Customer Reviews

Slaughter [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Big, brawny Jim Brown makes a convincing hero in this two-fisted, jive-talking blaxploitation thriller. The story moves with great speed and plenty of tough action as Brown hunts for the slayers of his parents and encounters a nest of racist gangsters.
Everything about this flick is a notch above the average blaxploitation flick of its era. The direction is tight, the cinematography inventive and slick, and the performances are hammy without going too far. A very young and very weaselly Rip Torn does a fine job as the pinched, hateful villain who really gets what he deserves. Indeed, all the villains go down hard in this movie, which builds to a climactic conflict with a body count like a Spaghetti Western's.
Mention must be made of Stella Stevens, who has a number of short, but memorable, nude scenes. Not to mince words- she's so fine that virtually any man watching will likely gape at the screen in awe.
Superior entertainment for blaxploitation fans and anyone who likes a rip-snorting action movie.

This is quite an entertaining 70's action movie. The acting, as in most action movies, is a bit superficial, but the overall movie is solid. Jim Brown, given his impressive size, is perfect as a tough action hero. The majority of the movie is set in Mexico, thus giving it an exotic feel. The racial epithets by the villains also give the movie an appropriate sense of the palpable racism of the 70's. Rip Torn gives an over-the-top performance as the main bad-guy Hoffo. As noted in the other reviews, Stella Stevens is perfect eye-candy in her supporting role.

Slaughter is cool. In his own words, "The coolest cat to ever walk the earth". There were alot of black film heroes to come out of the 70s, but Slaughter has gotta be one of(if not THE) coolest one. Black Caesar and Superfly were likeable but scummy like Tony Montana. Shaft was cool and took no crap, but wasn't a total butt kicker. Slaughter has more in common with the Pam Grier characters(but male of course) in that he's a shoot first, ask questions later kind of guy that'll smack the taste out of your mouth. He's the black answer to a Charles Bronson type of film character. He's an excellent shot with his gun-In fact, I think throughout the two Slaughter films, he only misses his target twice! And that's only coz the plot requires the villain to temporarily get away so Slaughter can annihilate his ass at a more appropriate time and place. All the chix want to sleep with him too. Through the two Slaughter films, he's taking on the mob. First they kill his parents, then Slaughter goes about shooting and/or beating the snot out of everyone who gets in his way as he climbs to the top of the organization. Not the most original of plots, but Jim Brown plays it cool. He looks big and mean. Not the kind of guy I'd wanna mess with. I'd definitely recommend both films.

So, MGM hit the goldmine with Richard Roundtree's "Shaft," so why not other companies? Samuel Arkoff's AIP (American Internationa Picture), known for many exploitation films (a kind of films you might have seen at local drive-in theaters back in the 50s and 60s), gave an answer to John Shaft. Yes, it's Slaughter, ex-Green Beret who takes the law in his hand for revenge. And Jim Brown, former American football player, and previously seen in films like "The Dirty Dozen" was chosen. Very Good casting, as it turns out.

Plus Brown (later seen in Tim Burton's "Mars Attack!"), we have a good supporting cast, namely Rip Torn and Stella Stevens. It was too good, I guess. Anyway, with the presence of them, "Slaughter" is barely raised above from other average blaxploitation films, some people say...

Interesting thing is, the film's supporting cast almost all consists of white actors. As a result, the atomosphere of the film is different from that of other blaxploitation films like "Coffy" and "Shaft," and you may be disappointed because of that. However, the good pace of the film (thanks to the director Jack Starret's deft hand) will keep you interested. In my book, "Slaughter" is a better-than-average action film. Oh, and there are nudity, which is No. 1 rule of this genre, including that of Stella Stevens (original "The Nutty Professor" and others). Is this misjudge on her side when choosing projects? Probably. (She again shows up in blaxploitation film, the sequel of Warner Brother's "Cleopatra Jones.") But I am happy with her appearance, I confess.

On top of her participation, there is a rousing title song by Billy Preston, whose electoric keyboard with his trademark howling sound can be heard. Probably "Slaughter" should be rated as an average three-star movie. Well, his song, however, is another virtue of the film, and with this and Ms. Stevens, one notch up. Yeah, I like this film.

i own this movie and let me say that i enjoy the acting of Jim Brown

if you like action, adventure and swagger then slaughter is your man!this was one of the reasons why we were at the movies every saturday in those days and jim brown always gave you your money worth.goood story lots of action and mob thugs for slaughter to handle not to mention stella stevens.one bad dude!!!

