him to become an accidental sociopath.
* BadassBookworm: Foster.
* [[BadassLongcoat Badass Combat Fatigues]]: Foster gets one of those.
* BadassMoustache: Prendergast
* BadLiar: The homeless guy who asks D-Fens for some money for fuel, and keeps [[DiggingYourselfDeeper digging himself deeper]].
* BaldOfAwesome: Prendergast
* BallisticDiscount: Rendered against a Neo Nazi dealer in army surplus goods.
* BerserkButton: Insulting Prendergast's wife.
* BewareTheNiceOnes[=/=]TheDogBitesBack: This movie shows how it could end up with if a hard-working, white collar familyman snaps.
* BlackAndGrayMorality: Foster is a bad guy, but the world he lives in and everyone else are worse. Only Prendergast represents a higher moral standard, but at the beginning of the movie he's been so beaten-down by the world (and his wife...) that he's forgotten that.
** WhiteAndGreyMorality: Pendergast vs Foster.
* BrainlessBeauty: Prendergast's wife was apparently one as a younger woman.
--->'''Sergeant Prendergast:''' "It's hard to lose your beauty when that's all you've got."
* BurgerFool: With the misfortune to host Foster for [[FakeFood a disappointing lunch.]]
* ChekhovsGun: The water-gun.
* CompletelyMissingThePoint: Many critics ''hated'' this film because they thought it painted Foster as a heroic figure to be admired, not a tragic one to be pitied. Makes one wonder how many actually ''watched'' the film...
** The film came out roughly a year after the chaotic Los Angeles riots, and was one of many "common citizen fighting corrupted/being corrupted by society" films to come out in that period, so there is precedence in critics thinking that way.
* ContrivedCoincidence: A car full of gang members pulls a drive-by on Foster. They shoot up the street, hitting everyone except Foster, and crash into another car, killling themselves and leaving a bag full of weapons for Foster to find.
** Somewhat [[{{Truth in Television}} truth in television]] as all too often, bystanders rather than the actual target get killed in street shootings, not to mention, they [[{{Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy}} don't know how to aim]].
* CoolOldGuy: Prendergast.
* CrapsackWorld: [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]]. The movie is an exploration of this concept in a lot of ways.
* DeadpanSnarker: Foster has some moments.
--->'''Man at Phone Booth:''' Excuse me! I don't know if you noticed or not, but there are other people who want to use the phone here!
--->'''Foster''': There are?
--->'''Man at Phone Booth:''' That's right, you selfish asshole!
--->'''Foster''': Oh, that's too bad. Because you know what? (he shoots at the phone booth) [[BondOneLiner I think it's out of order]].
* TheDeterminator: Foster, aka D-fens. He's the definition of this. (All he wants to do is get 20 miles across smog-infested LA in time for his daughter's birthday... [[TheSlowWalk on foot]].)
* DidNotDoTheResearch: No insurance company will pay benefits on a loss caused during commission of a felony. [[SenselessSacrifice This adds an especially cruel twist to the ending when you think about it.]]
** This may have been an intentionally-written piece of character error, rather than lack of research. Similar to Foster not knowing how much money the US spent on Korea. The characters' mistakes add to the realism of the film (such as the cop who asks Prendergast for his "John Doe" instead of "John Hancock"). Indeed, it does make the ending a lot more poignant.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Foster's entire MO, except the things with the neo-nazi and the Mexican gangbangers.
* DoNotDoThisCoolThing: Who hasn't fantasized about taking revenge on all the [[{{Jerkass}} jerkasses]] in a cruel and feckless world? The fantasy is heavily deconstructed.
* DomesticAbuser: Bill towards his wife, to the point that she had a restraining order placed against him. Although when she explains to a police officer that the abuse was merely of an emotional nature (which is still just as serious as physical abuse) and that Bill never got physically violent, the cop appears nonplussed as if she's making a big deal out of nothing.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: D-FENS (according to the credits).
* EmptyShell: Bill Foster's mother describes her son this way. He barely speaks to her and behaves like a mindless robot at the dinner table, shoveling food into his mouth with no signs of emotion at all.
* {{Expy}}: Who does Frank Grimes from ''TheSimpsons'' remind you of?
** Also a major inspiration for Simon Whittlebone from the ''TwistedMetal'' series.
** [[BadassNormal Noah Bennet]] from Series/{{Heroes}} is definitely a close relative (who didn't lose his job).
* FakeFood: His burger doesn't look like the picture. This makes him angry.
