The Stabilizer

Do you like explosions? How about fighting? Well, this movie has both of those. You know the other thing you can't have a movie without: a kick ass motorcycle, the type that bounces off someone's head and knocks them out at the same time. You bet the Stabilizer has one. There's even a classic cliff scene.

All in all, I'm quite proud that I have even seen this movie...and even prouder to have my review be the first one...YES!

The acting is poor, the plot is thin, but who cares? "The Stabilizer" delivers non-stop action! In my estimation, at least 75 out of this movie's 90 minutes feature some form of action - vehicle chases, fight scenes, gymnastics, shootouts, explosions, crashing through walls and floors, etc. The action is outrageous, bloody, funny, destructive, and overall very enjoyable to watch. Peter O'Brian (probably one of the worst actors ever, but that's beside the point) is notable for his unorthodox fighting style, which can best be described as bull-in-a-china-shop. One of the things I really liked about this film is that it gives the women, and there are several of them, a significant part of the action, and they are almost equally as deadly as the men, with or without a gun in hand. If you enjoy Jackie Chan's Hong Kong movies but wish they were more R-rated, you'll probably like "The Stabilizer" as well. It's as unpretentious as an action movie can get. **1/2 out of 4.

Professor Provost has invented a "Narcotics Detector",so he is kidnapped and tortured by Indonesian crime boss Greg Rainmaker.It's up to American super cop Peter Goldson aka The Stabilizer to stop his violent reign.Actually The Stabilizer's past is quite traumatic,because his fiancée was raped and stomped to death by Greg Rainmaker.Teaming up with a local officer and two female assistants The Stabilizer begins bloody revenge towards Greg Rainmaker and his ruthless cohorts of petty criminals...Extremely over-the-top and cheap action flick from Arizal.The amount of violence is simply insane.The performances are flat,the one-liners are endlessly quotable and there are even two scenes of lizard munching.If you are a fan of "Deadly Prey" or Cirio Santiago's mindless action flicks give "The Stabilizer" a shot.8 shoot outs out of 10.

What's the most violent movie of all time? Rambo III? Commando? Robocop? Add these three very violent together, and you still won't equal the carnage in The Stabilizer, the wildest, silliest, craziest action movie I have ever seen. For one hundred minutes things blow up and people die in dozens of strange ways. It will make you laugh and cheer, and when it's all over you'll be more than a little exhausted. This movie is a buried gem, a cult classic sadly lacking a cult.

The Stabilizer is the nickname of our hero Peter Goldson (Peter O'Brian), a large oily man with a curly mullet. He arrives in Indonesia on the trail of the villainous and mean Greg Rainmaker. We know he is evil because he is only referred to by his full name ("I hate SCUM like Greg RAINmaker!") and utilizes a method of killing that is so horrible I can't even utter it here. Wait, yes I can. He steps on people in spiky shoes. Greg Rainmaker: Cleat Killer.

When Greg Rainmaker isn't pouring alcohol on women for their sexual pleasure, he's kidnapping important professors and heading a huge underworld empire. It's up to Goldson (A Jewish action hero? Gevalt!) and his motley crew of sidekicks to stabilize the situation by killing everyone and blowing lots of stuff up. Maybe "stabilize" has a different meaning in Indonesia.

And the violence, oh the violence. This is a film unwilling, nay, uncapable, of letting five minutes of screen time go by without some sort of explosion, knifing, car crash, or squib interrupting the dialogue. The violence is extreme; not graphic and bloody, just really weird. For example, The Stabilizer & company invade one of Rainmaker's warehouses (by driving through a solid concrete wall on a motorcycle, of course). When perched on the balcony, with heavy fire coming from below, The Stabilizer does the one thing he can do. He drives off the balcony into the guy's head, his front tire bouncing off it like a basketball. Astounding.

From the overly-gratuitous love scenes (Both major female characters hop in the sack with the hero of their choice not two minutes after they speak to them alone for the first time) to the poorly dubbed dialogue ("Victor, you talented bastard!") The Stabilizer has it all. This is a film for the ages, right up there with Citizen Kane and Gymkata. It is not widely available in release. If you find it anywhere for any price, buy it and relish the insanity.

This is one of those gems that I am always waiting to find- I found a diamond here! I am pretty certain that this film was released to be taken as serious as any other action movie from the early 80s. But some of the dubbed in dialogue is

hilarious, I am smiling right now as I think about some of the lines. Whatever the case may be, it is an all around entertaining movie that I am glad I added to my collection.

For those who like to watch Italian action cinema from the 70s and 80s, you

probably will get a kick out of this too. The same goes to blaxploitation fans as well. I found myself rewinding and re-watching scenes over again. There are

lots of scenes that will make you want to take a second look. There really is too many things in this film that had me rolling. Troma offers this on DVD now at a really low price. Definately worth it. Enjoy!