Sandor is Oli Hand, a returned Vietnam veteran whose traumatic experiences as one of the elite special forces assassins has affected his ability to re-adjust to his life as the son of the former serviceman (Slattery) living on the family farm. When visiting carnival folk (Tarkington, Lane, Scott, Booth and Thompson) begin causing trouble in town, they discover that Oli is a killing machine capable of taking on the entire gang to protect his family.
Tarkington as the brawny gang leader delivers a scene-stealing performance of calculated authority, a standard that elevates the entire picture from its C-grade roots. Sandor is so-so as the unhinged ex-GI, Slattery as his father who doesn't understand the psychological damage done to his son causes conflict between the two and this serves as the film's dramatic tone. Other roles are generally well-played, with lanky Mike Lane as a violent thug, and cult-favourite Sid Haig dishing out a beating or two in typical form.
The dialogue and acting is better than usual for this type of fodder, though there are some exceptions - Sandor's war-buddies behave more like dumb & dumber than special forces experts (note the scene where they high-five one another before the job is done). Notwithstanding the budget constraints and plot weaknesses, "No Mercy Man" (aka "Trained to Kill USA") isn't a bad yarn that doesn't over-reach in its melodrama and instead delivers plenty of explosions, and slow-motion shoot-outs in its crazed climax.
