Vice Squad (1982)

...still manage to be this brutally engaging?! For the longest time, I avoided this film because for some reason, I had mixed it in my head with Forced Entry (1975), as the posters looked quite similar. I finally got around to seeing Vice Squad and my jaw dropped to the floor.This film has so many cliché cop drama moments that I couldn't help but laugh hysterically... but when the story shifted gears to the more brutally realistic events of the seedy LA night life, my jaw dropped even further.Ramrod makes for one of the most menacing villains I've ever seen on screen and I would actually compare him to Daniel Day Lewis' Bill The Butcher from Gangs of New York. I had never seen much of Wings Hauser's work prior to this film, but his performance in Vice Squad put him on my map.I think the film's most defining moment for me is when Ramrod chases a battered Season Hubley down the alleyway as she clutches onto the stuffed animal she was going to give her daughter. It's blatantly symbolic and cliché, yet ultimately heartbreaking and uncomfortable.Vice Squad a prime example of a "cult film" and it's one I enjoyed immensely.On a side note, I had watched Paul Schrader's "Hardcore" a day or so prior to seeing this film. Previously, I had only seen Season Hubley in Escape From New York and though I knew she was Kurt Russell's wife at the time, I had no idea that she had such a filmography under her belt. I thought she was fantastic in both films. I wonder whatever happened to her...

There are a lot of people around this website – whose opinions I always respect and value – that recommended "Vice Squad" to me because they all think it's one of the grittiest, toughest and most relentless action/exploitation movies of the 80's. They are right, and I was pretty impressed with how violent and sleazy it was, but I guess I still expected it to be even MORE violent and sleazier. "Vice Squad" is particularly disturbing in its themes and the atmosphere (the story revolves on embittered prostitutes, perverted clients, abusive pimps, hardcore cops and depressing neighborhoods) but there's actually less-than-expected graphic aggression shown on screen. The scene where a sadistic pimp beats up one of his girls and abuses her with a folded coat hanger is appalling and grueling, but it largely remains suggestive. The entire story covers the events of one night on the streets of Hollywood and we're tagging along with members of the Vice Squad as if the film is some sort of reality-TV show in the style of "Cops". In fact, the movie even opens with a message stating that, even though a fictional film the events illustrated really do occur on the streets of LA almost every night. How's that for feel-good television, huh? Following the brutal murder of one of her closest friends, the experienced prostitute Princess collaborates with veteran cop Tom Walsh and his team to trap the feared and infamous pimp Ramrod. They succeed, but Ramrod escapes again during his transportation. Since Ramrod swore to avenge himself against Princess, the Vice Squad rapidly has to set up a virulent battue to catch him before he catches Princess. "Vice Squad" is a raw and depressing movie, which is exactly the kind of ambiance director Gary Sherman wanted to reflect for his epic about Hollywood after dark. The moody theme song, the sleazy bars, ramshackle motels and dark parking lots, the sober photography and even the suppressed black humor are all factors that contribute in making "Vice Squad" one of the most potent exploitation flicks of the early 80's. A movie such as this also owes a lot of its impact and reputation to the involved cast and crew members. The masterful cinematography was in the skillful hands of John Alcott (a frequent collaborator with Stanley Kubrick) and Gary Sherman proves once again – after the excellent "Raw Meat" and "Dead & Buried" that he's a multi-talented cult director. I'm seriously disappointed he wasn't offered the opportunity to shoot more and better movies after these three efforts. Sherman only returned for the lame "Poltergeist III" and a handful of TV-movies after this. The cast is sublime as well. Fans of the film endlessly praise Wings Hauser's performance as the sadistic pimp Ramrod, but he definitely deserves every positive word that is being said or written about him. Hauser is effectively menacing, crazy-eyed and maniacal. Like the DVD-cover aptly states it: it's a mind-blowing, take-no-prisoners performance.

Gary Sherman's "Vice Squad" is all show, but powerfully biting and sordid exploitation of the seedy strip of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard when the sun finally goes down. For such luridly unpleasant context, the film manages to amuses with rousing suspense, sharply-witted (if foul) script and its authentically raw atmosphere. Even the performances figure prominently. Wing Hauser deservedly dominates the limelight as the frighteningly, aggressive pimp Ramrod. His turn is that of pure spontaneous and nightmarish intensity. Truly hard to forget. Gary Swanson's courageously humane performance as Detective Walsh, the leader of the 'Vice squad' is downright solid, and there's a confidently brassy and strong-willed go-it-alone portrayal by Season Hubley as the prostitute Princess that Ramrod is after for setting him up. The support cast racks up recognizable bit players (Pepa Serna, Beverly Todd, Maurice Emanuel, Nina Blackwood, Michael Ensign, Cheryl Smith, Fred Berry and the list goes on) of rich characterisations. Sherman's sensationally gripping direction doesn't let up or beat around the bush, as he cranks up the energy and brutality. Still there's a slickly professional manner about it, and cinematographer John Alcott shots it with great ticker, and stylish verve. The screeching rock title track "Neon Slime" sung by Hauser sets the tone, and the saucy score has a feverish pitch that enhances the downbeat atmosphere and daring intensity.

The sleazy side of LA street life on the Sunset strip with psychotic killer pimp Ramrod(Wings Hauser)set up by hooker Princess(Season Hubley)in cooperation with the police after he had cut up her best friend Ginger. After escaping police, Ramrod will search the strip(..with no reservations about using violence as a means for extracting Princess' whereabouts from those he questions)for Princess with one goal in mind and that's repeating what he did with Ginger on her. It's up to Tom Walsh(Gary Swanson)and the Vice squad to find Ramrod before he gets to her.The ugly, nasty side of prostitution is exposed in this thriller with Hauser effectively scary as the sicko, matched by Hubley as one tough, foul-mouthed broad. Mostly profane and unpleasant, but also fast-paced and suspenseful.