The Exterminator
| The Exterminator | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | James Glickenhaus |
| Produced by | Mark Buntzman |
| Written by | James Glickenhaus |
| Starring |
Robert Ginty Samantha Eggar Christopher George Steve James |
| Music by | Joe Renzetti |
| Cinematography | Robert M. Baldwin |
| Edited by | Corky O'Hara |
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Production
company |
Interstar Pictures
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| Distributed by | Amsell Entertainment Avco Embassy Pictures Shapiro-Glickenhaus Entertainment |
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Release date
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Running time
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104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million |
| Box office | $35 million |
The Exterminator is a 1980 American vigilante action film written and directed by James Glickenhaus. It stars Robert Ginty as the Vietnam War veteran John Eastland, also known as "The Exterminator". When a group of thugs paralyze his friend, Eastland becomes a vigilante; embarking on a mission to cleanse New York of organized crime. The film also stars Samantha Eggar, Christopher George and Steve James.
During a firefight in Vietnam, U.S. soldiers John Eastland and his best friend, Michael Jefferson, are captured by the Viet Cong. They are tied to wooden stakes with several other men, and tortured for information. When Eastland refuses to answer, the VC commander decapitates the soldier beside him. Jefferson escapes moments later and unties Eastland. Eastland then kills the VC commander.
The film then shifts to New York, where Eastland and Jefferson work in a warehouse. One day, Eastland catches a group of thugs, called the Ghetto Ghouls, trying to steal beer. He is attacked, but Jefferson comes to his aid. They defeat the thugs, but the gang return to cripple Jefferson; by gouging his spine with a meathook. Feeling let down by the police, Eastland decides to take the law into his own hands, and interrogates one of the gang members with a flame thrower. He then attacks the gang's base of operations, shooting one gang member and leaving two others tied up in the basement, which is full of hungry rats.
Eastland's vigilante justice doesn't end there. The warehouse where he works has been forced into paying protection money. Gino Pontivini, the mob boss behind the scheme, has even taxed the workers paychecks. Eastland kidnaps Pontivini, and chains him above an industrial meat grinder. In order to steal Pontivini's money, Eastland needs to know how to get through any obstacles to the safe. Pontivini gives him his house keys, tells him which room the safe is in, and the combination to the safe, after being lowered dangerously close to the jaws of the meat grinder. Pontivini confirms that is all he needs to know to access the safe. Eastland barely survives an attack by Pontivini's Doberman, so upon returning, he lowers Pontivini into the grinder for lying about the dog. Jefferson and his family are given Pontivini's money; to help pay their bills.
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Wikipedia