Slaughter

Slaughter (1972)

** (out of 4)

Ex Green Beret Slaughter (Jim Brown) seeks vengeance against the Mob who killed his father and soon teams up with some Feds to track down the gang and take them out one by one including the head guy (Rip Torn). This AIP blaxploitation flick has a lot going for it but I found the direction to be all over the place and there were a few too many slow spots to be a complete winner, which is a shame because there's a terrific cast on display here. The screenplay is your typical revenge tale but I think the film could have benefited from a small re-write because what we have here isn't all that interesting because the script really lets us down in terms of the bad guys. We have a couple different bad guys but neither of them are very interesting and I think the film would have benefited by touching them up a tad bit more especially since you have an actor like Torn eating up the scenery and turning in a fine performance. Brown, not the greatest actor out there, but he still manages to be quite cool in the role and he's got some funny comic timing as well. The sequence where he crashes into a party and the servant asks if he has an invitation and Brown slowly pulls out his gun and says "yep" is certainly one of the highlights of the film. We also get Cameron Mitchell in a couple brief scenes and it's always fun seeing him. Even though all the guys do a good job it's the beautiful Stella Stevens who steals the film. It's not her acting that steals the movie but her chest, which is constantly coming out of no matter what type of outfit she's wearing.

...so goes Billy Preston's song. MGM had SHAFT (1971) with Richard Roundtree, AIP had SLAUGHTER with Jim Brown. After his parents are blown up by the Mafia, Vietnam Vet Brown's gonna kick some greasy Italian ass (Rip Torn), and along the way he gets a sidekick (Steve McQueen's mate Don Gordon), sleeps with Stella Stevens and generally causes havoc down in Mexico. It's not very good, but there are some decent action scenes and it's a hell of a lot better than some of the Blaxploitation garbage.

Yes, the film stars Jim Brown and yes he kicks a lot of butt. However, I don't think I'd classify this as a 'blaxsploitation film'. That's because the film is mostly set in Mexico and the good guys are the government. This is definitely NOT a battle between Black and White America, but our hero, Brown, is solidly on the side of 'the Man'; i.e., the government.

The film begins with the family of former Green Beret, Brown, being killed by mobsters. As a result, he goes on a one-man mission to kill mobsters. However, this ends up causing problems because he blunders into a covert government operation and the real bad guy gets away. So, Brown agrees to go to Mexico and work with the feds to settle the score. The plot ends up being rather mindless--with Brown shooting and punching as well as mobsters killing each other off like mad. However, it's enjoyable and time-passing mindless.

This film is blessed with a very good supporting cast. The seldom recognized Don Gordon (star of countless TV shows), Cameron Mitchell, Stella Stevens and Rip Torn are all on hand to give the film some good acting, so that all the weight of the film doesn't rest on Brown just killing people! Worth watching but not life changing.

...because I've been able to watch this film and other great blaxploitation classics.The plot is pretty basic for this genre(the tough black hero avenges the death of his loved one and kick some "whitey" butt in the process).Although the film seems dated,the action pieces more than make up for it.Jim Brown shows a limited range as an actor,but Rip Torn is great as the slimy mobster & Stella Stevens is hot as always as the girlfriend.

Jim Brown is one cool dude, even when he's making a typical 70s blaxploitation flick.

Here, he is an ex-Green Beret home from 'nam going after the mob thugs that killed his father.

First, he has to get by their secret weapon, Stella Stevens, girlfriend of #2, Rip Torn, a racist that is just seething at the thought of Stevens between the sheets with Brown. And, boy, do they steam up those sheets! That must have been a shock to 70s audiences.

Now, the thugs are not too bright as they try to run Brown down with a Mustang. Don't they know that this former fullback is one of the all time greats in NFL history? Their efforts to catch him in the casino meets with equal disaster as he runs right through them.

Of course, you know Slaughter wins in the end because there is a sequel.

One interesting aspect for the younger folks is the IBM punch card that figures prominently in the film. They probably have never seen one.