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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fairly Good Action & Answer to Shaft; Jim Brown Is Slaughter, March 1, 2002
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.
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