As a teen i always wanted to go to the movies to see all of the films that they call black explotation movies but could not afford to do so. now that i am older i go on the internet to find the movies that i could not aford to go see. this film was fantastic. i also have the sequel slaughter's big rip off. thank you amazon.com for helping me find the movies that i now can enjoy.

Now....this four star review does not refer to the confines of regular film criticism. What it refers to is the amount of fun a Grindhouse film fan can derive from this violent flick that ranks as one of the very best of the Blaxploitation genre.

Jim Brown plays a former Green Beret who has parents that were killed in a hit, which causes Slaughter to slaughter all those involved in a crazy plot that takes the mean mother to South America and includes a massive body count.
The film is made watchable by the cool presence of Brown. While not a great actor, the man is alot of fun to watch as he punches and shoots his way through numerous extras.

The film features an above average cast including Rip Torn as a mob boss who is Slaughter's enemy and is clearly above the trash. Don Gordon portrays the nerdy white guy who teams up with Brown and gives him extra muscle when gunning down various hitmen.
Cameron Mitchell, who appeared in more trash than any other actor with the possibility of John Carradine, provides a small role as a government agent offering Brown a deal to crack his case.

Stella Stevens is gorgeous in this picture as Brown's love interest and supplies one of the best shower scenes on record. Marlene Clark is also on hand as an agent that's upposed to look after Slaughter on his "mission", also providing alot of eye candy for the male viewer.

Add a catchy and ridiculous, funky theme song about our title hero and you have one of the most over the top action films of the period.

Followed by a sequel, the watchable "Slaughter's Big Rip Off"(1973), the original is still the meanest.

Jim Brown is Slaughter, a Green Beret Vietnam veteran who's not long back from the service when his parents are killed in a car-bomb murder. It turns out Slaughter's dad (it's never explicitly stated, but he was apparently involved in a mild hustle, like the numbers) somehow stumbled upon a computer printout of a Mob operation's payoff roster. But he was killed before he could make a deal for its safe return. Slaughter then makes moves to find the killers, while being shadowed by Kim (Marlene Clark), an undercover federal agent. A shootout at an airport puts Slaughter at odds with the U.S. Treasury Department, who then send him to an unnamed South American country to track down the surviving crooks.

Rip Torn is Dominick, the hood behind Slaughter's parents murder. Norman Alfe is Mario Felice, a Mafia boss doing big business in Latin America and beyond. Felice, who believes in the old codes of honor, is willing to bargain with Slaughter to get the payoff printout, and is distressed at Dominck's hot-headed brutality and wanton violence. Stella Stevens is in her gorgeous prime as Ann, Dominick's main lady, who's set up to get information out of Slaughter, but ends up falling for him. Character actor Don Gordon has a supporting role as Slaughter's reluctant partner, Harry.

The plot angle about the computer printout is a bit dated in this day of instant e-mail-- there's a line of dialogue in which an entire "computer room" is apparently moved to prevent discovery of its data. Still, it's kind of a MacGuffin, and not essential to enjoy the action.

Slaughter doesn't suffer fools gladly, and seems to prefer fights to talking. There are plenty of fights, chases and shootouts in this film, and the film even borrows a bit of James Bond, as a tuxedoed Slaughter mingles in a Mob-run casino. Torn's Dominick is a cold bigot of a gangster, who really gets riled when it's clear that Ann has fallen for him. The gun-heavy climax takes place on Felice's Spanish-style ranch, giving the film a touch of updated Western tone.

this film spawned one sequel, "Slaughter's Big Rip-Off", but the character should have continued on, like James Bond..

I Remember when I saw the blaxploitation movie called Shaft and it was SOOO SLOW and BORING!! I was looking for a funny action packed black movies from the 70's!!! Then I saw Slaughter and guess what! My search was over!!

This movie is FUNNY AND WITH A VENGANCE!!!
I has CAR CHASES, LOTS OF SHOOTING, STUNTS, STREET FIGHTING, EXPLOTIONS AND PREETY LADIES!!!

For a low budget film this one have a good video quality and a good monaural sound, not to mention de widescreen with the big black boards.

P.S: Im glad that this movie has cool action scenes from the begining to the end!

Adios