L.A. CRACKDOWN is a 1988 action thriller directed by Joseph Merhi, the Syrian born chap responsible for directing and producing a seemingly endless stream of low-budget thrillers throughout the 1990s. Plot-wise, it's a nondescript thing about a dedicated policewoman who personally sees the plight of crack-addicted drug addicts and decides to go after the dealers herself in order to teach them a lesson.Everything about this film is cheap but I found the lack of budget gives it a certain grittiness not to be found in bigger budgeted and slicker Hollywood productions. Another surprise is that the characters are a lot better than the genre usually provides, with a sympathetic lead bolstered by likable supporting characters; you find yourself really rooting for the heroine as she seeks to get revenge against some fairly disgusting villains. The action, when it hits, is strictly routine, but the film doesn't disappoint in its depiction of a raw and realistic 'street' atmosphere.