Zebra Force

A group of Vietnam veterans, fiercely loyal to their lieutenant (horribly disfigured as a result of a land mine explosion) agree to perform a series of audacious hits on mob-controlled gambling operations to ostensibly rid the town of their influence and protect society's youth from the spectre of drugs. But their raids also net hundreds of thousands of dollars in tainted cash, leading Mafia Don (Caruso) to enlist the aid of his Mr Fix-it Carmine Longo (Lane) to rectify the problem.

You've probably read that the vets disguise themselves and while it's certainly a novelty, the "transformations" are unintentionally comedic (watch for the interrogation scene near the end of the movie). Puerile dialogue and atrocious cinematography (or perhaps the editing) don't do any favours, but I enjoyed the characterisations, and the cast has some talent. Lanky Mike Lane from "The Harder They Fall" is imposing, Stafford Morgan as the crooked cop, and Rockne Tarkington as the tough-talking downtown pusher, all make an impression in spite of the script they deliver.

A jazzy soul soundtrack, slow-motion stunts, car chases and a twist ending keep things entertaining and overall, while it's routinely panned by the armchair critics, you could do a lot worse than this gangster flick dressed in a blaxploitation wardrobe. Often confused with its sequel "Codename Zebra" starring James Mitchum made in 1987, while the latter is more technically proficient, the sheer quirkiness and 70's infused texture of "Zebra Force" is superior in entertainment value.

Even though this late-night action flick has aged, it still has what many of today's multi-budget movies are lacking in: ORIGINALITY! Don't expect good guy heroes in "The Zebra Force" because this definitely is not your typical action film. Instead, this is a first-person anti-hero show that knows no limits. Watching the soldiers in black masks terrorize the innocent is rather deteriorating, but that's part of the fun. Overall, the real show stealers are the gang's leader with a deformed face who communicates via mini walkie-talkies, plus an unexpected finale. If you can live with obscure '70s trashies like this one, then I can't blame you for that!

A few of the user comments submitted here are, in fact, written for the belated 1987 sequel. You can't blame anyone for the confusion, because the sequel's official title "Code Name Zebra" is also an alternate title for the original and both films are incredibly obscure. Haven't seen the 80s sequel yet myself, but if it's as unpretentiously entertaining and action-packed as this one, I will most certainly track it down! "The Zebra Force" is a crazed exploitation flick made by, and targeted at, macho males. The only women here are ravishing looking extras, like guests at a casino or girls by the pool, and they are not opening their mouths to speak, only to shriek. Writer/director Joe Tornatore may not care too much for women, he certainly does know how to make a remarkable entrance! The film opens with an exhilarating heist on an illegal mafia casino, where several gangsters and guests are killed by a well-trained and organized 8-headed group of black guys in blue overalls. The mob's senior leadership immediately sends for professional "caretaker" Carmine Longo to find the assailants, but it's not so easy. For you see, the black guys are really disguised white guys! They are buddies who served together in Vietnam and still loyally follow their lieutenant who worked out a plan for all of them to get filthy rich via three big hits against the mafia. Let the mob look for black gangsters and declare gang wars; - they'll never find the black-and-white "Zebras". The Lieutenant is, by the way, one of the most remarkable characters in 70s exploitation history! Following a landmine accident in 'Nam, he only has one arm, a horridly disfigured face and he talks via a throat-cancer device. "The Zebra Force" guarantees a raw and gritty 70s atmosphere, complete with wild car chases and brutal executions. The final showdown between mobsters and veterans is already grotesquely violent, and then still Joe Tornatore foresees a totally out-of-the-blue but fantastic end-twist! If you like 70s smut, you must watch "The Zebra Force", period!

This is one of those films where a bunch of stunt men get together write a script to glue together a portfolio of mediocre action stunts. Tons of explosions, gunfire, and bodies flying everywhere. This is a film about some Vietnam veterans who became vigilantes to make a fortune stealing from the mafia. Though it is played like they are heroes for society, they come off more like petty thieves pulling a 'big job'. This is a gangster/action film, containing a series of gangster/action clichés which probably won't satisfy exploitation fans. It has some moments, like some hard nose dialogue, some interesting shots, and a stupid scene where two gangsters get baked in a sauna. Not trashy, just sub-par.

Yes, it's another typical shoot em'up '70s action opus, but it actually is pretty entertaining given the production values of this film. Essentially, it's about a diverse group of Vietnam veterans who go up against the mafia and a group of crooked cops. Plenty of violence, average acting, and some amazing stunt work. The only minor quibble I have with the film is how the marketing people behind this movie had the nerve to compare the film's climatic car chase to The French Connection. It doesn't even come close. Oh, well. It was the '70s, after all.