Blastfighter

Disgraced cop Jake 'Tiger' Sharp sets up at a log cabin deep in the southern states. He wants to escape from the harsh and cold world. A world which brought him nothing but pain. He lost his wife and his daughter. He lost his job and his pride as a man. Now he just wants to be left alone. Problem is that hunters for a rich Chinese medicine maker want to give him problems anew.

Like much of the Italian output of this period it is best to highlight the film that this is an imitation of. Rambo comes directly to mind as our hero fights locals and staggers through wilderness. Now reflect on the similarities of these films, you find a very compatible blending. We have a wronged man with little good going his way. He has war wounds and is not the best of blokes from the greatest of background. He is raging against the machine in a familiar, fight the local might way. We also have tender exposition that explores the man behind the tough guy. He is a heart on a rather hard heart. Unlike Rambo however this film has more explosive offerings and a far higher body count. This is done as is often the case in a over the top spectacular ending set piece. It also has a bad character that is far more complex. They have history and like most Italian fare, it is deeply personal. We have a plot that has dark over hangs of alternative cultures and conservation. Rape, revenge, animal cruelty and a man on the edge.

Bava is the star here and Tarantino is well right. This has the usual flair of action and tension but it is spliced in with great space shots. These add a strange feel of connection and give the film real power. This along with the great action scenes and that strange mix of wildlife film and rifle scope. The featuring of Eastman as a bad guy is great as well. He gives us a tender side to his rather harsh usual frame. This is his beat and so far the best release from those mavericks at 88 Films. It kicks a lump out of Rambo!! It kicks a lump out of blu ray and it is a stonker!