Vigilante (1983)
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64% of users liked it
(1,422 ratings)
The excessive violence in this action thriller makes New York City look like the site of a civil war -- or rather, a nauseatingly uncivil war fought between factory workers allied with neighborhood citizens against their enemies: drug pushers and other low-lifes. At first the worker Eddie Merino… More The excessive violence in this action thriller makes New York City look like the site of a civil war -- or rather, a nauseatingly uncivil war fought between factory workers allied with neighborhood citizens against their enemies: drug pushers and other low-lifes. At first the worker Eddie Merino (Robert Forster) refuses to join a vigilante movement, but when his wife is stabbed and his son killed by a Puerto Rican gang, Eddie eventually opts for his own right to kill. His decision is not allowed to come quickly, he is made to agonize a bit longer. When the gang leader (singer Willie Colón) who killed Eddie's son is caught and brought up for trial, he gets off with a suspended sentence because of a corrupt defense lawyer and an inept judge. Eddie attacks the judge in court and is sent to jail for contempt. When he gets out of jail, he becomes a vigilante, out to kill the guilty or those he sees as protecting the guilty in the death of his son. From then on, a non-stop bloodbath takes over as the star of the film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Directed By
- William Lustig
- Written By
- Richard Vetere
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 12, 1983 Limited
Critic Reviews
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Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
There's a certain laudable doggedness in its creation, I guess
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
A typically inept effort from William Lustig...
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Chris Cabin, Slant Magazine
A grindhouse retread of Death Wish both narratively and politically, William Lustig's Vigilante rolls out onto blu-ray with a nicer transfer than it deserves, frankly.
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
jets past moral qualms and cuts right into our most feverish sense of righteousness
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Robert Forster
as Eddie
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Fred Williamson
as Nick
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Richard Bright
as Burke
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Rutanya Alda
as Vickie
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Don Blakely
as Prago
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Joseph Carberry
as Ramon
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Willie Colon
as Rico
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Joe Spinell
as Eisenberg
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Woody Strode
as Rake
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Vincent Beck
as Judge Sinclair
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Bo Rucker
as Horace
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Peter Savage
as Mr. "T"
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Sandy Alexander
as Prisoner
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Henry Judd Baker
as Quinn
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Nick Barbaro
as Prison Guard
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Kim Delgado
as Leon
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Frank Gio
as Ptl. Shore
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Gino Lucci
as Limo Driver
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Carol Lynley
as District Attorney Fletcher
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Ralph Monaco
as Jake
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Frank Pesce
as Blueboy
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Vincent Russo
as Rubin
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Ray Serra
as Court Officer
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Randy Jurgensen
as Det. Russo
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Harry Madsen
as Bodyguard
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Alex Stevens
as Alex
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Joseph Winogradoff
as Policeman #2
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James Brewster Thompson
as Bobby
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Sal Carollo
as Mr. Nulty
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Michael Miller
as Dr. Fallon
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Steve W. James
as Ptl. Gibbons
