The Heroin Busters (also known as La via della droga) is a 1977 Italian crime film directed by Enzo G. Castellari and starring David Hemmings, Fabio Testi, and John Loffredo. The film was inspired by the real-life drug epidemic in Rome in the 1970s, and its depiction of the rampant drug use and trafficking in the city is shockingly authentic.
The movie follows Mike Hamilton, an Interpol agent who has been assigned to take down the drug cartels that are flooding Rome with heroin. Despite his best efforts, however, Hamilton is unable to make a dent in the drug trade, as the local police are either corrupt or ineffectual.
Desperate to make a breakthrough, Hamilton decides to send his best man, Fabio, undercover to infiltrate the drug gangs and gather intelligence. Fabio is initially reluctant to take part in the dangerous mission, but he agrees when Hamilton promises to help him find a way out of the underworld once the job is done.
The majority of the movie focuses on Fabio's undercover operation, during which he ingratiates himself with the charismatic drug lord Gianni and gains his trust. Fabio is an excellent actor, and he soon becomes an integral part of Gianni's operation. However, as Fabio grows closer to Gianni, he begins to question his loyalties and wonder whether his cover has become too deep.
Things come to a head when Fabio's cover is blown, and he is forced to go on the run, pursued by both the cartel and the police. The last act of the movie is an epic adrenaline-fueled chase sequence, as Fabio fights to stay alive and bring down the drug lords once and for all.
Overall, The Heroin Busters is a gritty, action-packed crime thriller that offers a bleak and disturbing glimpse into the realities of the drug trade. The performances are strong, particularly from Fabio Testi, whose conflicted portrayal of Fabio is both nuanced and compelling. The film's direction is also impressive, with Castellari bringing a sense of urgency and danger to every scene.
