Split Second is a 1992 science fiction action horror film directed by Tony Maylam and Ian Sharp,[5] and written by Gary Scott Thompson.

The film also features Kim Cattrall, Alastair Neil Duncan, Pete Postlethwaite, Ian Dury, and Alun Armstrong.

Rookie police officer Dick Durkin is assigned to partner with Harley Stone, a burnt-out and cynical veteran homicide detective who, according to his commanding officer, survives on "anxiety, coffee, and chocolate" after being wounded while failing to prevent the death of his partner Foster by a serial killer three years previously.

They emerge into an abandoned underground train station to find Michelle suspended over the water as obvious bait, but Stone frees her anyway, prompting the creature to show up.

[6] Laura Gregory, producer and head of Challenge Films and production manager Susan Nicoletti discovered the script and thought it had great potential.

[6] The film included a ritualistic serial killer who had committed five murders every five years for the last quarter of the century and always leaves pentagram symbols after each death.

[6] Though Thompson originally wrote the script with Harrison Ford in mind for the main role, he was happy that Hauer was cast as the lead.

Although it was re-titled again sometime during production from Black Tide to Split Second, the movie had different titles in other countries, like Killer Instinct (in France) and Detective Stone (in Italy).

Despite an exciting ad campaign and good word of mouth, the movie underperformed at the box office because it was released during the Los Angeles riots.

[11] Lawrence Cohn of Variety wrote, "Split Second is an extremely stupid monster film, boasting enough violence and special effects to satisfy less-discriminating vid fans.

"[1] Chris Willman of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "It's hard to think of a less satisfying creature feature in recent memory than the simply terrible Split Second.