The Exterminator (1980)

A man's best friend is killed on the streets of New York City. The man (Robert Ginty) then transforms into a violent killer, turning New York City 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	...	Roger Grimsby
Judy Licht	...	Judy Licht
Stan Getz	...	Stan Getz
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:

black hair | dying young | criminal | crime victim | vietnam war veteran | 

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Taglines:

When everyone's the victim .. He's the only hope they've got.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the pins and patches the Ghetto Ghouls wear on their clothes are US Army insignia.

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Goofs

Michael is on a ventilator and has an oxygen mask on his face with large holes either side, which would mean little or no air would enter his lungs!

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Quotes

John Eastland: If you're lying, I'll be back.

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Crazy Credits

"The producer" is credited as burping ghoul

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Alternate Versions

The original UK cinema release was cut by 44 seconds with edits to the decapitation scene, the stabbing of Michael and a scene where a prostitute is tortured with a soldering iron. Video versions were cut by 3m 38 secs with further cuts to the cinema edits, and additional cuts to slow-motion footage of Vietnam killing scenes and the removal of an entire sequence where John makes mercury-filled dum-dum bullets. The Synergy DVD released in the UK in 2000 was treated much more leniently and was cut by only 22s, with the opening beheading and the prostitute's torture still edited. The film was finally passed completely uncut in the UK by the BBFC in 2004, since the offending scenes were no longer judged to be harmful by 2004 standards.

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Connections

Featured in Best of the Worst: Playing Dangerous 2, the Exterminator, and the Deadliest Prey (2013)

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Soundtracks

Theme for an American Hero
Written and Sung by Chip Taylor

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Exterminator

Filming Locations:

Indian Dunes - 28700 Henry Mayo Drive, Valencia, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Interstar, Interstar

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Dolby Stereo)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1