Happy summertime says Frog Baby, as I am back to share with you all yet another underrated horror gem. This time out I’m turning to a prime example of sleazy sci-fi hilarity, a b-movie hunk of cheese known as the pre-Robocop 1986 thriller The Vindicator. When I happened on this film the other night, I can’t lie, I thought I was hallucinating. Sure it’s painfully dated, the effects b-side companions to flicks like Terminator before it, or even dreck like Cyborg after it. No matter though, as awful as it seems at times, this movie is flat out entertaining. When a scientist is killed by his superior in order to reanimate as a subservient cyborg, a glitch in the robot’s control chip ensues, and instead of being an obedient automaton, the robot goes on a kill crazy rampage to avenge those who ended his human life. He tries to visit is wife and reconcile a rocky relationship, all the while being tracked by a bounty hunter (the smokin’ post-Foxy Brown Pam Grier) and various hired guns.
Largely lambasted for being a Robocop knockoff, The Vindicator actually came out a year prior to the Paul Verhoeven cult-action picture. No only that, the film was shot in 1984, the same year The Terminator was released. This is evident in the fashion trends in the film adhering to more of an early-mid 80s, rather than mid-late 80s. Similarities are drawn to the aesthetic look of the robot itself, an awkward mound of metal with ridiculous ocular enhancement and goofy-ass footwear, among other things. The late great Stan Winston, a preeminent make-up/effects man, conceived and constructed the robot appearance, yet his said to have largely detested the film, deeming it “awful.” Directed by Jean-Claude Lord, who two years prior helmed the impressive slasher effort Visiting Hours, paces The Vindicator with great tempo, never leaving a dull moment for a viewer to reflect how absurd this thing really is. It’s non-stop action, both with sci-fi and revenge horror tropes that come together, despite all its low-budget deficiencies, in a way that is pretty damn fun to watch. Not for nothing, but if you need extra incentive to see the goddess Pam Grier in any film, you need help. Really.
Best 3 Parts:
1. When Carl Lehman/Frankenstein squishes a person’s head, with helmet on, into an eviscerated blood puddle.
2. When a horde of unruly chimps accost an otherwise helpless female scientist. Funny and disturbing at once.
3. A rape scene where the robot gets his freak on, as absurd as this premise sounds, it’s done in a raw and unapologetic manner.
That's it for thr Frog this time out, as always, be sure to check in next month for yet another edition of Frog Baby's underrated pick of the month.
