Antonio Marsina, Daniele Dublino, Fabio Testi, Glauco Onorato, Orso Maria Guerrini ...( see more  see more... ) , Renzo Palmer , Romano Puppo , Sal Borgese , Vincent Gardenia

Sent to a small Italian village to look into an extortion case, officer Nico Palmieri (Fabio Testi) finds the townsfolk -- bullied by drug lords and thugs -- reluctant to talk. Things really heat up w...( read more  read more... )hen Palmieri's corrupt supervisors urge him to abandon his investigation and he refuses to comply, rounding up a band of local vigilantes to help him restore justice. Academy Award nominee Vincent Gardenia co-stars in this blood-spattered thriller.

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83% liked it

435 ratings

Unrated, 104 min.

Directed by: Enzo G. Castellari

Release Date: July 22, 1977

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DVD Release Date: April 25, 2006

Stats: 26 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (26)


  • September 3, 2009
    Incredibly stylish Poliziotteschi from Enzo Castellari. The ever reliable Fabio Testi is once again playing ultra cool against a group of sleazy extortionists.
    Castellari style is fucking incredible.
    The Big Racket is Castellari at his finest. Although he has made countless g...( read more)ems like Street Law, High Crime and the mystical spaghetti western Keoma. The Big Racket stands as his greatest achievment in filmmaking in my humble opinion. Ive watched the film twice now and each time ive been blown away by the style. One scene in particular involves our hero, Testi, being attacked in his car by the ruthless and sleazy villians and having his car overturned and flipped down a hill side. All the while the camera catches all the action and destruction from inside the cab with Testi actually inside the automobile as it flips! Glass is shattering all over him as we see the ground rolling up and over him. I really dont know how this was done and it definatly makes for high entertainment! The edits in this film are fast and great too. Almost in the style of early George Romero when he was still editing his films. And the fights are coreographed with expertise. I think almost all of today filmmakers should study Castellari action to see how its done. Its never fast and and cut quick. We see why the badass hero is a badass hero....unlike Jason Bourne!!?
    Although standard in story, tough cop takes the law into his own hands, Castellari adds the element of Testi getting together a sort of 'Dirty Dozen' of victims to take the law into their own hands. Add a villian that looks like Steve Perry from Journey and a incredible De Angelis Bros. Score and you have one of the most entertaining films in Euro history!
    The sleaze factor is at a 10 and the bloody squibs are aplenty! And the climax with Testis band of vengence seekers is awsome.
    Highly recomended! This is one of the best place's to start if your looking to get into this genre of film.
  • September 1, 2008
    Violent Euro-Actioner that barely spares a moment when someone isn't being filled full of lead, punched out, getting their teeth kicked in, their car pushed over a cliff or raped..a lot of fun
  • August 1, 2007
    As this was my first Italian crime film I didn't quite know what to expect. My first thoughts is that it might suffer from being a little cheesy. Boy was I wrong. This is probably one of the best crime films I've seen. Though I've not seen many, this is easily the most fun I have...( read more) ever had watching a movie for a while.

    Our plot involves Inspector Nico Palmieri (Fabio Testi from Contraband) who is the toughest cop in town. He's on the trail of a gang running a protection racket. As things get more violent when they start to add rape and murder to their repertoire, Nico really starts to feel the pressure and no-one in town is talking as they are too frightened.

    Eventually after too many 'slip ups' Nico loses his position as a police man and wants revenge. So he goes about gather people to form a band of misfits who all want to take down this 'Big Racket'. He recruits people from the town who have had their lives ruined by this gang. This all comes together at the end as a concerto of gunfire and bloody squib effects. As for other characters I'm a little stuck, as I cannot put names to faces. There is also a sort of twist at the end, though I will not spoil that for you!


    The music in this movie is slick, really suiting what is on screen. It's got that real 70's vibe which gives off such a buzz to someone like me.

    Enzo, you've set the bar for Italian crime. I am now going to be in pursuit of many more Italian crime films thanks to you!

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