* FirstFatherWins
* FreudianExcuse: Foster pull one of these during the climax
--->'''Foster''': Do you know that I build missiles? I helped to protect America. You should be rewarded for that. But instead they give it to the plastic surgeons, you know they lied to me.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: Foster.
* GoingPostal: Foster / D-fens.
* HappierHomeMovie: The film ends on one.
* HairTriggerTemper: Foster.
* {{Heatwave}}: The movie takes place on the hottest day of the summer.
* HeelRealization: "I'm the bad guy? [{{Beat}}] How did that happen?"
* HenpeckedHusband: Prendergast. This changes by the end.
* HeroAntagonist: Prendergast.
* [[TelevisionGeography Hollywood Geography]]: Literally. Somewhat accurate as a result. He starts out in East LA, goes thru downtown, Macarthur Park, Wilshire, Inglewood and ends up in Venice.
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: The gang members manage to shoot everyone on the street ''except'' Foster during the drive-by. Although actually, drive-by shootings that kill several people but miss the intended target are known to happen in real life.
** "[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Take some shooting lessons asshole]]"
* InstantExpert: Averted, Foster wonders aloud how gang members can perform such complex twisting actions with a [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knife]], and he never learns to do it
** Averted for the gangbanger too; he not only used the easiest, most basic opening trick there is, but he also messed it up.
* ItGotWorse: How a really bad day can turn into a freaking nightmare.
* {{Jerkass}}: Just too many people in this movie: the convenience store owner, the two knife-wielding street thugs, the Nazi, the employees at the fast food restaurant, the snooty golfers, the homeless guy, the road crew worker, et al. However, Sandra's new partner is a big one.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Everyone D-fens meets.
* KitschCollection
* KnightInSourArmor: Prendergast again.
* LargeHam: "I'm going home! Clear a path you motherfucker, ''I'm going home!!!''"
* LastNameBasis: Prendergast. Sorta lampshaded when in the end Foster's daughter asks him what his name is.
* LastSecondChance
* MaddenIntoMisanthropy
* ManlyGay: Gay customers at the army surplus store. Also, we get hints that its neo-Nazi owner might be one, [[YouAreWhatYouHate despite being a homophobe]].
* MistakenNationality: Korean is not the same as Japanese-American.
* {{Monologuing}}: "And now you're gonna die, wearing that stupid little hat! How does it feel?"
* {{Motif}}: "London Bridge is Falling Down"
* MuggingTheMonster: The gangbangers attempts to do this to Foster. It doesn't ends well for them.
* NewAgeRetroHippie: Venice Beach.
* TheNineties: Smog chokes the Los Angeles cityscape on a 110-degree day as Howard Stern blares through construction sites and tinny car radios and flashy rollerbladers go by along the cluttered beach. Oh yeah.
** Used in the trailer, even.
--->"Life in the Nineties got you down?"
* NotSoDifferent: Averted: Prendergast is subjected to a lot of the same pressures and depersonalization and signs of social decay as Foster, but handles it with more grace and patience. However, the neo-Nazi [[InvokedTrope invokes this]] to D-FENS ("You and I are the same"), predictably pissing him off.
* OneSceneWonder: The "Not Economically Viable!" Man. And the neo-Nazi freak is genuinely unsettling.
* OnlyAFleshWound: Averted. A Gunshot to the leg and a knife to the shoulder are both treated as very serious, potentially fatal injuries.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: William Foster is most frequently referred to (and credited as) D-FENS, his license plate number.
* PaterFamilicide: It's heavily implied that Foster intends to do this to his wife and daughter, even though he refuses to admit it when Prendergast draws this conclusion when they finally meet face to face. Drawing a gun on his family while tearfully saying that he's sorry says it all.
* PetTheDog: Foster has one when he discovers that the people barbequeing are just the family of the caretaker. He immediately stops ranting about cutting his hand on the barbed wire fence, and assures them he has no intention of hurting them and he's just trying to get home to his daughters birthday. He also reacts in horror when he thinks that he's hurt their little girl (until the father tells him the blood on her is from his cut hand).
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: The neo-Nazi store owner.
* PrecisionFStrike: Doubles as a BrickJoke.
