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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent gritty revenge drama,
By kowalski426 "Franco" (scotland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Exterminator [DVD] (DVD)
The exterminator is a low budget independent production which became quite a big hit in 1980 no doubt fuelled by the controversy surronding its violent scenes, many of which received serious pruning by the censors on both sides of the atlantic.
Most notably the opening vietnam sequence and the the torture of a prostitute fell foul of the censors scissors, scenes whch are now restored in this directors cut dvd. Although fairly tame by todays standards of violent mayhem, this was tough stuff in 1980, and the opening scene still packs a punch after all these years. That it does is down to the excellent sfx of stan winston and more importantly the direction of James Glickenhaus, a vastly underrated director of condirable talent. Make no mistake, this is a low budget independant film and it is to Glickenhaus' credit that he gives this film a scope and depth that its belies its budget, the aforementioned vietnam sequence is extremely well photographed and directed and effectively captures the horror of war in the first reel. No other film before or since has shown the butchery that went on in that war, directors such as Stone and Coppolla chose to gloss over the gory details to a certain extent, Glickenhaus does not compromise, which is to his great credit. An excellent credit sequence consisting of helicopter shots of the NY skyline at night again belies the budget of this film before we are brought down to earth to the grit and grime of the NY streets and the story begins. On watching the film again its nice to see a film that captures the struggle of working class people in their harsh everyday environment with no hollywood gloss, this film keeps it real and is so much better for it. Robert Ginty gives a subtle understated performance as an average Joe haunted by his war experience who is compelled to act after the brutal assault on his war buddy by a nasty street gang. There are no Charles Bronson type heroics here, revenge is served swift and cold. Christopher George is also good in his role as the cop on Ginty's tail. The supporting cast is good too with an impressive array of sleazy scumbags effectively portrayed by NY character actors Ned Eisenberg, Tony DiBenedetto and Tom Everett. Obviously inspired by death wish and taxi driver, the exterminator is a rip off of neither, it stands up as a film in its own right and is an excellent mix of realistic gritty drama and violent action. The violence in this film is not gratuitous but well staged and necessary to the story. Director James Glickenhaus should be comended for using the low budget to its maximum and making something far bigger and better than he wouldve been expected to acheive. The Extermninator is an extremely good thriller that all lovers of gritty 70's dramas should see. Tough, realistic and uncompromising, the film has a great ending aswell that is most satisfying. Top Notch.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
exterminator,
By
This review is from: Exterminator [DVD] [NTSC] (DVD)
This is a truly excellent 80,s masterpiece of action. The exterminator tells the story of JOHN EASTLAND, an ex-vietnam veteran who in the beginging, is a quite sane man, considering the effects of vietnam, gone berzerk after his best friend is paralised. The film decribes a law abiding man going mad at the crime ridding streets that seem to be a permanent obstacle.Having seen enough after the attack of his friend by a gang of ruthless streetyobs, Eastland goes vigilante, in order to stop the streets becoming a mindless timebomb. The exterminator is a truly wonderful action film for its time, considering the typical storyline for a deathwish movie. But it still delivers the thrill and excitement of any other action movie. All i say is .... give it a viewing.
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"If you're lying... I'll be back",
By A Customer
This review is from: Exterminator [DVD] [NTSC] (DVD)
Shot mostly on location in New York City this 80's cult classic tells the story of John Eastland (Ginty), ex-Vietnam veteran turned avenging vigilante. The opening scenes of the film in Vietnam, which were shot in Indian Dunes desert, just outside Palm Springs California, show Eastland and his friend Michael Jefferson (James) being captured by the Viet-Kong. The subsequent beheading of a fellow member of their unit, as their captors interrogate for information is one of the most brutally realistic scenes in cinema. In the aftermath of the decapitation Jefferson takes his chance with the distracted guards and saves Eastland's life, by first garroting one guard then mowing down the rest with an M60. The troops then escape in helicopters soaring against a backdrop of huge explosions. We next see the friends working in a packing factory in New York. Eastland pops down to drop off a delivery in one of the store rooms as a favour for Jefferson, but walks in on a gang of hoodlums who stealing it's contents, they quickly put a knife to his throat. Jefferson comes to see where his errand friend has gone, upon assessing the situation he quickly disarms and takes out the would be thieves and rescues Eastland... again. Jefferson is later cornered though by the hoodlums and sickeningly beaten and left paralysed by the attack. Swearing revenge Eastland grabs his trusty M16 and hunts them down and avenges his friend. This taste of justice now leaves Eastland with a moral agenda as he begins to clean up New York's underworld, by taking out a 'gloriously overblown' beef magnate and Mafia don (Boccelli), a seedy pimp (Benedetto), his perverted client and some gutless muggers. Adopting the Exterminator handle as his calling card, Eastland informs the press of his actions. Pursued by Christopher George's NYPD detective and the CIA he is tracked down to a final confrontation in a deserted shipping yard. The story of The Exterminator derives from the exaggeration of everyday urban crime scenarios where the protagonist takes the law into their own hands and hits back with intense retribution, these type of films (see also Taxi Driver, Death Wish, Assault On Precinct 13, The Road Warrior & First Blood) were very popular in the mid 70's and early 80's. Robert Ginty is excellent as the 'everyday man' pushed to vigilantism by a cruel and violent world... the bad guys are enjoyable risible and Christopher George puts in a smooth performance as he pursues both The Exterminator and with more success, the sexy assured Doctor played by Samantha Eggar. The Exterminator lacks the pace of contemporary action films, instead greater emphasis is given to the drama of the characters, this gives the film realism which is so often lacking in films of this genre. Another early 80's classic!
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