Vigilante (1982) Reviews

I had high hopes for Vigilante given its cult status and yet I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I thought I would. Its biggest flaw is that the muddled plot gives way to long stretches of scenes in between the action that really creates some serious pacing issues. Plus Fred Williamson steals every scene he is in, which normally would be a good thing but he's virtually absent in certain parts leaving you hungry for more. He's got a twinkle in his eye, enjoying the violence way too much, and chewing the hell out of each scene like that day old cigar in his mouth. Just the way I like my Fred Williamson served. Aside from Williamson, the rest of the cast is not very compelling or interesting. Robert Forster is his usual cardboard self, Willie Colon plays one of the least intimidating villains I've ever seen in a movie (his demise is also a big letdown), even Joe Spinell is wasted as a sleazy attorney. Most of the praise I've heard for the film is based on the extreme and brutal violence, which it has in spades but in that respect it's no different from 90's era Steven Seagal flicks. The one area the film deserves praise is the gritty, sans-permits on location shooting on the streets of NYC creating a grimey (borderline sleazy) atmosphere. A trademark that Lustig is known for. I can only recommend this for fans of Williamson and gritty NYC flicks, come to think of it, if they made the whole movie about Williamson as the sole vigilante it would have been so much better!