The Exterminator (1980)
PoThe Exterminator is an American vigilante action film from 1980 written and directed by James Glickenhaus. Starring Robert Ginty as Vietnam War veteran John Eastland, also known as “The Exterminator”.
Plot
When John Eastland’s best friend, Michael Jefferson, is mugged and left permanently crippled, he decides to do something about it. 
Jefferson had saved Eastland’s life in Vietnam and now it’s time for Eastland to get revenge for his friend. 
Glenn Using his old Army gear he sets out on a crusade to clean up the streets of New York using the name “The Exterminator.”
Notable scenes
The exterminating scenes.
Making of The Exterminator
When the film was released, some censors in Europe wouldn’t allow the film to be shown unless considerable cuts were made. They wouldn’t let movies show the bad guys getting away with their crimes. They and wanted them brought to justice, so the audiences would be sure to get the message that “crime doesn’t pay”.
Steve James originally read for the small part of the bartender. However, writer and director James Glickenhaus was so impressed with his reading that he cast him in the part of Michael.
Kurt Russell based his character of Snake Plissken from Escape from New York (1981) on John “The Exterminator” Eastland (Robert Ginty).
Detective James Dalton (Christopher George) finds a copy of “The Anarchist’s Cookbook” in Eastland’s apartment.
Joseph Bottoms was originally cast as John Eastland, but his agent asked for too much money, and Bottoms was subsequently dropped from the project.
The whorehouse scene was shot in an actual whorehouse. James Glickenhaus said they were filming nearby when the police closed it down and they asked him if he wanted to shoot there. He said shooting it there made it much more realistic than any set would have.
In the UK the original Alpha video release of this film was uncut. However after the Video Recordings act of 1984, the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) refused to give the film an 18 certificate unless some scenes were trimmed (particularly the gruesome beheading scene). The new rights holders, Braveworld resubmitted the film, with about 2 minutes of cuts and trims and the film was passed. Although the film has mostly been restored throughout the years since, the beheading scene is pared down and several seconds shorter than the early 1980s video version.
Our view on the Exterminator
The Exterminator is a nice piece of 80’s exploit-style cinema that is an enjoyable film. Decent acting, a strong storyline, ” violence, and the gritty early 80’s New York City environments up the entertainment value of this good B-movie. Exploitflix popcorn flic!
