Cagey, hard-working, obstinate no-nonsense scientist Franco Nero gets kidnapped during a brutal bank heist by a trio of vicious, nasty crooks. The hoods severely pummel Nero, take him along for a wild, harrowing car chase, and leave Nero forever scarred psychologically by the distressful experience. When the police prove to be ineffectual, Nero decides to go the Charles Bronson "Death Wish"-like enforce the law on your own self-proclaimed keeper of the peace vigilante route, teaming up with genial, helpful illegal arms dealer Giancarlo Prete in order to exact harsh revenge on the vile, untouchable low-life criminals who regularly get away with preying on decent, law-abiding folks.
An unexpectedly potent little crime/action potboiler, "Street Law" manages to be both utterly arresting and extremely hard-hitting thanks to its bang-up execution and accomplished technical polish. Under Italian B-film ace Enzo G. Castellari's typically strong, punchy, expert direction the compelling, convoluted and twist-ridden narrative unfolds in a most suspenseful, exhilarating and wickedly dead-on manner. Moreover, the gritty, smoky, squalid and threatening big city urban cesspool environment seems authentically grim and grimy, the cool, driving, harmonica-tinged rock score really hits the socko sonic spot, the brisk, starkly lit, sinuous cinematography gives the movie an excellent slick look, and the ferocious, rousing, often quite jolting action sequences -- Castellari's use of strenuous, gut-wrenching slow motion is incredibly effective -- deliver one hell of a strong and lingering punch. Better still, Nero contributes his usual top-notch performance, Prete is surprisingly likable as a conscience-plagued miscreant who yearns to go straight, and beauteous brunette Barbara Bach registers well as Nero's concerned, caring girlfriend. Why, "Street Law" even comes complete with a provocative, gruffly unsentimental, yet profound moral: Revenge is anything but sweet -- and it almost always comes with a highly serious and painful price to pay. Resolutely tough-minded and unusually complicated, with a suitably bleak tone and a pungently brooding atmosphere, this coarse, crackling, thoroughly gripping and exciting hard-edged vengeance crime thriller sizes up overall as an absolute powerhouse.
An unexpectedly potent little crime/action potboiler, "Street Law" manages to be both utterly arresting and extremely hard-hitting thanks to its bang-up execution and accomplished technical polish. Under Italian B-film ace Enzo G. Castellari's typically strong, punchy, expert direction the compelling, convoluted and twist-ridden narrative unfolds in a most suspenseful, exhilarating and wickedly dead-on manner. Moreover, the gritty, smoky, squalid and threatening big city urban cesspool environment seems authentically grim and grimy, the cool, driving, harmonica-tinged rock score really hits the socko sonic spot, the brisk, starkly lit, sinuous cinematography gives the movie an excellent slick look, and the ferocious, rousing, often quite jolting action sequences -- Castellari's use of strenuous, gut-wrenching slow motion is incredibly effective -- deliver one hell of a strong and lingering punch. Better still, Nero contributes his usual top-notch performance, Prete is surprisingly likable as a conscience-plagued miscreant who yearns to go straight, and beauteous brunette Barbara Bach registers well as Nero's concerned, caring girlfriend. Why, "Street Law" even comes complete with a provocative, gruffly unsentimental, yet profound moral: Revenge is anything but sweet -- and it almost always comes with a highly serious and painful price to pay. Resolutely tough-minded and unusually complicated, with a suitably bleak tone and a pungently brooding atmosphere, this coarse, crackling, thoroughly gripping and exciting hard-edged vengeance crime thriller sizes up overall as an absolute powerhouse.