The Exterminator
| The Exterminator | |
|---|---|
U.S. theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | James Glickenhaus |
| Written by | James Glickenhaus |
| Produced by | Mark Buntzman |
| Starring | Robert Ginty Samantha Eggar Christopher George Steve James |
| Cinematography | Robert M. Baldwin |
| Edited by | Corky O'Hara |
| Music by | Joe Renzetti |
Production company | Interstar Pictures |
| Distributed by | AVCO Embassy Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 104 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.5–2 million |
| Box office | $5 million ((domestic rentals only)) |
The Exterminator is a 1980 American vigilante action film written and directed by James Glickenhaus and starring Robert Ginty, Christopher George, and Samantha Eggar. Ginty plays John Eastland, a Vietnam veteran who turns vigilante when his employer gets shaken down by the Mafia and his best friend, a fellow veteran who once saved his life in combat, is left paralyzed by a street gang.
The film, particularly the grisly methods employed by Eastland to coerce criminals, drew outrage from critics. However, it was an independent hit, generating $30 to $35 million in total revenue. It gave Ginty, until then best known as a supporting player in mainstream fare, a second career as an exploitation leading man, and marked the breakthrough of African-American actor Steve James. It is also considered an early example of the vetsploitation subgenre.