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RUNTIME
Did you know
90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Vigilante
"There's only one way to stop them..."
1983 1h 30m EN
😐
6.2
MID
★6.2TMDB · 117
CrimeActionThriller
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
New York City factory worker Eddie Marino is a solid citizen and regular guy, until the day a sadistic street gang brutally assaults his wife and murders his child. When a corrupt judge sets the thugs free, he goes berserk and vows revenge.
“There's only one way to stop them...”
Cast
Robert Forster
Eddie Marino
Fred Williamson
Nick
Richard Bright
Burke
Rutanya Alda
Vickie Marino
Don Blakely
Prago
Joseph Carberry
Ramon
Willie Colón
Rico
Joe Spinell
Eisenberg
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- William Lustig
- Writers
- Richard Vetere
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
43 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by William Lustig, shot by James Lemmo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Jay Chattaway. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Larry Marinelli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Robert Forster and Fred Williamson and Richard Bright carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "There's only one way to stop them...".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0084867 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
William Lustig directs. James Lemmo behind the camera. Jay Chattaway scores. Larry Marinelli cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 243 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3Directed by William Lustig, shot by James Lemmo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Jay Chattaway. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Larry Marinelli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Robert Forster and Fred Williamson and Richard Bright carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "There's only one way to stop them...".
- 8IMDB entry: tt0084867 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 9Classified under 12 themes, including "new york city", "rape", "police", "child murder".
- 10Released under 11 different titles around the world.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- James Lemmo
- Original score
- Jay Chattaway
- Editing
- Larry Marinelli
- Production design
- Mischa Petrow
- Makeup / hair
- Cecilia Verardi
- Stunt coordinator
- Alex Stevens
- Runtime
- 90 min · 1h 30m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Box office
- $5,091,888
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
- IMDB
- Vigilante (1983)
Also by
William Lustig
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Community reviews
What people are saying
- JPV852★ 7/10
Not a great revenge thriller but does feature two wonderful performances from Robert Forster and Fred Williamson. Some okay action in the third act though just when it felt like the revenge portion was just going into high gear, the movie seemed to abruptly end. Doesn't really match up with Death Wish but still a decent entry into the genre. 3.25/5
Production companies
Who made it
- MA
Magnum Motion Pictures Inc.
US
- AR
Artists Releasing Corporation (ARC)
- FI
Film Ventures International
US
Key crew
- EditorLarry Marinelli
- Executive ProducerJohn Packard
- Executive ProducerJerry Masucci
- ProducerAndrew W. Garroni
- ProducerWilliam Lustig
- Executive ProducerKenneth Pavia
- Stunt CoordinatorAlex Stevens
- StuntsDaniel Dod
- StuntsRandy Jurgensen
- StuntsHarry Madsen
- StuntsJery Hewitt
- StuntsFranklin Scott
- Boom OperatorDavid Platt
- Camera Department Production AssistantPaul Gibson
- Associate ProducerRandy Jurgensen
- Makeup & HairCecilia Verardi
- CastingLouis DiGiaimo
- Production DesignMischa Petrow
- Wardrobe DesignerKristin McNiff
- Sound MixerGary Rich
- Sound Effects EditorRobert Cardelli
- Sound Effects EditorVerne Carlson
- Sound Effects EditorJoseph Lesko
- Construction CoordinatorWilliam Douglas Levien
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- new york city
- rape
- police
- child murder
- revenge
- murder
- jail
- vigilante
- gang
- home invasion
- drugs
- vigilante justice
Release history · US
When it landed
- Premiere1982-07-23· Sneak Preview / New York City
- Theatrical1983-03-04R
Also known as
International titles
- Os VigilantesBR
- ShotgunDK
- VigilanteES
- Vigilante - yön soturitFI
- Yön soturitFI
- VigilanteFR
- Εκδικητές εκτός ΝόμουGR
- VigilanteNO
- КарателиSU
- StreetfightersDE
- StreetfightersNL