-->'''[[MeanBoss Captain Yardley]]''' (To Sgt. Prendergast, the protagonist): I never liked you. You know why? You don't curse. I don't trust a man who doesn't curse. Not a "fuck" or a "shit" in all these years. Real men curse.
-->''Much later, when Yardley tries to get Prendergast to say a few words and help him look good on camera;''
-->'''[[SympatheticInspectorAntagonist Sgt. Prendergast]]''': Fuck you, Captain Yardley. Fuck you very much!
* PreMortemOneLiner:
---> '''Foster''': Good! Good, freedom of religion. Now you get the swing of it. Feels good to exercise your rights, doesn't it? (opens fire).
* PrisonRape: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by the neo-Nazi nutcase when he fantasizes about a [[ScaryBlackMan black inmate]] raping Foster in prison.
* PsychoStrings: Every now and then whenever Foster gets angry.
* QuickDraw: Invoked by Foster during [[spoiler: his duel with Prendergast, which turns out to be a SuicideByCop]].
* RandomPasserbyAdvice: Foster decides to give a road crew doing make work and snarling traffic "something real to fix" but can't figure out how to operate his rocket launcher. A kid observing the traffic jam helpfully informs him.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:Det. Prendergast puts Foster in his place during the final showdown.
--->'''Sergeant Prendergast:''' Is that what this is about? You're angry because you got lied to? Is that why my chicken dinner is drying out in the oven? Listen, pal, they lie to everyone. They lie to the fish. But that doesn't give you any special right to do what you did today.
* RecklessGunUsage: Most notably in the breakfast scene and the rocket launcher scene.
* RedHerring: Bill's briefcase. He refuses to give it up to a pair of thugs, making it appear to be something of value he needs to hold onto. He later gives it up to a homeless guy who discovers it contains nothing but Bill's packed lunch. It was all about the principle of the thing.
* RemonstratingWithAGun: A famous example.
* {{Retirony}}: Played with. It's Prendergast's [[LampshadeHanging last day working as a cop]], and he's actually going into early retirement because he's afraid of getting killed on the job. Much {{lampshaded}} by his collegues. [[spoiler:Not only does Prendergast survive, but he decides not to retire after all.]]
* {{Revenge}}: More or less the whole plot.
** Also counts as SmiteMeOhMightySmiter
* SanitySlippage: D-Fens gets crazier every hour.
* TheSlowWalk: D-Fens.
** Also the OminousWalk, with background music, after the drive-by.
* ShootHimHeHasAWallet: [[spoiler: In D-Fens SuicideByCop, he pulls a watergun. As noted under Suicide By Cop below, an InvokedTrope.]]
* SociopathicHero: Foster eventually becomes one of these.
* SortingAlgorithmOfWeaponEffectiveness: Played straight. Oh, so played straight.
** An unstable but harmless middle class white guy gets out of his car. He steals an Asian shopkeeper's baseball bat.
** He [[BatterUp uses the baseball bat]] to beat up a couple hoodlums, and pockets their [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knife]].
** The gang tries to kill him in a drive-by, and he steals their duffel bag full of automatic weapons.
** He gets bum-rushed by a neo-nazi in an army surplus store, and takes a combat suit and a shoulder-fired rocket launcher.
* SpiritualSuccessor: ''GrandTheftAuto'' (the successor); ''TaxiDriver'' (what it's a successor to).
* [[spoiler: SuicideByCop: Used to guarantee his family received the life insurance payout.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: Bill's evolution from a normal everyday man into a [[TaxiDriver Travis Bickle]] - like VigilanteMan.
* TragicDream: William just wants to reunite with his wife and daughter, that's not so hard... [[YankTheDogsChain right?]]
* TroubledSympatheticBigot: Foster's attitude towards the Korean store owner is fueled by ignorance and bigotry. He even uses stereotypical bigoted lines like ''"do you know how much America has done for your country?"'' and ''"you come over here and don't even try to learn English!"''
* UnfortunateName: Prendergast's last name, apart from being awkward to pronounce, doesn't fit on a cake!
* UnreliableNarrator: Background signs tend to indicate Foster's state of mind rather than what they might actually say. This suggests that the people he meets aren't necessarily as rude as they appear.
* UnstoppableRage: Bill expecially towards the two golf players.
* VanityLicensePlate: D-FENS.
* VigilanteMan
* VillainProtagonist: Foster, of course.... or is he an AntiHero?
