Vigilante

Slightly late to the genre party, director William Lustig's Vigilante (1982) followed the urban crime-cum-revenge fantasy precedent set by Death Wish all the way back in 1974.  And while the expiration date on this sort of material was closing in, Lustig's film looks better and tries harder than most of its cinematic inspirations, lifting the style and attitude of Italian poliziotteschi from the '70s to creative a fast moving piece of exploitation propaganda.

Eddie Marino (Robert Forster) is a law-abiding, blue-collar family man who reaches his breaking point after his wife is attacked and son brutally murdered by a street gang.  When the judge suspends the perpetrator's sentence, Eddie himself is sent to prison for contempt of court, surviving with the help of a sympathetic experienced con (Woody Strode).  But upon release, Eddie joins up with a neighborhood vigilante squad led by his charismatic friend Nick (Fred Williamson), eagerly helping them take back the streets...and his long-awaited pound of flesh.

 

There's nothing subtle about Vigilante.  In fact, it opens up like a recruiting film with Williamson speaking directly to camera, imploring the audience to save themselves before it's too late.  Irresponsible?  Perhaps, but it's just the sort of in-your-face filmmaking you'd expect from Lustig, whose 1980 psychological slasher Maniac made a pretty penny by generating similar critical controversy.  

 

There's still some shock value here, but Vigilante is a more polished film with more experienced actors.  Forster and Williamson make for a tremendously compelling yin and yang, each struggling to with their own idea of justice, but eventually merging into a coldly effective killing machine.  If there's a weak spot, it's the scattered script which splits the action and never gives Forster enough screen time or dialogue for that matter.  But as a thriller set in that glorious era of New York's crime-ridden history when rape, robbery and muggings could be avenged by one man with a plan, Vigilantegets the job done exceedingly well.

 

Although the praise is beginning to sound like a broken record, Blue Underground takes the home viewing experience to unexpected heights with their 4K Ultra HD presentation (a traditional Blu-ray is included as well).  Has any early '80s movie ever looked this good, let alone a rough n' tumble second tier thriller?  I don't think so.  New extras include a commentary (one of three in total) from film historian Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson, interviews with cast and crew, plus a collectible booklet and 3D lenticular slipcover.