For a straightforward tale of violent revenge, The Exterminator is a surprisingly influential film in straight-to-video circles. Avenging Vietnam vet Robert Ginty was henceforth known as Robert "Exterminator" Ginty on the sleeves of a plethora of independently produced sequels and clones, and became quite a draw in his own right. The genre kicks off here with Ginty on the trail of the murderous gang that beat up his comrade. He rapidly finds himself using his brutal combat skills to tackle the CIA, the cops and various crime families who all seem to be after his blood. Christopher George plays the head villain and Samantha Eggar provides the glamour.

When a man's best friend is killed on the streets of New York, he transforms into a violent killer, turning New York into a war zone.