** AntiVillain's probably your best bet overall.
* VillainousBreakdown: When Foster thinks he's accidentally hurt an innocent girl (actually the blood on her came from his cut hand earlier), when he watches old home movies and notices that he acts controlling and short-tempered in them, and finally his HeelRealisation that he's "the bad guy".
* VomitIndiscretionShot: Happens when Bill waves a gun in the face of a woman eating at the fast food joint and he asks if she's enjoying her meal.
-->'''Bill''': I think we have a critic. I don't think she likes the special sauce, Rick.
* WallOfWeapons: Everything really goes to hell after Foster gains possession of a duffel bag full of loaded firearms.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Foster's vigilantism made him into this.
* [[WhyWereBummedCommunismFell Why We're Bummed Communism Fell]]: Or more accurately Why We Felt Completely Emasculated When We Lost Our Job Due To The Early 90's Defense Budget Cuts.
* WorthyOpponent: Pendergast vs. D-fens.
* WretchedHive: Los Angeles. This film and the film ''GrandCanyon'' (and the 1992 riots) popularized the notion that LA was no moviestar paradise. ''Film/{{Crash}}'' has similar themes.
* YankTheDogsChain: How much worse can Foster's day get?
* YouAreWhatYouHate: The neo-Nazi freak hates homosexuals, but dresses as a ManlyGay and obviously goes through some major FoeYay with Foster.
** Not to mention Foster himself! Foster couldn't grasp the {{Irony}} that the Mexican gangsters and the neo-Nazi were just doing the exact same thing that Foster was doing for the whole movie: dealing with their disaffection by pushing the blame onto easy targets and violently venting their frustrations on them.
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: D-Fens is very seriously pissed off when the neo-Nazi praises him for shooting people and even says "[[NotSoDifferent You and I are the same]]".
----
[[caption-width-right:300:"ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere."]]
-> ''"A briefcase, a lunch and a man on the edge\\
Each step gets closer to losing his head\\
Is someone in heaven are they looking down\\
'Cause nothing is fair just you look around\\
Falling down, falling down, falling down."''
-->--'''Music/IronMaiden''', "[[FilkSong Man on the Edge]]"
William Foster (MichaelDouglas) is divorced. William Foster is under court order to stay away from his family. William Foster lost his defense contractor job about a month ago (even if his mother doesn't know). William Foster wants to attend his daughter's birthday party. William Foster is stuck in traffic. William Foster's [[TheAllegedCar 1979 Chevy Chevette]] air conditioner has just broken down, [[HeatWave on the hottest day of the year]].
William Foster is having a very bad day.
William Foster is about to snap... and he doesn't care on whom.
Meanwhile, Det. Martin Prendergast (Robert Duvall), on his [[{{Retirony}} final day before retirement]] from the Police Department, faces his own frustrations with reasonably civilized maturity even as he tracks the strange series of violent incidents happening that day, perpetrated by a mysterious man known only by the nickname "[[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname D-Fens]]".
''Falling Down'' is a 1993 film directed by JoelSchumacher about one man's mental breakdown, and his feelings of alienation, disgust, and mounting rage against what he perceives to be an increasingly unfair and depersonalized world, accumulating weaponry and becoming something like a vigilante as he travels across the city, shoving people out of his way.
The film received mostly positive reviews and is still well-regarded. RottenTomatoes gives it a 75% positive ranking. With critics pointing at its take on depression, paranoia and anger. The most vocal criticisms came from Korean American Coalition, which regarded its portrayal of minorities to be offensive. It was a modest box office hit. It earned about 41 million dollars in the United States market, where it was the 35th most successful film of its year. The film reportedly inspired the song "Man on the Edge" (1995) by Music/IronMaiden, and received a parodic {{Homage}} in the Music/FooFighters' video for "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PkcfQtibmU Walk]]".
----
!!This movie contains examples of:
* AllAsiansAreAlike: Prendergast asks an Asian American detective to translate what a Korean store owner is saying. The detective points out that he is Japanese and only speaks English.
** It's even more flagrant when you realise the actor who played the Korean man (Michael Paul Chan) is Chinese, and the actor who played the Japanese cop (Steve Park) is actually Korean.
* AntiHero: Or VillainProtagonist? Foster is a very angry individual, and is driven to violent insanity by all the little social ills that rational people just learn to deal with. However, [[AntiVillain he is still very sympathetic]], despite his violent rage all he wants to do is see his daughter on her birthday.
