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Just watched this and I think this is an underrated movie. The cast is pretty good and the usual revenge story turns into a pretty well execution. On the other hand some plot holes or weird decisions of some characters. But overall a good revenge flick.

First off, yes, 'Vigilante' does bear some superficial resemblances to 'Death Wish'. But in other ways it is a different kind of animal, tougher, more realistic and believable. Directed by William Lustig in between his trash classic 'Maniac' and 'Maniac Cop', the movie greatly benefits from the strong performances of Robert Forster ('Medium Cool', 'Jackie Brown') and Fred Williamson ('Black Caesar'), two actors who unfortunately have generally been wasted in dull action movies and awful straight to video dreck. Forster displays dignity and depth of character as a working class Joe pushed to his limit, and Fred Williamson gives possibly his most impressive performance ever, as his buddy who shows him a way to get closure. Both Forster and Williamson are supported by an above average cast of character actors including Richard Bright and Joe Spinell (both of 'The Godfather' as well as countless other roles), and veteran Woody Strode. This is a lean, mean and nasty revenge thriller worth tracking down.

Director William Lustig's stirring low-cost vigilante picture is something a little more than your exploitative gung-ho revenge story, as while the material is lank and far-fetched its still implodes with some minor goods. Honestly the first time I came across it, I was left under whelmed and this can be attributed to the direction it went. The story has two sub-plots running, which would eventually come together, but the focus on one over the other really destroyed what could have a lasting impression. On one side of the coin has a small group of local vigilante's led by Nick (an inspired Fred Williamson) cleaning up punks that the law doesn't seem to want to touch and on the other side of the coin follows that of Eddie Marino (Robert Forster), a working class New Yorker coming home to find his wife has been brutally beaten and toddler killed. He's approached by Nick to join their cause, but refuses to let the justice system hand out the law, but after those who were responsible for the attack is left off with nothing but a slap on the wrists. It sees Eddie take it upon himself to hand out the punishment.

The constant shifts in the story seemed to get in the way of cooking any real sort of emotional hold. The cult actors do the best with what they got. Robert Forster's streamlined, if cold approach works and Fred Williamson's full-blooded bad-ass portrayal is nothing that's unexpected. Don Blakely and Willie Colon make for great, nasty pair of thugs. Also in the line-up are Richard Bright, Rutanya Alda, Joseph Carberry, Steve James and Carol Lynley. In brief, but welcoming inclusions are Woody Strode and Joe Spinell as a scummy lawyer.

The material is quite heavy-handed in what it's got to say on a flawed justice system, as Williamson spits out speeches about not living in fear and eventually the line between right and wrong is blurred. In the end don't read too much in to it. Lustig's pacing is on the spot and direction suitably controlled, as while not overly explicit it manages to have a brutal and gritty pulse. There are some intense interplays, and a disturbing moment or two, but in the end it's not particularly gripping like I would have hoped. It's quite underplayed in that department. Jay Chattaway's thumping score has a blaring sting and harrowing cloud that effectively balances the moods.

I always loved movies about revenge and taking justice into your hands. Vigilante is one of these movie, and it is a lovely one. In the beginning of 80s we have seen many movies with similliar themes, especially set in New York. I suppose that hard reality of living in New York city at end of the 70s and beginning of 80s had big influence, but the message from Vigilante is still active. Corrupted Police and Justice, bad health care, Criminals who say for themselves in the media that they are fair businessmans, it is like i am watching the daily life situation in my homecountry. The main charachter Eddie Marino (Played by Robert Forster) was ordinary citizen, who believed in justice and never had touch wih police and crime through his whole life till the moment when the local gang kill his son and injured his wife, and than he sees that for ordinary citizen the system is not functioning, and that he must take justice in his hands, with the help from his work mates who are doing that kind of things for long time. The main leader of Vigilantes is Nick (Fred Williamson). Fred Williamson is definetely the main star in this movie, this role for him is perfect, i really loved Fred in some Italian B-Movies and other exploitation stuff but in this one he takes the show, he is just fighting for the rights of ordinary people, i would really like to have one Fred in my neighboorhood to clean the streets of scum. Other cast is also solid, and yes how not to mention great synth driven music in the background, how i love that 80s synths. I really recommend this one to all lovers of revenge flicks and 80s cinema, you will enjoy for sure.

