The Exterminator (1980) Review

 

When a Vietnam veteran’s best friend is attacked it triggers him to go on a violent rampage, turning New York City into a bloodbath.

Director, writer James Glickenhaus offers a punchy vigilante film to kick off the 80s. With an explosive atmospheric opening set in Vietnam as John Eastland’s survives the Viet Cong, what follows is series of vigilante urban kills in New York. Director of photograph Robert M. Baldwin enhances the film, from the dilapidated (yet to be redeveloped) buildings of New York to it’s streets, the on location shoot offers a great atheistic backdrop and a time capsulated atmosphere. Corky O’Hara’s editing lacks a little finesse like some of the interiors scenes glaring lighting. That said, some of the the lighting fits perfectly, especially in the seedy indoor locations. The stunts and effects, a decapitation (by Stan Winston), slit throats and the like are well executed. An early score of Joe Renzetti’s perfectly complements the on screen acts.

Ginty understatingly shines here under Glickenhaus’ direction as Eastland. One of the reasons The Exterminator works is due to Robert Ginty’s gentle every day man look in contrast to him taking down the city’s underbelly of mob bosses, pimps, pedophiles, sadomasochists and robbers to name a few while suffering from PTSD in a variety of horrific ways. The late Steve James is impressively notable as Michael Jefferson even with limited screen time. Samantha Eggar is good as Dr. Megan Stewart but the character has sadly little to do. Likeable Christopher George is on his usual staple action form, here playing catch up as Detective James Dalton following Eastland’s street clean-up killings while keeping the CIA at bay. Glickenhaus delivers not just wall to wall killings, there’s enough poignant scenes with characterisation to balance it out. The showdown ending rounds the film off on a fitting and satisfying note.

Overall, Glickenhaus’ entertaining film maybe seen as an ultra-violent negative film, but it has a moral compass at its core about crime doesn’t pay. Recommended.