** Foster becomes less sympathetic when you pay attention to how he treats the Korean store owner like complete crap and trashes the store for little to no reason except that he doesn't want to pay so much. He even flings bigoted racist remarks at the poor guy.
* ArmoredClosetGay: Nick the Nazi, who graphically fantasizes about Foster getting {{Prison Rape}}d by a black man.
* AsianStoreOwner: Whose place gets trashed after Bill tries to make change for the phone.
* AssholeVictim: Several variations are shown, almost to the point of deconstruction.
** The straight examples are the neo-Nazi store owner and the Latino gangbangers. The former is a twisted racist fuck who even tried to rape Bill when he made it clear that he didn't share the neo-Nazi's sick worldviews. The gangbangers first tried to rob Bill and when that didn't work out, even tried to kill him.
** It's [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] with the Korean store owner, who was needlessly being a JerkAss while Bill just needed some change, but one must remember that ''he has every right to set the prices in his own store''. If people opt not to shop there as a result, this is something the owner has to own up to as well. There's also the elder golfer, who's also a JerkAss and a malicious, stupid idiot who could potentially have wounded Bill severely with his golfball swing, but having to die right there on the golf course was still disproportionate. Fortunately his debatable death comes about due to a heart attack from overexcitement, rather than direct harm from Bill. There's also the man at the phone booth who was very rude to Bill but was not directly harmed in any way, merely scared shitless.
** Averted with Bill's other victims, who were just doing their job or trying to make by. The employees of the fast food place have to obey their company's guidelines; the construction worker was more condescending about it, but this is because Bill was harassing him about it. The terrified family in particular don't qualify in the slightest.
** In the cases above, Bill is noticeably more together. He is polite to the employees but still angry at the policy they represent. He also was only angry with the family at first then seemed apologetic for his actions. The store owner, it should be remembered, tried to attack Bill first and refused to reason with him at the start (The only reason Bill was buying to drink was because he refused to give him change). Overall it seems Bill doesn't take anger out on individuals, merely what they represent. Unless they attack him personally.
* AttemptedRape: The neo-nazi accuses Foster of being gay, and goes on to try and rape him.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: [[HenpeckedHusband Prendergast]] and his wife. After he's been shown to be constantly needled by his workmates for sacrificing so much of his life and career to her, he says:
-->'''Prendergast''': There's one more thing I forgot to tell you about my wife.
-->'''Sandra''': What's that?
-->'''Prendergast''': I love her.
* AxCrazy: Ultimately subverted, but it's a close call. Foster doesn't set out to go on a killing spree, he just kind of falls into that pattern accidentally and then goes with it once it's too late to change anything. The fact that some of his victims are AcceptableTargets makes it that much easier for him to become an accidental sociopath.
* BadassBookworm: Foster.
* [[BadassLongcoat Badass Combat Fatigues]]: Foster gets one of those.
* BadassMoustache: Prendergast
* BadLiar: The homeless guy who asks D-Fens for some money for fuel, and keeps [[DiggingYourselfDeeper digging himself deeper]].
* BaldOfAwesome: Prendergast
* BallisticDiscount: Rendered against a Neo Nazi dealer in army surplus goods.
* BerserkButton: Insulting Prendergast's wife.
* BewareTheNiceOnes[=/=]TheDogBitesBack: This movie shows how it could end up with if a hard-working, white collar familyman snaps.
* BlackAndGrayMorality: Foster is a bad guy, but the world he lives in and everyone else are worse. Only Prendergast represents a higher moral standard, but at the beginning of the movie he's been so beaten-down by the world (and his wife...) that he's forgotten that.
** WhiteAndGreyMorality: Pendergast vs Foster.
* BrainlessBeauty: Prendergast's wife was apparently one as a younger woman.
--->'''Sergeant Prendergast:''' "It's hard to lose your beauty when that's all you've got."
* BurgerFool: With the misfortune to host Foster for [[FakeFood a disappointing lunch.]]
* ChekhovsGun: The water-gun.
* CompletelyMissingThePoint: Many critics ''hated'' this film because they thought it painted Foster as a heroic figure to be admired, not a tragic one to be pitied. Makes one wonder how many actually ''watched'' the film...
** The film came out roughly a year after the chaotic Los Angeles riots, and was one of many "common citizen fighting corrupted/being corrupted by society" films to come out in that period, so there is precedence in critics thinking that way.
