The Exterminator (1980)

The Exterminator tells the story of John Eastland, a former Vietnam war veteran whom goes on a vigilante killing spree after his best friend is viciously attacked by a group of thugs. Meanwhile, a detective, James Dalton tries to stop him.For the most part, this film is extremely dull. It draws itself out for far too long, and there is a subplot where the detective starts dating a nurse, which is completely unnecessary as it adds nothing to the plot. It's as if the director thought the film wasn't long enough so he tried to find excuses for it to be longer.While this film does have it's share of exciting scenes from time to time, it really doesn't have much else going for it. The acting isn't bad; not top notch, but acceptable. If you are after a good vigilante thriller, you could do worse than 'The Exterminator.' Then again, you could do a lot better too.

Have you ever seen a man put in a huge grinders and made minced meat? You will see it here, is happening to a mobster who was pooping in a toilet and is kidnapped by the good guy. The good guy is John Eastland(Robert Ginty), an ex-Vietnam soldier, now a vigilante who is avenging his friend almost killed by a band of villains. You will see also a state senator from New Jersey who likes to rape underage boys with an incandescent iron, plus other... attractions. A special real attraction is Dr. Megan Stewart, played by Samantha Eggar, the beautiful from "The Collector"(1965), "The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun"(1970) and "The Walking Stick"(1970). The cop played by Christopher George (Detective James Dalton) who is on the trail of the vigilante, is assassinated by a CIA sniper, because there are only two months until the elections... After that, in the final images we see the Twin Towers from New York(21 years before being transformed into a pile of rubble) and what is just a pathetic symbol of America(and this whole world), the Statue of Liberty.

This filmed caused a stir when released in the cinemas back in 1980. A raw vigilante film, a more hard edged Death Wish.It starts out in Vietnam with high production values with explosions and a bizarre decapitation scene. Then we go to late 70s/early 80s New York City, where gangsters and muggers are in every corner, it was a surprise The Warriors did not make a guest appearance.Robery Ginty playing the mild mannered Eastland who turns to vengeance when his black army buddy gets attacked by a gang is a world away from John Rambo and Charles Bronson looking more like an ordinary Joe with his heart in the right place.We have scenes where he injures, kills and maim the bad guy in all sort of nasty ways including a gangster getting a giant meat grinder treatment.In the middle of all this is a cop on his trail if only he was not too busy romancing a local doctor. For some strange reason the CIA also turn up.NYC is a mean, seedy place. As well as cut throat gangs we have nasty politicians sodomising and torturing kids, prostitutes, it was a wonder that tourists were turning up in droves.Its a low budget exploitation picture but although it might have had a reputation of being a video nasty three decades ago, its rather tame and comic book. It has rather decent product values and good acting from the main leads. I wonder if the cop and doctor get married!

A cold, cruel and cynical tale of revenge and vigilantism from writer/director James Glickenhaus. John Eastland (Robert Ginty) becomes judge and executioner after his army friend is gravely wounded by thugs. The uncut DVD version from Anchor Bay also stars Christopher George, Dennis Boutsikaris and Samantha Eggar. Yes, that's sax man Stan Getz making an appearance at a concert in Battery Park.I saw The Exterminator in the theater when it was first released in 1980 and, at age 22, it was the only movie that ever made me feel physically ill. Ginty's encounter with the chicken pimp and the state senator is as grim as any execution scene put on film even though it is not the most graphic. Director Glickenhaus skillfully creates a raw and realistic rage with documentary-style camera work and lighting as Ginty methodically and brutally dispenses his brand of justice.The graphic pre-credit Vietnam sequence was filmed at Indian Dunes Park; the same location as the tragic scene from Twilight Zone where Vic Morrow and two children were killed.