The Exterminator (1980)

Director:

James Glickenhaus

Writer:

James Glickenhaus (writer)

Release Date:

19 September 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

A one man army. A new kind of soldier in a new kind of war. [Video] [Australia]

Plot:

A man's best friend is killed on the streets of New York. The man (Robert Ginty) then transforms into a violent killer, turning New York into a great war zone and Christopher George is the only one to stop him.

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Vietnam | Weaponry | B Movie | Police Investigation

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Samantha Eggar	...	Dr. Megan Stewart
Christopher George	...	Detective James Dalton
Robert Ginty	...	John Eastland
Steve James	...	Michael Jefferson
Tony DiBenedetto	...	Chicken Pimp
Dick Boccelli	...	Gino Pontivini
Patrick Farrelly	...	CIA Agent Shaw
Michele Harrell	...	Maria Jefferson
David Lipman	...	The State Senator from New Jersy
Cindy Wilks	...	Candy
Dennis Boutsikaris	...	Frankie
Roger Grimsby	...	Himself
Judy Licht	...	Herself
Stan Getz	...	Himself
George Cheung	...	Vietcong Leader

Runtime:

Norway:101 min | UK:99 min | USA:104 min (director's cut) | 101 min (original uncut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

New Zealand:(Banned) (1981-1984) | New Zealand:R18 (re-rating) | Australia:(Banned) (1983-1984) | Finland:(Banned) (1981) | Finland:(Banned) (uncut) (K-20) (video version) | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 (heavily cut) (1984) | Finland:K-18 (heavily cut) (1985) | Finland:K-18 (director's cut) (2000) | UK:18 (cut) (1985) | UK:18 (cut) (1991) | UK:18 (re-rating) (uncut) (2000) | UK:18 (cut) (2000) | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | Sweden:15 | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Iceland:(Banned) | Australia:MA (re-rating) (2005) | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1982) (uncut version) | Norway:18 (DVD release) (re-rating) (2001) (uncut version) | Norway:(Banned) (video) (1984) (uncut version) | Norway:(Banned) (1981-2003) (cinema release) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

AVCO Embassy Pictures

Trivia:

As mentioned in Craig Hamrick's biography of actor Louis Edmonds (Big Lou), Edmonds has a one-minute cameo as a CIA chief in this film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: At the very beginning, when Eastland's friend saves him from an imminent beheading, they fire on an enemy soldier standing at the water's edge. The man is blown backwards not by the impact of the bullet but from a clearly seen rigged see saw that throws him into the air.

Quotes:

John Eastland: If you're lying, I'll be back.

Movie Connections:

References Chi sei? (1974)

Soundtrack:

Kali Au

Brutal to the bone.

"The Exterminator" is a one hell of a vigilante thriller.This legendary flick obviously influenced by Micheal Winner's "Death Wish" has Robert Ginty as a Vietnam vet,whose friend is badly injured by street gangs.James Glickenhaus("Suicide Cult","The Soldier")creates an ultra gritty atmosphere of wonderfully seedy New York."The Exterminator" is extremely brutal:the double murder in the whorehouse really stands out-you can see a half naked fat guy getting shot in the kidney at point blank range with a pistol loaded with poison bullets.Grisly and unforgettable!Add also one of the most brutal decapitations ever captured to film and you have a winner.All in all,I'd strongly recommend this film to everyone interested in vigilante flicks-"The Exterminator" is surely an unforgettable experience.9 out of 10.