* ContrivedCoincidence: A car full of gang members pulls a drive-by on Foster. They shoot up the street, hitting everyone except Foster, and crash into another car, killling themselves and leaving a bag full of weapons for Foster to find.
** Somewhat [[{{Truth in Television}} truth in television]] as all too often, bystanders rather than the actual target get killed in street shootings, not to mention, they [[{{Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy}} don't know how to aim]].
* CoolOldGuy: Prendergast.
* CrapsackWorld: [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]]. The movie is an exploration of this concept in a lot of ways.
* DeadpanSnarker: Foster has some moments.
--->'''Man at Phone Booth:''' Excuse me! I don't know if you noticed or not, but there are other people who want to use the phone here!
--->'''Foster''': There are?
--->'''Man at Phone Booth:''' That's right, you selfish asshole!
--->'''Foster''': Oh, that's too bad. Because you know what? (he shoots at the phone booth) [[BondOneLiner I think it's out of order]].
* TheDeterminator: Foster, aka D-fens. He's the definition of this. (All he wants to do is get 20 miles across smog-infested LA in time for his daughter's birthday... [[TheSlowWalk on foot]].)
* DidNotDoTheResearch: No insurance company will pay benefits on a loss caused during commission of a felony. [[SenselessSacrifice This adds an especially cruel twist to the ending when you think about it.]]
** This may have been an intentionally-written piece of character error, rather than lack of research. Similar to Foster not knowing how much money the US spent on Korea. The characters' mistakes add to the realism of the film (such as the cop who asks Prendergast for his "John Doe" instead of "John Hancock"). Indeed, it does make the ending a lot more poignant.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Foster's entire MO, except the things with the neo-nazi and the Mexican gangbangers.
* DoNotDoThisCoolThing: Who hasn't fantasized about taking revenge on all the [[{{Jerkass}} jerkasses]] in a cruel and feckless world? The fantasy is heavily deconstructed.
* DomesticAbuser: Bill towards his wife, to the point that she had a restraining order placed against him. Although when she explains to a police officer that the abuse was merely of an emotional nature (which is still just as serious as physical abuse) and that Bill never got physically violent, the cop appears nonplussed as if she's making a big deal out of nothing.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: D-FENS (according to the credits).
* EmptyShell: Bill Foster's mother describes her son this way. He barely speaks to her and behaves like a mindless robot at the dinner table, shoveling food into his mouth with no signs of emotion at all.
* {{Expy}}: Who does Frank Grimes from ''TheSimpsons'' remind you of?
** Also a major inspiration for Simon Whittlebone from the ''TwistedMetal'' series.
** [[BadassNormal Noah Bennet]] from Series/{{Heroes}} is definitely a close relative (who didn't lose his job).
* FakeFood: His burger doesn't look like the picture. This makes him angry.
* FirstFatherWins
* FreudianExcuse: Foster pull one of these during the climax
--->'''Foster''': Do you know that I build missiles? I helped to protect America. You should be rewarded for that. But instead they give it to the plastic surgeons, you know they lied to me.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: Foster.
* GoingPostal: Foster / D-fens.
* HappierHomeMovie: The film ends on one.
* HairTriggerTemper: Foster.
* {{Heatwave}}: The movie takes place on the hottest day of the summer.
* HeelRealization: "I'm the bad guy? [{{Beat}}] How did that happen?"
* HenpeckedHusband: Prendergast. This changes by the end.
* HeroAntagonist: Prendergast.
* [[TelevisionGeography Hollywood Geography]]: Literally. Somewhat accurate as a result. He starts out in East LA, goes thru downtown, Macarthur Park, Wilshire, Inglewood and ends up in Venice.
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: The gang members manage to shoot everyone on the street ''except'' Foster during the drive-by. Although actually, drive-by shootings that kill several people but miss the intended target are known to happen in real life.
** "[[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Take some shooting lessons asshole]]"
* InstantExpert: Averted, Foster wonders aloud how gang members can perform such complex twisting actions with a [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knife]], and he never learns to do it
** Averted for the gangbanger too; he not only used the easiest, most basic opening trick there is, but he also messed it up.
* ItGotWorse: How a really bad day can turn into a freaking nightmare.
* {{Jerkass}}: Just too many people in this movie: the convenience store owner, the two knife-wielding street thugs, the Nazi, the employees at the fast food restaurant, the snooty golfers, the homeless guy, the road crew worker, et al. However, Sandra's new partner is a big one.
