Dangerous Ground
Encyclopedia
Dangerous Ground is a 1997 thriller starring Ice Cube
and Elizabeth Hurley
. It was directed by Darrell Roodt
and written by Greg Latter and Darrell Roodt.
. Thirteen years later in 1997 Vusi (Ice Cube
) returns to South Africa
to his tribal village on news of his fathers death. He is told that he must sacrifice a cow but refuses and leaves it to his younger brother Earnest, a former soldier. He informs Vusi that his other younger brother Stephen has gone missing in Johannesburg
and that Vusi must find him. Before Vusi leaves he is given a tribal spear that was his fathers by a tribal elder. Later that day Vusi arrives in Johannesburg
and looks for Stephen at his apartment and finds out that he is not there. Stephan's girlfriend Karin (Elizabeth Hurley
), lives next door and Vusi asks her to call him if she hears from Steven. The next day Vusi goes briefly into the slums only to be robbed at gunpoint and have his BMW
and his jacket stolen and his father's tribal spear broken in half. That night Karin calls Vusi and tells him that she heard people vandalizing Stephan's apartment last night. Later that night at Stephan's apartment Karin sneaks in through the back window and is attacked by someone who appears to be a gangster. Vusi intervenes and saves Karin while the gangster runs away. Karin tells Vusi that that was one of the drug lord Muki's gangsters and tells him that Stephen is a cocaine
dealer for Muki (Ving Rhames
). Later the two go to different clubs in Johannesburg
in an attempt to find Stephen. They go to a black Hip-Hop club and then to a white Punk Rock
club where the two are spotted by a group of whites who attack Vusi for yelling a Karin because she is addicted to cocaine. They threaten Vusi with a Glock 18 pistol but Vusi manages to get the upper hand and beat them. Back at Karin's apartment she asks Vusi to get some Cocaine
from a white dealer at his hotel. He agrees and goes to the go hotel and is told to wait while the dealer gets the drugs. While Vusi is waiting Stephen arrives and runs away at the sight of Vusi. After unsuccessfully trying to catch him he returns to the dealers hotel room but is threatened by him with a knife for leaving his room. Vusi then points his Glock 18 at the dealer and the dealer reveals that he works for Muki and then gives Vusi the Cocaine
. Vusi returns to Karin's apartment and tells Karin the story. Karin tells Vusi that they are in danger and the two go back to Vusi's hotel. The next day at the Hotel parking garage Vusi and Karin say goodbye as Vusi plans to return to San Francisco and he gives Karin the Glock 18 and tells her to be careful. After Vusi begins driving out of the parking garage he is ambushed and kidnapped by some of Muki's gangsters and put into a trunk at gunpoint. He arrives at a soccer stadium where Muki tells Vusi that Stephen owes him 45,000 South African Rand
and if Vusi doesn't pay him within two days he will kill Stephen. He goes back to Karin's apartment that day and she says that Stephen called her and he is at the resort Sun City, North West
. The two go there and look for Stephen. Vusi goes and looks around the casino but Karin sneaks away and gambles. Stephen runs into Karin and invites her back to his hotel room. The two then get high and fall asleep. Vusi finds them over an hour later and tells Stephen the situation. The next day the three go back to Johannesburg
and Vusi gets the money from an ATM
then drives to the hotel that Muki is staying at. At Muki's hotel the three are taken to a room where Muki and a corrupt police officer are watching soccer. Vusi gives Muki the money and Muki explains how some people think he is weak since Stephen took so much Cocaine
without paying for it. Muki then kills Stephen and Vusi and Karin are kicked out with Stephan's body with them. Vusi and Karin then go to Vusi's tribal village with Stephan's body. As Vusi goes to talk with his brother Earnest, Karin waits in the car and a tribe elder asks her for the spear which he repairs and gives back to her. As Karin waits, Vusi and Earnest talk while looking at Stephan's body and walk around planning a revenge hit. After Stephan's burial Vusi must kill a goat
and this time accepts. Later that night Vusi, Karin and Earnest travel into the jungle
to Earnest's weapon stash. They equip themselves with AK-47s and a bomb. The three go back to Johannesburg
and go to the same white drug dealer's hotel from before. They threaten to kill him if he doesn't deliver the bomb to Muki in the form of a present. He agrees after some mild torture
and they got to Muki's hotel. He and Vusi and Earnest go up to his hotel room while Karin stays behind to keep guard. The drug dealer walks out of the elevator
and talks to Muki's gangsters while Vusi and Earnest hide behind the elevator
's walls. The bomb explodes killing the drug dealer and two of Muki's gangsters and Vusi and Earnest run out of the elevator
and start shooting. A heavy gunfight ensues between Vusi and Earnest and Maki's gangsters. After the gunfight is over Muki sneaks up behind Earnest and puts a gun to his head. As he tells Vusi to put his gun down, Karin arrives and points the gun at Muki. He turns around and Vusi runs up to Muki and stabs him with his tribal spear and pushes him out of the window. Muki falls to his death and lands on a car on the street. Vusi, Karin and Earnest then go outside and rejoice about their victory. Vusi calls his fiance and asks her if she will come to South Africa
with him for a while to which she accepts. Vusi then invites Karin to come and live in his tribal village for a while with him and Earnest. She agrees and the three drive to back to his village.
