The Exterminator

The Exterminator

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1980 (1980)
Founder	James Glickenhaus
Products	Vigilante action film

The Exterminator is a 1980 American vigilante action film both written and directed by James Glickenhaus. The movie features Robert Ginty portraying John Eastland, a Vietnam War veteran who turns into a vigilante targeting organized crime in New York after his friend suffers paralysis. The ensemble cast also includes Samantha Eggar, Christopher George, and Steve James. Since its initial release, the film has gained a dedicated cult following.

Plot

During the Vietnam conflict, soldiers John Eastland and Michael Jefferson are captured and subjected to torture by the Viet Cong. Jefferson manages to break free, kills their captors, and rescues Eastland.

Upon returning to New York, Eastland and Jefferson are employed at a warehouse. After Eastland confronts the Ghetto Ghouls gang for stealing beer, Jefferson is viciously assaulted and left paralyzed. In response, Eastland launches a violent campaign against the gang, employing a flamethrower and firearms to dismantle their criminal activities.

The warehouse is subjected to extortion by mob boss Gino Pontivini, who also imposes deductions on workers’ wages. Eastland kidnaps Pontivini, coerces him into revealing the location of his safe, and kills him by throwing him into an industrial meat grinder after surviving an attack from Pontivini’s dog. Subsequently, Eastland distributes Pontivini's money among Jefferson’s family.

Detective James Dalton investigates the vigilante known in the media as the "Exterminator." Eastland continues his assault on criminals, including a leader of a child prostitution ring and a corrupt state senator involved in child abuse. The CIA suspects that the Exterminator might be either a political maneuver or foreign interference designed to embarrass the government.

Dalton narrows down suspects based on clues such as hunting boots traced back to Maine and Eastland’s Vietnam War history. When Jefferson requests euthanasia because of his paralysis, Eastland complies. Dalton, present at the hospital, links Jefferson’s death to Eastland and begins monitoring his residence.

Eastland arranges a meeting with Dalton to clarify his intentions; however, the CIA intercepts their communication through surveillance. The resulting ambush leads to Dalton’s death as he assists Eastland in escaping.

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson appears in an uncredited role as an extra.

Production

A highly lifelike dummy created by Stan Winston was utilized for all shots in the beheading sequence. Certain scenes were filmed with official authorization inside a recently closed illegal prostitution establishment on 42nd Street.

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a 38% approval rating based on 13 reviews, with an average score of 4/10. It is classified within the vetsploitation subgenre by platforms such as Letterboxd, Yardbarker, The Grindhouse Database, and The Spinning Image.

At an advance screening, critic Roger Ebert condemned the film for its explicit violence and described it as a "direct rip-off" of Death Wish (1974). Author Paul Talbot later identified The Exterminator among several sadistic vigilante films inspired by the Death Wish series. In contrast, The New York Times commended the performances but criticized the screenplay, direction by first-time filmmaker Glickenhaus, along with technical elements like lighting and sound quality.

More recent reviews have been comparatively positive. Eoin Friel from Action Elite awarded it three and a half stars out of five, noting its compelling opening despite outdated effects and inconsistent acting. Phil Beresford of Den of Geek offered a mixed assessment, emphasizing Robert Ginty’s relatable portrayal amid the film’s limitations.

Controversy

The Exterminator has sparked debate due to its explicit depiction of violence. In A History of Evil in Popular Culture, Dr. Sharon Packer and Jody Pennington observed that this portrayal of "extreme justice" played a significant role in the film's box office appeal, as viewers were drawn to its intense nature.

During a 2012 discussion, writer-director James Glickenhaus stated that the graphic violence was deliberately included to mirror the period's preoccupation with the Vietnam War and to present a more authentic depiction of brutality rather than a toned-down version for audiences.

Sequel

The 1984 follow-up, Exterminator 2, featured the return of lead actor Ginty alongside producer Mark Buntzman, who took on directing duties. Glickenhaus opted out of directing, feeling the initial narrative was complete and that a sequel would merely prolong the vigilante motif without offering new substance.

Commercially, Exterminator 2 did not match its predecessor’s success, earning $3.7 million domestically compared to the original’s $5 million.

Bibliography

• Packer, Sharon & Pennington, Jody (2014). A History of Evil In Popular Culture. United States: Praeger Publishing. .
• Scullion, Chris (2013). That Was A Bit Mental: Volume 1. United Kingdom: Self published (E-book). ISBN N/A.
• Talbot, Paul (2006). Bronson's Loose!: The Making of the Death Wish Films. United States: iUniverse. .

External links

• The Exterminator at The Numbers