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Everyone D-fens meets.
* KitschCollection
* KnightInSourArmor: Prendergast again.
* LargeHam: "I'm going home! Clear a path you motherfucker, ''I'm going home!!!''"
* LastNameBasis: Prendergast. Sorta lampshaded when in the end Foster's daughter asks him what his name is.
* LastSecondChance
* MaddenIntoMisanthropy
* ManlyGay: Gay customers at the army surplus store. Also, we get hints that its neo-Nazi owner might be one, [[YouAreWhatYouHate despite being a homophobe]].
* MistakenNationality: Korean is not the same as Japanese-American.
* {{Monologuing}}: "And now you're gonna die, wearing that stupid little hat! How does it feel?"
* {{Motif}}: "London Bridge is Falling Down"
* MuggingTheMonster: The gangbangers attempts to do this to Foster. It doesn't ends well for them.
* NewAgeRetroHippie: Venice Beach.
* TheNineties: Smog chokes the Los Angeles cityscape on a 110-degree day as Howard Stern blares through construction sites and tinny car radios and flashy rollerbladers go by along the cluttered beach. Oh yeah.
** Used in the trailer, even.
--->"Life in the Nineties got you down?"
* NotSoDifferent: Averted: Prendergast is subjected to a lot of the same pressures and depersonalization and signs of social decay as Foster, but handles it with more grace and patience. However, the neo-Nazi [[InvokedTrope invokes this]] to D-FENS ("You and I are the same"), predictably pissing him off.
* OneSceneWonder: The "Not Economically Viable!" Man. And the neo-Nazi freak is genuinely unsettling.
* OnlyAFleshWound: Averted. A Gunshot to the leg and a knife to the shoulder are both treated as very serious, potentially fatal injuries.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: William Foster is most frequently referred to (and credited as) D-FENS, his license plate number.
* PaterFamilicide: It's heavily implied that Foster intends to do this to his wife and daughter, even though he refuses to admit it when Prendergast draws this conclusion when they finally meet face to face. Drawing a gun on his family while tearfully saying that he's sorry says it all.
* PetTheDog: Foster has one when he discovers that the people barbequeing are just the family of the caretaker. He immediately stops ranting about cutting his hand on the barbed wire fence, and assures them he has no intention of hurting them and he's just trying to get home to his daughters birthday. He also reacts in horror when he thinks that he's hurt their little girl (until the father tells him the blood on her is from his cut hand).
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: The neo-Nazi store owner.
* PrecisionFStrike: Doubles as a BrickJoke.
-->'''[[MeanBoss Captain Yardley]]''' (To Sgt. Prendergast, the protagonist): I never liked you. You know why? You don't curse. I don't trust a man who doesn't curse. Not a "fuck" or a "shit" in all these years. Real men curse.
-->''Much later, when Yardley tries to get Prendergast to say a few words and help him look good on camera;''
-->'''[[SympatheticInspectorAntagonist Sgt. Prendergast]]''': Fuck you, Captain Yardley. Fuck you very much!
* PreMortemOneLiner:
---> '''Foster''': Good! Good, freedom of religion. Now you get the swing of it. Feels good to exercise your rights, doesn't it? (opens fire).
* PrisonRape: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by the neo-Nazi nutcase when he fantasizes about a [[ScaryBlackMan black inmate]] raping Foster in prison.
* PsychoStrings: Every now and then whenever Foster gets angry.
* QuickDraw: Invoked by Foster during [[spoiler: his duel with Prendergast, which turns out to be a SuicideByCop]].
* RandomPasserbyAdvice: Foster decides to give a road crew doing make work and snarling traffic "something real to fix" but can't figure out how to operate his rocket launcher. A kid observing the traffic jam helpfully informs him.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:Det. Prendergast puts Foster in his place during the final showdown.
--->'''Sergeant Prendergast:''' Is that what this is about? You're angry because you got lied to? Is that why my chicken dinner is drying out in the oven? Listen, pal, they lie to everyone. They lie to the fish. But that doesn't give you any special right to do what you did today.
* RecklessGunUsage: Most notably in the breakfast scene and the rocket launcher scene.
* RedHerring: Bill's briefcase. He refuses to give it up to a pair of thugs, making it appear to be something of value he needs to hold onto. He later gives it up to a homeless guy who discovers it contains nothing but Bill's packed lunch. It was all about the principle of the thing.
