Oh You Thought You Knew Trash Cinema -The Vindicator

So I have repeatedly referred to my friend who is also a movie freak like me but he is more of an action and horror movie purist. Honestly in a perfect world for him these movies would have zero dialogue and all action and/or gore. Here's a brief look into his world. Ladies and gentlemen I bring you Macleod...

The Vindicator (1983) -- Directed by Jean-Claude Lord.  Stars David McIlwraith, Teri Austin, Maury Chaykin, Richard Cox and Pam Grier.  This is a little-seen and underrated sci-fi/action potboiler shot in Montreal.  

McIlwraith plays bland 80s-everyman scientist Carl Lehman with a pregnant wife (Austin) at home. A shocking opening sequence involving a lab chimp being provoked into a rage highlights the lax animal rights standards for films in the 80s.  Occasional animal cruelty goes with the territory for expoitation film lovers, but the ASPCA wouldn't be too down with poking a caged chimp with a stick until it goes, uh, ape-shit. 

The nefarious corporate boss (Cox) conspires with his team to arrange for Lehman's death in a lab exposion, leaving only his still-living eyes and brain with the rest of his body burned or missing. They build  a cyborg body and implant the brain and eyes - our robo-Frankenstein immediately wakes up and goes on a death rampage. 

The supporting cast excels - husky character actor Maury Chaykin (the fake Harvey Weinstein from Entourage) turns in the most memorable performance as the best friend who turns backstabber and then goes straight to pure-creepy territory as he tries to romance the grieving pregnant widow, ending in assualt and a sweaty attempted rape. Action goddess Pam Grier shows up as the evil "Hunter" (both by name and profession) hired to find and destroy our robohero.  Hunter rocks some skin-tight leather pants and goes around shooting innocents and generally being a fun evil henchwoman.

Special recognition goes to Stan Winston studios for creating the suit, which has a nice distressed, almost steam-punk look due to the damage it receives throughout the film.  There is a show-stopper special effect where the Vindicator removes his helmet and you see a clear acrylic shell holding together his exposed jawbone and burned flesh in a liquid solution.  Innovative work for the budget, as usual from the late, great Stan Winston. 

 There are a lot of similarities between this film and Robocop - I'd stop short of calling Robocop a rip-off, but the unstoppable cyborg in a metal body with an exposed face, and a couple similar scenes like the robot stalking his previous family and a guy getting pulled through a wall after the robot punches through it are very similar.  Maybe it just goes with the territory for robot killer cyborg movies. 

Senseless violence, a healthy dose of casual 80s nudity, and strong acting by the supporting cast along with a fast-moving screenplay and memorable, effective makeup and effects make this a VHS-era gem.  Recommended for fans of trash-cinema.  Rating: FRESH