My grade: 7.5/10

I saw this for the first time recently n was pleasantly surprised. It is a good entertaining movie with a solid director n solid star cast. The film has bloody shootouts, a chase sequence much before the parkour craze, a car chase sequence, prison rape threats and a courtroom scene portraying the decay of the legal system. Law Abiding Citizen borrowed a lil bit from this movie too, the other one being Max Sydow's Night Visitor.

Call me irresponsible, but I love movies like this. William Lustig delivers the goods again (I love the Maniac Cop movies, too) and Fred Williamson delivers The Hammer to the bad guys and the creeps who have taken over Our Neighbourhoods! The late 70s and early 80s were the Golden Age of the 'take back the streets' films, and this is a solid entry in the 'Death Wish' genre...not as outrageous perhaps as The Exterminator, but still thoroughly entertaining.

Vigilante (1983) is a revenge flick in the style of 70's Italian Crime films (He even shot it in Scope). Robert Forester plays Marino, an average working joe who's family is attacked by an inner city street gang. When the justice system fails him, Marino can't take it anymore and with the help of his co-workers takes revenge on the street scum. Sophisticated trash from William Lustig (It looks and feels sleazy). The film has an all star cult film line up. Featuring Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, Joe Spinell, Woody Strode, Carol Lynley, Frank Pesce and Rutyana Alda.

Highly Recommended.

Old school ultra violence, Lustig style.

If the readers may permit a small intro over this topic, so sorry humanists, civil rights defenders, those believers that just the justice should made through the slowest and corrupt judiciary system, although the majority of mankind is really good, the evil still rules, why it continues happen nowadays? Because lenient laws settle to enrich the lawyers, those criminals that supposedly to be victims of the society.

Thus many filmmakers dared bring those vendetta movies like Death Wish franchise, Coffy, Punisher, Foxy Brown, Vengeance, Mr. Majestyk, Mad Max, The Exterminator, The Exterminator 2, Originals Gangsters, Vigilante and so on and the audience thrilled on those magnificent pictures.

The Vigilante came out of far off 1982, bringing the rising star Robert Forster, Fred Williamson as the black leader, Carol Lynley as Attorney Defense also the veteran black actor Woody Strode at prison in a small still meaningful role, it has too many black guys in both sides so this feature has a small accent of blaxploitation mainly by the robust attending of Fred Williamson an exponent figure in that genre.

The plot is the same, a hard work man Eddie Marino (Robert Forster) has a wife and a little boy living the American dream at New York, a foolish quarrel between his wife and a Latin gang leader when he was battering the owner at gas station triggered a sad events whereof his kid was murdered without a pity and she was sharply stabbed even called the police previously, still believing in the justice Eddie looking for aid of Attorney Defense Mary Fletcher (Carol Lynley).

However in courthouse a corrupt lawyer and a lousy Judge who demands a raw deal on behalf the assassin, when Eddie complains the judge suspends the sentence, enraged Eddie tries attack the judge and was sentenced 30 days at jail, there a black guy tries rape him, just stop by the old inmate Rake (Woody Strode) release aftermaths Eddie seeks Nick (Fred Williamson) to enter in the group of Vigilantes, the revenge is near upon a gun which is his Judge and his Jury as well.

I know that it's wrong upon standpoint of civilization and so for, which we already know didn't work out properly, nonetheless in some special cases likewise expose in the picture our inner animal does not stand so cruelty in some crimes, it arises in us ours deeply animalistic inskintcs from the pastime years at stone-age.

Resume:

First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5.

This is no great film. It's dark, poorly filmed, but I have to admit the actors are good. Fred Williamson is excellent in the role of the Vigilante's leader. So is Robert Forster, playing an ordinary working man.

At the base, this is a good story: Guys who want to take back the neighborhood from pimps, punks and all sorts of criminals. And it forces us to think about the issue of crime. OK, the bad guys get what they deserve. But who become the bad guys? Is there any good guys left? This is an eye for an eye. We live in a society where violence is an integrated part of our lives. Guns are everywhere, making it simple for some to gain power, to do whatever they want.

