Fight for Your Life is a better than average exploitation thriller with a serious racial edge. It delivers on all the thrills you would expect from the genre, while simultaneously featuring good performances and characterization, particularly from Robert Judd and William Sanderson.
The film follows a trio of escaped convicts, led by Sanderson, who take an upper middle class African-American family hostage. Sanderson, a racist, begins to terrorize the family, which is led by Judd's near pacifist minister. As the situation escalates and people begin to die, the Reverend faces a choice between sticking to his principles and saving his family.
The frequent action and good performances combine to make Fight for Your Life a truly engaging exploitation film. We actually care about these characters, which makes the film that much more frightening. The hard hitting racial theme, even if it caused the film's banning in Britain and elsewhere, also adds to the film's interest.
The film is also noteworthy for depicting an upper middle class black family. At that time, many blaxploitation films focused on poor black people and ghetto settings. This upper middle class family is a piece of Americana, making it much more identifiable for Americans in general.
The film's one flaw comes toward the end, when a major character, a police officer, switches character in a way that is not entirely believable. This change affects the plot, and makes it somewhat less credible. The film is still worth a watch, though.
The film follows a trio of escaped convicts, led by Sanderson, who take an upper middle class African-American family hostage. Sanderson, a racist, begins to terrorize the family, which is led by Judd's near pacifist minister. As the situation escalates and people begin to die, the Reverend faces a choice between sticking to his principles and saving his family.
The frequent action and good performances combine to make Fight for Your Life a truly engaging exploitation film. We actually care about these characters, which makes the film that much more frightening. The hard hitting racial theme, even if it caused the film's banning in Britain and elsewhere, also adds to the film's interest.
The film is also noteworthy for depicting an upper middle class black family. At that time, many blaxploitation films focused on poor black people and ghetto settings. This upper middle class family is a piece of Americana, making it much more identifiable for Americans in general.
The film's one flaw comes toward the end, when a major character, a police officer, switches character in a way that is not entirely believable. This change affects the plot, and makes it somewhat less credible. The film is still worth a watch, though.