. It peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200
and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
.
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
and Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Jane Hurley is an English model and actress who became known as a girlfriend of Hugh Grant in the 1990s. In 1994, as Grant became the focus of worldwide media attention due to the global box office success of his film Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hurley accompanied him to the film's Los...
. It was directed by Darrell Roodt
Darrell Roodt
Darrell Roodt is a South African film director, screenwriter and producer.His film Sarafina was screened out of competition at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.-Awards:...
and written by Greg Latter and Darrell Roodt.
Plot
In 1984 a fourteen year old Vusi Maslazi is leading a riot about apartheid in Johannesburg, South Africa until he is kidnapped by the police and forced at gunpoint to leave the country and ends up in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. Thirteen years later in 1997 Vusi (Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
) returns to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to his tribal village on news of his fathers death. He is told that he must sacrifice a cow but refuses and leaves it to his younger brother Earnest, a former soldier. He informs Vusi that his other younger brother Stephen has gone missing in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and that Vusi must find him. Before Vusi leaves he is given a tribal spear that was his fathers by a tribal elder. Later that day Vusi arrives in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and looks for Stephen at his apartment and finds out that he is not there. Stephan's girlfriend Karin (Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Jane Hurley is an English model and actress who became known as a girlfriend of Hugh Grant in the 1990s. In 1994, as Grant became the focus of worldwide media attention due to the global box office success of his film Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hurley accompanied him to the film's Los...
), lives next door and Vusi asks her to call him if she hears from Steven. The next day Vusi goes briefly into the slums only to be robbed at gunpoint and have his BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and his jacket stolen and his father's tribal spear broken in half. That night Karin calls Vusi and tells him that she heard people vandalizing Stephan's apartment last night. Later that night at Stephan's apartment Karin sneaks in through the back window and is attacked by someone who appears to be a gangster. Vusi intervenes and saves Karin while the gangster runs away. Karin tells Vusi that that was one of the drug lord Muki's gangsters and tells him that Stephen is a cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
dealer for Muki (Ving Rhames
Ving Rhames
Irving Rameses "Ving" Rhames is an American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series.-Early life and education:...
). Later the two go to different clubs in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in an attempt to find Stephen. They go to a black Hip-Hop club and then to a white Punk Rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
club where the two are spotted by a group of whites who attack Vusi for yelling a Karin because she is addicted to cocaine. They threaten Vusi with a Glock 18 pistol but Vusi manages to get the upper hand and beat them. Back at Karin's apartment she asks Vusi to get some Cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
from a white dealer at his hotel. He agrees and goes to the go hotel and is told to wait while the dealer gets the drugs. While Vusi is waiting Stephen arrives and runs away at the sight of Vusi. After unsuccessfully trying to catch him he returns to the dealers hotel room but is threatened by him with a knife for leaving his room. Vusi then points his Glock 18 at the dealer and the dealer reveals that he works for Muki and then gives Vusi the Cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. Vusi returns to Karin's apartment and tells Karin the story. Karin tells Vusi that they are in danger and the two go back to Vusi's hotel. The next day at the Hotel parking garage Vusi and Karin say goodbye as Vusi plans to return to San Francisco and he gives Karin the Glock 18 and tells her to be careful. After Vusi begins driving out of the parking garage he is ambushed and kidnapped by some of Muki's gangsters and put into a trunk at gunpoint. He arrives at a soccer stadium where Muki tells Vusi that Stephen owes him 45,000 South African Rand
South African rand
The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...
