MOVIE REVIEW : ‘NAM VETS GO ON A RAMPAGE

“The Annihilators” (citywide) is a clumsy, dangerously simple-minded law-and-order revenge fantasy.

When wheelchair-bound Vietnam War vet Dennis Redfield is clubbed to death in his grocery store by Paul Koslo, leader of a gang terrorizing a shabby section of Atlanta, Redfield’s Army buddies Christopher Stone, Andy Wood, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Gerrit Graham re-group to avenge his death (and also that of one of his customers). After passing on a few self-defense tips to Redfield’s neighbors, they settle down to an all-out war in the streets with Koslo and his minions, who also are involved in a major drug-smuggling ring.

Director Charles E. Sellier Jr. and writer Brian Russell show that the vigilantes have the tacit approval of the Atlanta police, who are presented as hamstrung by a citizenry too terrified to cooperate and by too-lenient courts. We are soon asked to believe that bodies could start dropping like flies in a city the size of Atlanta without the National Guard ever being called in--and the local gendarmes arriving on the scene only for a mop-up operation and to offer congratulations to Stone et al.

“The Annhilators” (rightly rated R) raises the frustrating and tragic problem of urban crime only to exploit its inherent violence in every way imaginable. Considering that its makers encourage citizens to take the law into their own hands and steadfastly resist any contact with reality in the vigilante solution they offer, it seems irresponsible that the sheriff of De Kalb County, where Atlanta is located, should have extended to them the kind of cooperation that resulted in his being thanked in the film’s end credits.

‘THE ANNIHILATORS’ A New World Pictures release. Producer Allan C. Pedersen. Co-producer Tom Chapman. Director Charles Sellier Jr. Screenplay Brian Russell. Camera Henning Schellerup. Assoc. producer/2nd unit director Perry Husman. Visual/stunt coordinator Don Shanks. Art director Simon Gittins. Filk editor Dan Gross. With Christopher Stone, Andy Wood, Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, Gerrit Graham, Dennis Redfield, Paul Koslo.

Running time: 1 hour, 25 minutes.

MPAA-rated: R (under 17 requires an accompanying parent or adult guardian.)