The Ravager

PIERRE AGOSTINO, a regular in RAY STECKLER projects, stars as Joe...a Vietnam War serviceman who witnesses a girl raped, beaten, and blown to bits, later developing a unique serial killer/rapist identity on returning to the states---- his big thrill is blowing folks up with sticks of dynamite(which he purchases casually over the counter at the local explosives retail shop). Initially, his targets for obliteration are social deviants...sex-crazed juvies, lesbians, and other undesirable misfits of society. Eventually, he broadens his scope, and anyone is fair game, even an innocent housewife and her nine-year-old son. During these acts of violence, among them a memorably nasty barbecued lezzy bit, Joe makes strange, twitchy orgasm faces and sweats profusely. The onscreen action is occasionally punctuated by crummy, royalty-free elevator muzak.

An early entry in the 'Nam vet psycho-killer microgenre(the first probably being the 1967 roughie ODDO), THE RAVAGER was released well ahead of the porn sickie FORCED ENTRY(which is typically recognized as the first). Directed by Charles Nizet, the genius behind HELP ME...I'M POSSESSED and VOODOO HEARTBEAT, this Las Vegas area lensed monstrosity stands tall with the seediest of grindhouse cinema, and features an especially trashy looking cast of amateurs....probably regulars from the dive bar where Nizet bent his elbows.

Trash film mongers will get a bang out of this artless ordure. Something Weird Video's print is extremely worn, but with junk like this, wear, tear, and washout is an enhancement of the experience. 5.5/10.