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Robert Judd, Catherine Peppers, Lela Small, Yvonne Ross, Reggie Rock Bythewood ... see more see more... , Ramon Saunders , William Sanderson , Daniel Faraldo , Peter Yoshida , William Cargill , David Dewlow , Nick Mariano , Bonni Martin , Richard A. Rubin

This outrageous sleazefest released by exploitation maven William Mishkin may be the least politically correct film ever seen in American theaters. Thug William Sanderson (of TV's Newhart) and two of ... read more read more...his flunkies shoot a number of people and go on the lam to upstate New York. They hide out at the home of a black minister and his family, whom they torture, rape, and intimidate for much of the film. Sanderson's dialogue is amazingly racist, and one wonders if it caused any riots at the inner-city grindhouses where this film played. Any examples would be unprintable, and this is definitely not a film for sensitive viewers. Not only does Sanderson manage to shock with epithets, but he makes the minister dance a jig and refers to his elderly mother as "Aunt Jemima." If that wasn't enough, a small white boy has his head beaten to a pulp with a stone in a rather graphic scene cut from some prints. Director Robert A. Endelson also includes a gang rape and some anti-Hispanic sentiment. This film is for extreme tastes only, though some may find the sheer exuberance of Sanderson's performance good for a few laughs. Writer Straw Weisman also penned the Troma comedy When Nature Calls before directing Dead Mate. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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55% liked it

1,592 ratings

R, 1 hr. 29 min.

Directed by: Robert A. Endelson

Release Date: January 1, 1977

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DVD Release Date: February 15, 2005

Stats: 104 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (104)

  • WrenchLT
    October 27, 2011
    WrenchLT
    It's not a horror film but this tasteless exploitation piece was deemed controversial enough in the UK to make the video nasties list and is still banned to this day! But is it any good? Well that depends on your personal taste. If you don't mind politically incorrect grindhouse ... read moremovies then you'll enjoy this more than others would. It's a home-invasion movie featuring indiscriminate murder, rape, humiliation and racist language. But for all those unpleasantries the most shocking moment in the film would the killing of the young boy which really was quite brutal. Much is made of the racist tones in the film, mostly from the lead villian played brilliantly by William Sanderson. But the racist insults fly from all directions, including from the black family and the other two villains, one is Mexican and the other Chinese... it all got quite humourous at times! It's too cheesy to get really riled up about so I had fun with it.
  • mjgildea
    April 11, 2007
    mjgildea
    Picture a REALLY racist version of The Desperate Hours. The gang is lead by a redneck J.F. Sebastian from Blade Runner and the family are baptist blacks. It's nowhere nearly as homoerotic as this poster suggests. The NY intro is fun and despite this being one of the most politica... read morelly incorrect movies ever made, it's for lack of a better term... fun as a time capsule. It's also safe to say this one will never get remade.
  • kingmob6
    August 16, 2011
    kingmob6
    William Sanderson is amazingly sleazy in this Exploitation classic, sparing no racist slur as he and his group of escaped cons torment and torture a black preacher's family in their home near the woods. The family eventually has enough and rises up against their tormentors, as o... read morene expects in a film of this sort.

    The film is very mean-spirited, not even sparing the children in the violence, but it goes a long way to sell the final act, when the family has had enough.

    This is a great little Exploitation film, well worth a look.
  • futsin
    November 19, 2007
    futsin
    Not as satisfying as I hoped for being such a brutal film. The finale could've been much better. Although it's still a blast, I don't doubt it could be remade and done much better. Although many points for the deaths, some good timing, and the fact it's a pretty bad-ass and well-... read moremade exploitation film.
  • markymarkslunggnome
    November 18, 2007
    markymarkslunggnome
    "You're just like the black man that ran away with my mama!" Child bludgeoning, attempted infant homicide, canine urination, lazy law enforcement, and families coming together to stand up to their captors... in a blaze of glory!

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Critic Reviews

March 28, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A vile low-budget film. Full Review

Bill Chambers
February 26, 2004
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central

A Jeff Foxworthy record from Hell Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 17, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

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  • What movie does this inspirational quote come from: "And I know, if I'm gonna have any life anymore it's because I'm still willing to fight and die for that inch, because that's what living is, the six inches in front of your face!"  Answer »
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