A tough, adult exploitation film in which violence and retribution are the main themes, this is still as relevant today as it was thirty-odd years ago when the film was first released. Essentially the story of one man's war against crime, this is pretty depressing viewing with a downbeat ending, so be warned. The words tough and gritty have never been so apt and the graininess of the film adds to the harsh, cold feel throughout.

Robert Ginty (SCARAB) - in probably his most notorious role - is the everyday kind of hard-working guy who just happens to be a ruthless cold-blooded murderer when the time comes at night, when he goes out to "clean the scum off the streets" as Travis Bickle might say. Ginty pulls off the character of the disturbed but honourable John Eastland very well, and manages to be both frightening and almost likable, certainly believable, in his quest. Underrated stuntman Steve James (VIGILANTE ) gives good support as the best friend, while Christopher George fits the role of a hard-bitten detective like a glove, dressed in a dirty vest and blue anorak, and makes the role his own.

The film concentrates on the various ways that Ginty dispatches his victims, with only George's slow investigation in between (there is a pointless sub-plot about George's relationship with one of my least favourite actresses Samantha Eggar, and also some charming scenes of him frying a sausage over the mains which sum up his matter-of-fact on-the-street character as a whole).

Although the film only has one scene of strong gore, the series of deaths are impactful and pretty disturbing which is why it gained its reputation as a hard-edged exploitation thriller, nastier even than DEATH WISH. One gore scene is at the beginning of the movie and was one of Stan Winston's first effects - a captured soldier has his throat slashed. Disturbing stuff. A sequel followed three years later, but with little of the impact of this no-budget quickie. THE EXTERMINATOR is a very frightening film, in the portrayal of a man at his wit's end, the horrors of the Vietnam war, and the mentally scarred soldiers, the powerlessness of the authorities and the depths to which society will succumb. Essential viewing for vigilante fans, I think.

But I've never seen the Sequel ... actually I had never seen this movie either. Until the other day that is. Now while I can see why people might not like it, I can also see why people do love it. This is quite down and dirty and has some interesting effects. Some may not have aged too well, others work wonders (in my humble opinion that is).

Violence is something you'll get quite a lot of ... and while this may never reach the infamity of Death Wish, it does have a similar feel to it. Now there are certain things that can connect other movies to this ... coincidence or not. I am not so sure the Terminator or James Cameron "stole" a tag line from the European poster for their own purpose ... I may be wrong of course.

One thing is for sure, you should not be squeamish. At least when it comes to what you are able to digest in movies and especially in the uncut form this movie exists.

This filmed caused a stir when released in the cinemas back in 1980. A raw vigilante film, a more hard edged Death Wish.

It starts out in Vietnam with high production values with explosions and a bizarre decapitation scene. Then we go to late 70s/early 80s New York City, where gangsters and muggers are in every corner, it was a surprise The Warriors did not make a guest appearance.

Robert Ginty playing the mild mannered Eastland who turns to vengeance when his black army buddy gets attacked by a gang.

Eastland at first is a world away from John Rambo and Charles Bronson looking more like an ordinary Joe with his heart in the right place. Then he gets nasty.

We have scenes where he injures, kills and maim the bad guys in all sorts of nasty ways including a gangster getting a giant meat grinder treatment.

In the middle of all this is a cop on his trail if only he was not too busy romancing a local doctor. For some strange reason the CIA also turn up.

New York is a mean, seedy place. As well as cut throat gangs we have nasty politicians sodomising and torturing kids, prostitutes. It was a wonder that tourists were turning up in droves.

It is a low budget exploitation picture but although it might have had a reputation of being a video nasty three decades ago, it is rather tame and comic book.

It has rather decent production values and good acting from the main leads. I wonder if the cop and doctor ever got married!