Hated this film, incredibly boring.
Just watched it for the first time, really surprised it was so bad. I don't think I've ever seen such a famous film before or a cult classic that I didn't understand how it became so successful, even if I didn't like it. I also watched Death Wish for the first time last week which is even older than this film, but was FAR better.
The quality was obviously bad, worse than a B movie, worse than a TV movie, more like a high school drama class performing a little show. Some horrible acting, some terrible dialogue, etc. But I can look past all that because it was a low budget film, so was Death Wish. What I can't look past is such a crappy story. It gave no explanation of what the setting is and why, who are all the good people and why are they driving along those same dangerous roads all the time, who are all the bad guys and why are they like that, and how have they survived so long, and why are there no real cops? It doesn't explain anything, and it doesn't even do a good job of showing it either. It doesn't even look like a broken down society, it just looks out in the sticks. But even all that I can look past too.
But the story... It's just so weak. Guy is substitute cop, bad guys everywhere, guy wants to quit, partner and wife get killed, guy goes back for one last bit of revenge. It is like day 1 at writing a story, but it doesn't even do a good job of filling in the gaps. That's what I hated the most about this film, there was nothing of value in between. There is a bit of hoodlum shenanigans at the start and a bit in the middle, the only memorable moment for me was the bit at the house near the beach but it took an hour and 10 minutes to reach that point. Then the finale was pathetic and completely unsatisfying. Hate everything about it, weak.
The only thing I can say for it is that it was probably less cliqued when it was made. It was before Maverick & Goose and million other movies about revenge or overcoming the loss of a close friend/partner/spouse. But still, it was 6 years AFTER Death Wish and even that movie wasn't the first of its kind. I can understand a small number of people enjoying it after seeing it around 79, but I am amazed it became a series and such a famous hit.