Patrulla de forajidos

The Philippines was seemingly chock-a-block with low-rent WW2 flicks in the early 1960s until a public appetite for more exploitative fare opened the eyes of its producers to the lure of horror and adventure flicks. THE RAVAGERS is handled, as are most, by genre maestro Eddie Romero, who uses every bit of his budget to deliver a film replete with gun battles and low rent action.

The story sees a group of US and Filipino soldiers teaming up to tackle a squad of crack Japanese troops who are menacing a local nunnery. In a nicely surprising plot twist, the arrival of the Filipino soldiers ends up putting the nuns into more danger, thanks to the machinations of stock Filipino regular Vic Diaz, here up to his neck in sleaze as a shady guy with his eyes on some of the Catholic sisters. Thankfully, square-jawed hero Fernando Poe, Jr. (THE WALLS OF HELL) is on hand to put an end to his plans.

There isn't too much time for plotting however as this is a film that's all about the action. If you're a fan of repetitive, long-winded and seemingly endless gun battles then you'll be pleased with this; unfortunately for me, I like a bit more finesse when it comes to action choreography so these were a chore to sit through. The special effects budget is put to good use, however, in the myriad explosions, and John Saxon is always good value. Here he's the imported American star given to gruff mannerisms and basically telling people where to go. THE RAVAGERS is a justly forgotten movie which nonetheless made a recent showing on television here in the UK thanks to the actions of Freeview channel Movies4Men.