Black Oak Conspiracy

"Blac Oak Conspiracy" is quite a unique film, or at least in my perception. Judging by the title, the setting, the era of release and the type of characters in the cast list, I was expecting a typically enjoyable slice of Rednecksploitation. And, in fact, it is just that, only more ... sophisticated! Usually in this kind of film, the Southern hicks chase innocent city folks through the woods, they moonshine, or they smuggle booze. The bad rednecks in the film, however, have flawless dental hygiene and occupy themselves with fraudulent real-estate transactions and misleading poor elderly landowners. Even the supportive characters are not your average type of good old-boy yokels, but school teachers and strong independent women instead. The mandatory trademarks of Rednecksploitation are well-represented, though, like the utterly corrupt Sheriff (fantastic role for Albert Salmi), the town's rebel returning home, car chases & crashes, bar fights, bare-knuckle boxing, buxom farmer daughters getting topless, couples rolling around in haystacks, and a catchy country song playing during the opening credits. "Black Oak Conspiracy" is somewhat slow-paced, but never boring and the story builds up towards a terrific climax. During the last twenty minutes, when one of the bad guys goes totally berserk, there is even a bit of nasty gore to enjoy. The great cast includes Jesse Vint (who also co-wrote the script), Robert F. Lyons, Seymour Cassel, and the aforementioned Albert Salmi.

Jesse Vint stars as a guy who moves back to his small home town because his mother has taken ill. He learns that she sold the family farm at some point to a local mining concern, and when he starts asking questions, the sheriff (Albert Salmi) takes a keen interest in discouraging him. Vint co-wrote and produced this flick which is a rather obvious attempt at cashing in on the success of "Walking Tall". This one's an immensely slow burner that doesn't really build up to much of anything. The poster promises a lot more action than the film delivers. Seymour Cassel co-stars as Vint's closest friend. As expected, he's good, but he's hardly convincing as a small town southerner.

Jesse Vint (who co-wrote and produced the film) stars as Hollywood stuntman Jingo Johnson, who is summoned back home to the small town of Black Oak, where his mother is deathly-ill in a nursing facility. He also gets caught up in corruption and uncovers a land-developing scheme involving shady locals. There are also some good action set pieces, such as a wild, but lively car chase on mountain roads and plenty of fight scenes, despite the plot being routine to other '70s redneck crime outings, such as Billy Jack and White Lightning. It's also nice to see an El Camino go through all sorts of obstacles, whether being chased or showing off.

then you should check this out. This is an entertaining good ol' boy action flick. Hollywood stuntman Jingo (Jesse Vint) returns to his hometown in Oklahoma when his mother takes ill. He immediately suspects something isn't right with his mother's situation (she is nearly catatonic and in a nursing home) so he begins to investigate. He uncovers the scheme involving the sheriff, a local doctor, cheap property and the local land mine. And, naturally, he wins back the girl he left in town. It is strange how this type of film (small town conspiracy) was so predominant in the 70s but rarely gets made today. BOC is a bit slow in the beginning but picks up toward the end with a fun car chase and a couple of really shocking shootings. Sadly, the poster, featuring a bloodied and beaten Vint with a shotgun and overturned cars, depicts stuff that never happens in the movie.

Prior to "Walking Tall", and other hixploitations films, this film is no different. After coming home from Hollywood, Jingo(Jesse Vint) comes to Black Oak, Arkansas where he sees something is not right in his town. His mother is put in a nursing home, and her home is torn down by unscrupulous people near the mine. Even the sheriff is in on it. The sheriff and the schemers are desperate to get the property and run Jingo out of town. He on the other hand has his professor brother help him out on what is going on while he was doing films. Not only is his mother is the victim, other people are involved as well. This movie is common. Kinda like a avengers movie. Good plot and storyline. Nothing was left out. Like it very much. 2 out of 5 stars.