Magnum Force (1973)

In the gritty 1973 sequel *Magnum Force*, San Francisco Police Inspector "Dirty" Harry Calahan finds himself on the trail of a group of rogue cops who have taken justice into their own hands. When shady characters are murdered one after another in grisly fashion, only Dirty Harry can stop them. This film forces Harry to confront a profound moral dilemma, as he faces off against a vigilante squad whose extreme methods, while initially mirroring his own frustration with the justice system, ultimately cross a line he cannot tolerate, forcing him to defend the very rule of law he often chafes against. While not a traditional "whodunit" for the audience, *Magnum Force* functions brilliantly as a police procedural mystery from Harry's perspective. The film meticulously tracks his investigation, as he pieces together the nature of the killings, identifies the common thread among the victims, and eventually unmasks the identities of the officers responsible. The suspense is derived from Harry's relentless pursuit of the truth within his own department, the danger he faces from the powerful cabal, and the ethical tightrope he walks. This blend of gritty action, internal investigation, and the moral ambiguity of its protagonist solidifies its place among the best mystery movies, offering a unique take on the "corrupt cop" trope through the lens of a dedicated, if unorthodox, detective.