JohnSeal Review of The Zebra Force

The Zebra Force (1976)

Tell Charlie he ain't talking' to no watermelon man

[5/10 · 3 January 2009]

Here's a trash classic in need of the deluxe DVD treatment. Chuck Morrell plays scarred Viet Nam War vet Lieutenant Dietrich, whose loyal soldiers have followed him into civilian life and have joined him in a vigilante effort to get all the dope off the LA streets. Their unique technique: disguise themselves as African-Americans and start a war between the Mafia dons who import the smack, and the ghetto blacks who peddle it for them! From the initial scene of the Zebra Force (geddit--they're white AND black!) pulling off their 'black' masks, to the jaw-dropping finale, this is one of the most enjoyable '70s action flicks you've never heard of. Featuring a very groovy score, IMDb indicates Zebra Force was shot in a 2.35:1 OAR, and judging from the amount of panning, scanning, and 'chop shots' in evidence, that's correct. Let's hope we get a correctly letterboxed DVD at some point--but even in academy ratio, it's a fun way to waste 90 minutes.