A movie like this should encourage the government to reinforce the laws concerning gun control. A suggestion: today, we have individuals, parents of smokers who died. They're suing big tobacco companies. Could we not see the same for gun related crimes. Why is it that the companies that build the guns, the bullets, they don't assume a part of the blame for the crimes. They're the one who are making money, they won't stop production. If they can have everybody buying a gun for their protection or whatever, it's going to be very profitable. Imagine, a society where everybody got a gun. Ouch!

Out of 100, I gave it 66. That's good for *½ out of **** stars.

Seen at home, in Welland, on January 29th, 2002.

Vigilante is a gritty, violent, and controversial revenge flick. Vigilante gets compared to Death Wish often, but vigilante is the more fulfilling and entertaining film. Robert Forster stars as a father and husband who gets driven to the point of vigilantism after his son is killed and his wife deformed. Forster performance is deep and fascinating. Director William Lustig (who also directed the trashy and gory Maniac) adds a sense of realism and desperation to the film and the violence seems very authentic. Fred Williamson is GREAT as the leader of the nieghborhood vigilante group. The son's death is quite disturbing and the ending is satisfying (unlike the death wish ending). You really hate the criminal scumbags and cheer on their demise. There are some great one-liners too. Vigilante is the ultimate revenge exploitation flick.

Meets the Warriors? Or something along those lines. But you know you're watching a low budget 70s or 80s movie when you can tell they didn't have any permits to shoot whereever they put a camera and some actors. If you've seen a few you'll know what I mean, if not just listen to the audio commentaries of some of those movies.

And don't get me wrong, while this obviously is (was) against the law, it makes the movie endearing (not to mention that some will cherish the rebellious nature of it all). Having said all that, the story is not really serving us anything new. But the actors involved really give it their all - and you have quite some heavyweights in here. I watched this a couple of days after Robert Foster passed away (right after El Camino too sort of). His screen presence is quite something to behold. Add to that all the other actors (including the "Maniac" himself and Fred Williamson) ... a raw gem with a lot flaws then. Enjoy it for what it is

Vigilante tells the grim and hard-boiled revenge story of Eddie Marino (Robert Froster) and Nick (Fred Williamson), a series of events brings these two together in a crime-riddled street of New York to eradicate the vermin from the city. William Lustig must be appreciated for meticulously planning the scenes to best utilize his limited funds supported by amazing cinematography James Lemmo. When watching the film there is no denying its minuscule budget. You see it in numerous places. But the sheer quality of the suspense trumps nearly every budget limitation. Lustig demonstrates some of same bubbling tension that would later make "Maniac Cop" so effective. The actors deliver quite fine performances, with Robert Froster obviously very prominent in his role as Eddie... Fred Williamson is also good and convincing as Nick, where he in a quite convincing way plays a guy who is hellbent to avenge the street gang.I thought only if this had Charles Bronson, it would probably be the best Death Wish sequel. Overall, Vigilante precisely, combines the nastiness of Blaxploitation movies as well as the urban aesthetics to create a nocturnal and claustrophobic action supported with pulsating soundtrack. The dialogue is trashy, but this fits the slight b-movie feel the film has and feels like practically perfect midnight movie with chips and beer.

This is a gritty low budget crime drama from director William Lustig. Robert Forster stars as your average working joe with a wife and small son. After a gang of criminals brutally attack his wife and murder his child, and then the ringleader is let go with a suspended sentence, he vows to get revenge himself. He's in luck, because his three work buddies have been operating their own vigilante squad in secret, kidnapping and beating (and worse) criminals that the law can't or won't touch.

Very violent, and set in NYC before it was cleaned up, this film panders to an audience angry and hungry for law and order, as did many films of the 70s and 80s. It's cheaply manipulative in that way, which is why it's dismissed by most critics. But it has held a healthy cult following over the years. Fred Williamson is enthusiastic as the leader of the vigilante squad, which also includes Richard Bright. Rutanya Alda plays the wife, Joe Spinell shows up as a sleazy defense lawyer and with a young Steve James as a patrol cop. Carol Lynley plays the harried Assistant District Attorney, and Woody Strode shows up as a tough old convict.