* RemonstratingWithAGun: A famous example.
* {{Retirony}}: Played with. It's Prendergast's [[LampshadeHanging last day working as a cop]], and he's actually going into early retirement because he's afraid of getting killed on the job. Much {{lampshaded}} by his collegues. [[spoiler:Not only does Prendergast survive, but he decides not to retire after all.]]
* {{Revenge}}: More or less the whole plot.
** Also counts as SmiteMeOhMightySmiter
* SanitySlippage: D-Fens gets crazier every hour.
* TheSlowWalk: D-Fens.
** Also the OminousWalk, with background music, after the drive-by.
* ShootHimHeHasAWallet: [[spoiler: In D-Fens SuicideByCop, he pulls a watergun. As noted under Suicide By Cop below, an InvokedTrope.]]
* SociopathicHero: Foster eventually becomes one of these.
* SortingAlgorithmOfWeaponEffectiveness: Played straight. Oh, so played straight.
** An unstable but harmless middle class white guy gets out of his car. He steals an Asian shopkeeper's baseball bat.
** He [[BatterUp uses the baseball bat]] to beat up a couple hoodlums, and pockets their [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knife]].
** The gang tries to kill him in a drive-by, and he steals their duffel bag full of automatic weapons.
** He gets bum-rushed by a neo-nazi in an army surplus store, and takes a combat suit and a shoulder-fired rocket launcher.
* SpiritualSuccessor: ''GrandTheftAuto'' (the successor); ''TaxiDriver'' (what it's a successor to).
* [[spoiler: SuicideByCop: Used to guarantee his family received the life insurance payout.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: Bill's evolution from a normal everyday man into a [[TaxiDriver Travis Bickle]] - like VigilanteMan.
* TragicDream: William just wants to reunite with his wife and daughter, that's not so hard... [[YankTheDogsChain right?]]
* TroubledSympatheticBigot: Foster's attitude towards the Korean store owner is fueled by ignorance and bigotry. He even uses stereotypical bigoted lines like ''"do you know how much America has done for your country?"'' and ''"you come over here and don't even try to learn English!"''
* UnfortunateName: Prendergast's last name, apart from being awkward to pronounce, doesn't fit on a cake!
* UnreliableNarrator: Background signs tend to indicate Foster's state of mind rather than what they might actually say. This suggests that the people he meets aren't necessarily as rude as they appear.
* UnstoppableRage: Bill expecially towards the two golf players.
* VanityLicensePlate: D-FENS.
* VigilanteMan
* VillainProtagonist: Foster, of course.... or is he an AntiHero?
** AntiVillain's probably your best bet overall.
* VillainousBreakdown: When Foster thinks he's accidentally hurt an innocent girl (actually the blood on her came from his cut hand earlier), when he watches old home movies and notices that he acts controlling and short-tempered in them, and finally his HeelRealisation that he's "the bad guy".
* VomitIndiscretionShot: Happens when Bill waves a gun in the face of a woman eating at the fast food joint and he asks if she's enjoying her meal.
-->'''Bill''': I think we have a critic. I don't think she likes the special sauce, Rick.
* WallOfWeapons: Everything really goes to hell after Foster gains possession of a duffel bag full of loaded firearms.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Foster's vigilantism made him into this.
* [[WhyWereBummedCommunismFell Why We're Bummed Communism Fell]]: Or more accurately Why We Felt Completely Emasculated When We Lost Our Job Due To The Early 90's Defense Budget Cuts.
* WorthyOpponent: Pendergast vs. D-fens.
* WretchedHive: Los Angeles. This film and the film ''GrandCanyon'' (and the 1992 riots) popularized the notion that LA was no moviestar paradise. ''Film/{{Crash}}'' has similar themes.
* YankTheDogsChain: How much worse can Foster's day get?
* YouAreWhatYouHate: The neo-Nazi freak hates homosexuals, but dresses as a ManlyGay and obviously goes through some major FoeYay with Foster.
** Not to mention Foster himself! Foster couldn't grasp the {{Irony}} that the Mexican gangsters and the neo-Nazi were just doing the exact same thing that Foster was doing for the whole movie: dealing with their disaffection by pushing the blame onto easy targets and violently venting their frustrations on them.
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: D-Fens is very seriously pissed off when the neo-Nazi praises him for shooting people and even says "[[NotSoDifferent You and I are the same]]".
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