The good thing about late 70's/ early 80's B-cinema was that, whenever a new idea hit big at the box office, an endless amount of shameless rip-offs would follow almost immediately, most of which even more exploitative that the original success film. "Last House on the Left", for example, resulted in huge load of brutal revenge films like "I spit on your Grave" and "House on the Edge of the Park", whereas Michael Winner's "Death Wish" caused a giant stream of low-budget vigilante action movies. "The Exterminator" is one the most remarkable rip-offs and definitely also a cult-favorite, simply because the style of this film is so grim, raw and nihilistic. Writer/director James Glickenhaus certainly doesn't waste any time, as "The Exterminator" opens with a very violent Vietnam flashback (containing THE vilest decapitation scene I ever saw!), introducing us to the inseparable buddies John Eastland and Michael Jefferson. Back in New York, Jefferson quickly becomes the victim of a coward racist attack by street gang members, leaving him numb in a hospital bed. Eastman responds by becoming a one-man vigilante squad, only he doesn't stop at killing his buddy's aggressors but continues to take on corrupt politicians, pimps and ordinary thugs. The tone of "The Exterminator" is very distant at all times. It's like Glickenhaus doesn't want you to develop neither feelings of sympathy or aversion for the protagonist! We simply observe his actions, not really picking sides for either him or the obtrusive cop Dalton. This surely isn't meant to be pleasant film-experience, as the editing and camera-work are roughly handled, there's almost no use of color and the musical guidance is very depressing. The only light-headed moments involve the romantic interactions between Detective Dalton and a nurse, and they're actually quite redundant.
Review of The Exterminator
