Action,Thriller,Crime,Drama
United States of America
The Exterminator is a 1980 action thriller film directed by James Glickenhaus. The movie stars Robert Ginty as a Vietnam War veteran named John Eastland who witnesses the brutal killing of his best friend, Michael Jefferson (played by Steve James), by a street gang in New York City. The incident sparks Eastland's transformation into a vigilante, hell-bent on avenging his friend's death and cleaning up the streets of New York.
Eastland starts his crusade by hunting down and killing members of the street gang responsible for Jefferson's death. However, he soon realizes that the problem runs deeper than just one gang and begins to target all kinds of criminals, including drug dealers, pimps, and corrupt politicians. As his killing spree gains momentum, the police struggle to catch up to him, while the public begins to see Eastland as a hero.
Meanwhile, detective James Dalton (played by Christopher George) is assigned to investigate Eastland's vigilante activities and put a stop to them. As the two men come closer and closer to a confrontation, Dalton starts to realize that Eastland is not just a psychopathic killer, but a reflection of the corruption and decay in society.
The Exterminator is known for its brutal and graphic violence, as well as its portrayal of the decay and lawlessness of urban America in the 1980s. The movie was a commercial success, spawning two sequels, but also stirred controversy and accusations of promoting vigilantism and glorifying violence.
