(1975/ITALY)
AKA: FINAL PAYMENT/RAMBO’S REVENGE/ONE JUST MAN/IL GIUSTRIZIERE SFIDA LA CITTA)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-UMBERTO LENZI CAST-TOMAS MILIAN, JOSEPH COTTEN, MARIA FIORE, RON STEWART, GUIDO ALBERTI, IDA GALLI, FEMI BENUSSI, LUCIANO CATENACCI and SILVANO TRANQUILLI. SOURCE-MEDIA BLASTERS/SHRIEK SHOW NTSC R1 DVD (2005)
Loosely based on the David Morrell book FIRST BLOOD, and inspired by Sergio Leone’s classic western FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE. SYNDICATE SADISTS story tells us about nomad Rambo (Milian) who arrives in town after a 6 month absence. He visits his brother who tries to get him to join a security force. They are in the middle of an investigation when Rambo’s brother is kill viciously. That of course sets Rambo off, and the first place to seek revenge is at the heart of it, the brewing gang war between Conti (Catenacci) and Paterno (Joseph Cotten). Rambo decides to exploit the on going investigation of the kidnaped kid of a wealthy politician. The kidnappers being that of Conti who is seeking high money for his safe return. So, what better way to get the kid back and to seek his revenge for his brothers death, get Paterno involved. Pit the two families against each other by telling Paterno where the kid is being held hostage awaiting the large sum of ransom money.
Playing out much like other classics like Kurosawa’s YOJIMBO and Leone’s FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE. The center of this crime thriller from director Umberto Lenzi is that of the rugged Tomas Milian. Much like his well known roll of the renegade cop Nico Giraldi, the only real different being that Milian’s character of Rambo has a soft spot for doing the right thing in the end. Something that Milian as an actor wanted to convey while going into this project, though he loved playing these rough and tumble styled characters, he also wanted to incorporate something back to the kids who looked up to him as a film hero. Though killing was a main part too many of his films, this time it was going to be not just the senseless killing. Of course there no argument as to the perfect casting of him in this role by Lenzi, even though it was Milian who approached him in the first to do this project.
Alongside Milian’s character of Rambo, Lenzi beefs up the rest of the supporting cast around him. What are great matching of the legendary Joseph Cotten on one end, playing an aging family don who has a secret that is revealed in the end, up against a much younger Luciano Catenacci who plays Conti. Both actors, though they really never play opposite each other, bolster enough clout to give a realistic image of a true gang war. Though killing with a message was a strong point to this film, it still houses some top notch action sequences and brutal bullet spraying. Let’s not forget who the man behind the director’s chair is here. Umberto Lenzi once again brings his ultimate crime touch to SYNDICATE SADISTS much like his other films ROME ARMED TO THE TEETH, ALMOST HUMAN and others. A balls out action buster that relentlessly never gives in, much like that of Milian’s charater of Rambo. All the dirty moves were played, blackmailing, kidnaping, killing and of course extortion are all the name of the game in SYNDICATE SADISTS. Of course no Lenzi Italian crime outing is complete without the perfect music score and that is as ever present here. Blistering the on screen action with the perfect match in sound, composers Alexander Blonkstein and Franco Micalizzi give life to the viewer’s ears and total emotions much like that of Lenzi’s visuals. Both have worked with Lenzi on a few other occasions.
Finally there is a legitimate DVD of this classic Umberto Lenzi/Tomas Milian outing, and that is the main thing. Media Blasters do a so so job in restoring this to the shinny format. Though the print doesn’t look too bad, it however could have been given a much better clean up job. Still, one must not complain at least not until there is a better alternative given. The film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic wide screen, which houses a few nicks and areas of graininess. The audio Dolby Digital English mono, which in a couple of areas seem to drag or snag. The highlight of this disc though is the audio commentary and interview with Lenzi himself. Though the interview is pretty basic, the commentary is quite different and very interesting especially for fans of the film and of Lenzi himself. Rounding out the rest of the disc, there is a photo gallery and trailers for other Media Blasters releases. Though there are little things to pick out about this release, this disc is still very much worth the purchase for the film alone.
STORY/FILM-3.5 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-2.5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-2.5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-2.5 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-2.5 BITCH SLAPS
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