shoot first die later

Poliziotteschi – the Italian term for cops and robbers flicks – can be a complex affair. Not only does one have to deal with the standard mechanics of the plot (revenge, double-crosses, etc) but also the Italian legal system in general, a confusing system of judges, detectives and cops all of whom seem to be on the take. Shoot First, Die Later (1974) is remarkable not only for its above-average acting and action sequences, but for the way director Fernando Di Leo makes the whole thing accessible to an audience that might not know the difference between spaghetti and linguini.

A celebrated supercop, Domenico (Luc Merenda) takes down a gang of armed robbers at breakfast, arrests a pair of gun runners around lunch and still has time to treat his high maintenance girlfriend to a nice dinner. Trouble is, Domenico is dirty. His ties to the local mob franchise give him and his partner a healthy cash supplement to their salary…in exchange for some information from time to time. But when he’s asked to dispose of a certain file housed at his blue-collar cop dad’s precinct, he hesitates. And that hesitation could cost him everything…and everyone he loves.

Di Leo isn’t new to the genre. In fact, his Caliber 9 (1972) offers a similarly thrilling combination of car chases and interesting character arcs. But Shoot First, Die Later’s father-son dynamic is more relatable. As the screws are turned and Domenico is asked to wallow deeper in the mud, Merenda (never the most accomplished of Italian exploitation actors) makes you feel the moral weight of the world on his shoulders. The film eventually turns into a standard revenge scenario, but not until after it has already earned your respect with a clever script, nuanced performances and some typically gritty street level vehicular mayhem.

Raro Video’s new transfer (available on blu-ray and standard DVD) looks superb and includes to documentaries about Di Leo along with a lengthy booklet of liner notes.