Act of Vengeance (1974)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Captivating movie !

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Quite involving, entertaining 70's era trash that, like some other movies of its kind, actually successfully combines both exploitation and empowerment of women. A quintet of very angry women have something in common: they've all been raped by the same orange jump suit and hockey mask wearing lowlife whose greatest thrill is forcing them to sing "Jingle Bells". He clearly thinks of himself as some irresistible stud; to them, he's just a monster that needs to be stopped, and NOW, before more women can be hurt. They learn that depending on the police to do their job won't be of any use. One can't fail to notice the often very dim view that this screenplay (by David Kidd (billed as 'Betty Conklin'!) and H.R. Christian) takes of men: they're either scum or they're inept. Even the boyfriend of one of our vengeance crazed ladies doesn't feel much sympathy for her. Now, personally speaking, when I see a rape- revenge movie, it's the revenge portion that should really make it sing for me, and the revenge is worth waiting for, if a long time coming. Along the way, though, we do get treated to the sight of two red herrings getting humiliated in blatantly comedic sequences. Our merry rapist is quite the character, putting a lot of effort into his stalking and even taking the trouble to record his thoughts on tape! When he gets wind of the ladies' activities, he does an amusing job of messing with them and getting them to head where he wants them to go. For those who are demanding the requisite amount of female flesh, they can note the amount of breasts that are put on display. But it's really the main characters that keep the whole thing very watchable; they're easy enough to root for. The cast includes a bunch of lovely ladies, including Jo Ann Harris as our spunky lead, and a number of other familiar faces from 70's cinema: Peter Brown, Connie Strickland, Tony Young, Joan McCall, Penthouse Pet Anneka Di Lorenzo, and Marie O'Henry, as well as future 'Dallas' actor Steve Kanaly. The direction by Bob Kelljan (whose other work for A.I.P. includes "Scream Blacula Scream" and the two "Count Yorga" movies) keeps things moving along nicely. Only the finale, in which the ladies rather senselessly just head right into danger, and allow themselves to be separated (as well as the somewhat contrived way to get the rapist to remove his hockey mask and therefore make himself identifiable), detracts a little from the enjoyment. But overall trash fans are certain to have themselves a good time watching this. Eight out of 10.

With a totally clueless police force unable to catch a serial rapist, five victims decide on a vigilante solution. Their "rape squad" takes on the hockey masked perpetrator and any other men behaving badly. All the men in "Act of Vengeance" are portrayed as insensitive creeps, including cops, hustlers, pimps, and even boyfriends. While the middle part of the film deals with these various male annoyances, the conclusion in an abandoned zoo, is totally about the "jingle bell rapist". The films greatest weakness, besides some marginal acting, is that very little is revealed about the orange clad hockey man. In the end however, it is what it is, an above average female revenge flick. - MERK

A rapist hidden behind hockey mask is on the loose.He forces his female victims to sing Jingle Bells during rape.A group of five women learn martial arts and team up to stop his dirty deeds."Act of Venegance" aka "The Rape Squad" has the special place in my heart,because it was along with Wes Craven's "Last House on the Left" the first rape and revenge flick I have ever seen.It's an odd and strangely unsettling thriller with sleaze and misogynistic violence.The script is lurid as it condemns the act of rape and sides with its victims but also presents those acts in an over-the-top and exploitative style.A must-see for exploitation fans.8 out of 10.

RAPE SQUAD is an odd-ball of an exploit film - it's shot to look like your typical made-for-TV movie, but contains all the sleaze elements that are common amongst the more notable exploit films.The plot revolves around a hockey-masked serial-rapist who spouts of silly one-liners and makes his victims sing "Jingle Bells" as he bones them. A group of victims that all meet up to try to ID the rapist at a police line-up decide that the cops aren't taking a serious enough interest in their case, and decide to start a women's group to support and help rape victims. Along the way, hockey-mask surveils the women and in their attempts to try to smoke him out - Mr. Rapist devises his own plan to trap the "Rape Squad" so he can have a final bit of fun with them all collectively...Honestly - RAPE SQUAD isn't nearly as sleazy or graphic as many of the more well-known rape/revenge films - but it's a solid entry in the genre. It's entertaining enough to keep interest and there's just enough sleaze to still appeal to the exploit fans out there. Not my favorite of the genre - but a "fun" piece nonetheless...7/10