The Exterminator (1980)

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.

Director:

James Glickenhaus

Writer:

James Glickenhaus

Stars:

Robert Ginty, Samantha Eggar, Christopher George

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher George	...	Detective James Dalton
Samantha Eggar	...	Dr. Megan Stewart
Robert Ginty	...	John Eastland
Steve James	...	Michael Jefferson
Tony DiBenedetto	...	Chicken Pimp (as Toni Di Benedetto)
Dick Boccelli	...	Gino Pontivini
Patrick Farrelly	...	CIA Agent Shaw
Michele Harrell	...	Maria Jefferson
David Lipman	...	The State Senator from New Jersey
Cindy Wilks	...	Candy
Dennis Boutsikaris	...	Frankie
Roger Grimsby	...	Himself
Judy Licht	...	Herself
Stan Getz	...	Himself
George Cheung	...	Vietcong Leader (as George Lee Cheung)

Storyline

When John Eastland's best friend, Michael Jefferson, is mugged and left permanently crippled, he decides to do something about it. Jefferson had saved Eastland's life in Vietnam and now it's time for Eastland to get revenge for his friend. Using his old Army gear he sets out on a crusade to clean up the streets of New York using the name "The Exterminator."

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Plot Keywords:

revenge | vietnam | bare chested male bondage | female frontal nudity | nurse | 

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Taglines:

If you're lying, I'll be back...

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Exterminator

Filming Locations:

Indian Dunes, Ventura County, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Interstar

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min (director's cut) 101 min (original uncut)

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Dolby Stereo)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At conventions, Irwin Keyes has said that he played the same character in both Exterminator films--despite the fact that his character is killed in the first film.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Detective James Dalton: Jesus, looks like he got hit with napalm.

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Crazy Credits

"The producer" is credited as burping ghoul

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Connections

References Heavenly Desire (1979)

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Soundtracks

Friday Night Fool
Written and Sung by Roger Bowling

User Reviews

Solid And Gritty 80's "Vigilante" Film

THE EXTERMINATOR is a "fun" piece of 80's exploit-style cinema that is an enjoyable film all-around, for people who dig this sort of thing. Decent acting, a strong storyline, some "rough" violence, and the gritty early 80's New York City environments up the entertainment-value of this straight-faced B-entry...

John and Michael were in 'Nam together, where Michael saved Johns life from Charlie. Living back in New York after the war, John and Mike remain best-buddies and work at the same warehouse. One day, the two of them divert some robbers from the Ghetto Ghouls gang from rippin' off the warehouse, and the gang members don't take to kindly to bein' interrupted. The gang members find Michael walking home from work one day, jump him, and leave him paralyzed. John takes this pretty hard (to say the least...) and goes gunnin' for the Ghouls. After dispatching some of them, he decides the city needs some "cleaning up" - and goes on to attack a mob boss, a sleazy kiddie-prostitution ring leader and his chickenhawk client, and the remaining members of the Ghetto Ghouls. Meanwhile, a tough cop and the CIA is on the case of "The Exterminator", and are lookin' to bring him down...

This one is pretty action-packed right from the jump. The opening 'Nam scene sets the stage for what's to come as one of John's Army pals is beheaded graphically, in a scene that proves that with the right machete, you can take a head off like a knife through butter. Rather than being strictly a revenge/vigilante exploit film though, the character development is enough to really feel the bond between John and Michael, and makes it easy to root for John as he's blastin' his way through the city. Definitely worth a look to 80's U.S. exploit fans

• team this one up with VICE SQUAD for a double-feature night and

you'll be set...8.5/10