Rating Breakdown:
Story - 1.25 :: Direction - 1.25 :: Pacing - 1.00 :: Performances - 1.25 :: Entertainment - 1.25 :::: TOTAL - 6/10
If you only judged Acts of Vengeance by its alternate titles - The Violator and Rape Squad - you'd expect the kind of grimy, bottom-shelf exploitation that makes you want to shower afterwards. But surprise! This little revenge thriller has more righteous fury and narrative heft than its schlocky marketing suggests.
The plot? Simple but effective: an orange Jumpsuit hockey-mask-wearing rapist is on the loose, and the police are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. When the system fails them, a group of survivors, led by the ferociously compelling Jo Ann Harris as Linda Shoemaker, decide to take matters (and self-defence weapons) into their own hands. Think Death Wish, but with feminist rage and flared jeans.
The script is better than you'd expect from the genre, giving the women distinct personalities and making their camaraderie feel real. Where it falls short is in its reluctance to dig deeper into the emotional trauma of the victims, or the twisted psychology of the predator. It scratches at these themes but never quite commits.
Bob Kelljan's direction is stylish for the genre, delivering some well-composed shots and a moody '70s aesthetic. Sure, the pacing lags in places, but the film never fully loses its momentum. And let's talk about the cast: Harris is an absolute scene-stealer, her performance brimming with grit and defiance. The rest of the women hold their own, giving their characters enough personality to make you root for them.
Then there's Peter Brown as the villain, who is about as intimidating as an Ikea chair. His wooden performance undercuts what should have been a nail-biting final showdown, making him the weak link in an otherwise strong cast.
Despite its flaws, Acts of Vengeance delivers a surprisingly effective tale of empowerment, revenge, and '70s street justice. Not quite I Spit on Your Grave, but more than just sleazy fluff, it's a grindhouse gem worth unearthing.