If like me you are an avid fan of sleazy and grubby looking flicks packed with sleazy and grubby looking characters, filmed in sleazy and grubby looking locations then this is the film for you. The film is essentially a revenge thriller, which tips an over sized Barbisio hat to the Italian Euro-Crime flicks of the 1970s: A bitter protagonist; middle-aged hoodlums(who should know better at their age); corrupt judges; a car chase(or three); clichéd dialogue; mindless- slaughter, and Fred "That Man Bolt" Williamson. The film stars Robert Forster playing an unremarkable factory worker whose life is suddenly beset by an inconceivable tragedy and (without giving too much of the plot away) he finds himself requiring little encouragement in joining a group of vigilantes led by his co-workers Williamson and two other colleagues. The film certainly doesn't pull any punches with the protagonists dispensing some reasonable savagery on any wrongdoers along the way. Some class acting from Forster and Williamson keeps the viewer interested throughout and the climactic fight scene at towards the end of the film, wouldn't look out of place in an Enzo Castellari or Umberto Lenzi flick. This is a well paced, well acted and thoroughly engrossing '80s exploitation film, with a compelling soundtrack and a nice little cameo from Italian director's favourite Woody Strode.

Watch at (almost) all costs!

Kinda sad to see Forster's roots in a flick like this.

The script is terribly heavy handed and the direction may have tried to compensate, but failed. You might demur that it is, after all, a little action flick snack, but the film won't let you get away with that: You can't have it both ways.

It obviously attempts to cop some fire from the "hard" reality of urban crime. You can't make a feint toward that end, then trivialize it with lousy scenario work, acting, and direction, and then expect to hide behind a defensive claim that the viewer made the mistake of taking it too seriously.

It's a fine example of a flick that fails to manage its "tone" correctly. It feels like a movie made by grown-up teenaged boys.

Interesting comparison: Check out Forester in Jackie Brown. Thank the Good Load Aboff, Forster got to work out in a flick that set its sights on a story and stealthily took great strides of scenario, acting, and direction to make that story blossom like a fine and beautiful flower in our minds.

Anyway... who is going to watch Vigilante now? I would highly recommend it for a film class, for subsequent group analysis to try to nail down the contours of its failure to deliver something artistically meritorious.

Vigilante is a grim and hard hitting revenge themed action flick in the vein of Deathwish. Robert Foster is father and husband who 's wife and son were victims in a home invasion . He looks to friend Fred Williamson for help in seeking revenge. Directed by William Lustig of Maniac fame. Vigilante is real nasty and ultraviolent. It also looks great and sound great with a score that is like a spaghetti western from hell. Acting performances are excellent across the board. Fred Williamson 's acting is the best I've seen from him .He is absolutely menacing and brutal here. Robert Foster is great also and shows a great range of emotions in this piece .Vigilante in tone is a very bleak film that is very well done and played serious . Expect little humor and watch Fred and company to take out the trash. Great cameo from Joe Spinell as sleazy, scumbag lawyer.Excellent.

You know when something becomes popular, others try to mimic the same thing. Vigilante is an answer to Death Wish. If you've seen that film, some parts of Vigilante will feel very familiar. But it's not the worst kind of copying. There are also original ideas in the script, and the whole thing feels like a good fan film. You know, you saw something cool and you want to make more of of that cool stuff. I think that's what happened here.

The most memorable actor in this movie is Fred Williamson. Even though he's not the number one lead guy, he's got the toughest face and coolest character. Robert Forster, the main guy, is kind of okay but he just haven't got enough Bronson in him. The directing and overall mood is pretty much good. The story stays exciting and the length of the movie also is just right.

Bonus points for great music. There's Goblin-esque 80's syhth music, spaghetti western style guitar, electric guitar, cheesy saxophone music, latin music... the people who made the music were out of control and I love it.

Not a real classic but I'd say it's still above average 80's action thriller. Recommended for fans of the genre.

For a revenge movie, this is boring and slow. Robert Forester ends up in jail for most of simply for freaking out in court. Fred Williamson doesn't kick nearly enough butts and the violence, other than when the gang assaults Robert Foresters family - is tame. How this got so many great reviews is beyond me. Death Wish or Death Wish 2 - it isn't.