Vigilante
The opening line of the 1982 movie Vigilante sets the scene: “I don’t know about you guys. But me, I’ve had it up to here”. Emerging from the turbulent backdrop of 1970s urban America, vigilante films gave rise to a new cinematic subgenre: revenge-driven tales in which protagonists, disillusioned by a broken system, take justice into their own hands. Death Wish lit the fuse, unleashing a wave of imitators eager to follow its blood-soaked lead. What makes these movies endure isn’t just the action – it’s their appeal to something primal, a deep-seated hunger for justice that resonates regardless of critical disdain.
I put rape and revenge flicks like The Last House on the Left into Revengesploitation and I don’t include the Dirty Harry movies here, as Clint Eastwood’s character is always (sometimes only just) on the side of the law.
Links take you to the IMDd. Circled titles: A Point Blank Films fav!
Blastfighter (1984) 7/10
Macho man Michael Sopkiw is a former cop with a dark past who runs afoul with some poachers; bad but highly entertaining, with George Eastman impressive as always.
The Brave One (2007) 6/10
Jodie Foster is great here, but despite Neil Jordan in the director’s chair, this is pretty standard vigilante fare that was done much better in the 1970s.
Modern take on the old vigilante formula filled with graphic violence with Kevin Bacon leading a strong cast - but there’s not enough morality or enough plausibility in the plot.
Death Wish (1974) 8/10
Michael Winner’s cathartic vigilante flick was a huge hit, probably because New York felt like a dangerous no man’s land at the time; Charles Bronson shines, as does Herbie Hancock’s score.
Death Wish II (1982) 6/10
Cannon Films produced this highly controversial follow-up, which is basically a retread of the original but set in LA, and featuring particularly mean-spirited violence.
Death Wish 3 (1985) 6/10
Charles Bronson is back in New York to clean up an entire neighbourhood in violent Death Wish sequel – but he is starting to look quite elderly amid the Rambo-like action.
Death Wish 4: The Crackdown (1987) 7/10
An improvement on the previous sequels, this one takes itself seriously, focussing on the anti-drug plot, and world-weary Charles Bronson is watchable as always.
A street gang terrorizes an apartment building in this tough-as-nails, trashy siege flick with a dose of Assault on Precinct 13.
The Executioner: Part II (1984) 3/10
Christopher Mitchum stars in shameless rip-off (this lifts the plot of The Exterminator, and there is no part 1!) - garbage, with poorly choreographed fights, stock explosions, and a few funny moments. aka The Executioner, Part II See also Namsploitation
Vigilante flick in the wake of Death Wish with sloppy script and poor editing – but it shows off New York at its seediest, has great Nam flashbacks, and brutal explosions of violence. See also Namsploitation
Robert Ginty and his trusty flamethrower are back - simple minded hijinks toned down from the original. See also Namsploitation
Falling Down (1993) 8/10
Shot amid much turmoil in LA, this film has improved with time – but it’s not just a vigilante flick, it’s a story of a complicated character who makes the audience complicit in his crimes.
Fight for Your Life (1977) 8/10
Highly exploitative and explosive vigilante flick with excellent performances, showing racism at its worst (which almost caused riots on 42nd Street at the time). aka Staying Alive
Final Score (1986) 7/10
Badass Indonesian actioner starring Christopher Mitchum as a Vietnam vet out for revenge Death Wish-style; a wild ride that delivers the goods. See also Namsploitation
An ex-soldier returns to LA and finds he must become a one-man vigilante unit; it takes too long to get going, but becomes clichéd fun, and Richard Hatch is a decent action star.
A man seeks vengeance after his fiancée is murdered in this South Korean thriller that is probably the most shocking and intense vigilante flick of all, best enjoyed with a giant suspension of disbelief. See also Shocking Sinema
Ms. 45 (1981) 7/10
A mute seamstress goes insane after being attacked and raped in this dark and serious-minded vigilante flick from Abel Ferrara’s more exploitative days. aka Angel of Vengeance See also Revengesploitation
One of Cirio H. Santiago’s best films – a clichéd, straight-up vigilante flick borrowing from I Spit on Your Grave but much more fun and never outstaying its welcome. See also Filipino
Rolling Thunder (1977) 10/10
Paul Schrader penned this hard-hitting and tense vigilante thriller, which features complex characters well played by William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones in their best-ever roles. See also Namsploitation
Rednecks get their comeuppance via truck in Canadian vigilante flick which takes a while to get going, but then becomes formulaic, over-the-top fun. aka Monster Truck See also Canuxploitation
Linda Blair goes to town in this shamelessly fun revenge drama with big 80s hair, cat fights in the showers, hilarious dialogue, and nasty violence.
Siege (1983) 7/10
Nifty vigilante flick – kind of a Canadian Assault on Precinct 13 – with plot holes galore but great characters (including queer ones) and an interesting setting (Halifax, Nova Scotia). aka Self Defense See also Canuxploitation
Tenement (1985) 6/10
Filmed in a crumbling New York, this is the best film Roberta Findlay ever made – a gritty, sadistic piece of unabashed trash and all the better for it. aka Game of Survival; Slaughter in the South Bronx
Vigilante (1982) 8/10
Fred Williamson’s rousing opening speech sets the scene for this classic vigilante flick, which is grittier and more realistic than most, with excellent cast including Robert Forster.