The Star Chamber

Steven Hardin is a young judge whose faith in the legal system is steadily worn down. Sitting on the bench in Los Angeles, he keeps seeing defendants he believes to be guilty walk free, not because they are innocent but because police errors and technical loopholes undo the cases against them. The resulting frustration and sense of helplessness push him toward a personal crisis, while crime in the city appears to be getting worse.

A senior colleague, Benjamin Caulfield, notices Hardin's despair and introduces him to a group of influential men who have set up their own secret tribunal. These judges, convinced that the courts have failed, arrange for hired killers to deal with criminals who escaped punishment through the legal process. Hardin is drawn into their circle but remains uneasy about their methods, and his doubts grow as he is asked to take part in a case that tests how far he is willing to go.

The film was directed by Peter Hyams, who also wrote the screenplay with Roderick Taylor; it was his fourth feature as director, following Outland and preceding 2010. Michael Douglas plays Hardin, with Hal Holbrook as Caulfield and Yaphet Kotto as a detective. Made for about 8 million dollars, it took roughly 6 million worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6.4 from around 8,300 votes, on TMDB 6 from 189 votes, while critics rated it 6.2 from 13 reviews.