and if Vusi doesn't pay him within two days he will kill Stephen. He goes back to Karin's apartment that day and she says that Stephen called her and he is at the resort Sun City, North West
Sun City, North West
Sun City is a luxury casino and resort, situated in the North West Province of South Africa. It is located about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg. The complex borders the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.- History :...
. The two go there and look for Stephen. Vusi goes and looks around the casino but Karin sneaks away and gambles. Stephen runs into Karin and invites her back to his hotel room. The two then get high and fall asleep. Vusi finds them over an hour later and tells Stephen the situation. The next day the three go back to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and Vusi gets the money from an ATM
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
then drives to the hotel that Muki is staying at. At Muki's hotel the three are taken to a room where Muki and a corrupt police officer are watching soccer. Vusi gives Muki the money and Muki explains how some people think he is weak since Stephen took so much Cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
without paying for it. Muki then kills Stephen and Vusi and Karin are kicked out with Stephan's body with them. Vusi and Karin then go to Vusi's tribal village with Stephan's body. As Vusi goes to talk with his brother Earnest, Karin waits in the car and a tribe elder asks her for the spear which he repairs and gives back to her. As Karin waits, Vusi and Earnest talk while looking at Stephan's body and walk around planning a revenge hit. After Stephan's burial Vusi must kill a goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
and this time accepts. Later that night Vusi, Karin and Earnest travel into the jungle
Jungle
A Jungle is an area of land in the tropics overgrown with dense vegetation.The word jungle originates from the Sanskrit word jangala which referred to uncultivated land. Although the Sanskrit word refers to "dry land", it has been suggested that an Anglo-Indian interpretation led to its...
to Earnest's weapon stash. They equip themselves with AK-47s and a bomb. The three go back to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and go to the same white drug dealer's hotel from before. They threaten to kill him if he doesn't deliver the bomb to Muki in the form of a present. He agrees after some mild torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
and they got to Muki's hotel. He and Vusi and Earnest go up to his hotel room while Karin stays behind to keep guard. The drug dealer walks out of the elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
and talks to Muki's gangsters while Vusi and Earnest hide behind the elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
's walls. The bomb explodes killing the drug dealer and two of Muki's gangsters and Vusi and Earnest run out of the elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
and start shooting. A heavy gunfight ensues between Vusi and Earnest and Maki's gangsters. After the gunfight is over Muki sneaks up behind Earnest and puts a gun to his head. As he tells Vusi to put his gun down, Karin arrives and points the gun at Muki. He turns around and Vusi runs up to Muki and stabs him with his tribal spear and pushes him out of the window. Muki falls to his death and lands on a car on the street. Vusi, Karin and Earnest then go outside and rejoice about their victory. Vusi calls his fiance and asks her if she will come to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with him for a while to which she accepts. Vusi then invites Karin to come and live in his tribal village for a while with him and Earnest. She agrees and the three drive to back to his village.
Cast
- Ice CubeIce CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
as Vusi Madlazi - Elizabeth HurleyElizabeth HurleyElizabeth Jane Hurley is an English model and actress who became known as a girlfriend of Hugh Grant in the 1990s. In 1994, as Grant became the focus of worldwide media attention due to the global box office success of his film Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hurley accompanied him to the film's Los...
as Karen - Ving RhamesVing RhamesIrving Rameses "Ving" Rhames is an American actor best known for his work in Bringing Out the Dead, Pulp Fiction, Baby Boy, Don King: Only in America, and the Mission: Impossible film series.-Early life and education:...
as Muki - Sechaba Morojele as Ernest Madlazi
- Eric Miyeni as Steven Madlazi
- Greg Latter as Sam
Soundtrack
A soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on February 11, 1997 by Jive RecordsJive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
. It peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
.