Watch Vigilante Force

Vigilante Force, directed by George Armitage and released in 1976, is an action-packed thriller starring Kris Kristofferson, Jan-Michael Vincent, and Victoria Principal. Set in a small California town during the 1970s, the film follows a group of well-meaning vigilantes as they attempt to bring order and justice to their community. The story begins when a group of oil drillers, led by Kris Kristofferson's character Aaron Arnold, arrive in the town of Elk Hills. The new arrivals disrupt the peace of the town, which is already struggling with a local criminal gang known as the Vantayge Family. The gang engages in numerous crimes and violent activities, including extortion, murder, and prostitution.

Despite the efforts of the police, the Vantayge Family continues to exert their influence over the town. Frustrated and fed up with their inability to stop the criminals, a group of town residents led by Jan-Michael Vincent's character Ben Arnold, Aaron's younger brother, form a vigilante group to take matters into their own hands. The group includes other drillers, as well as regular townspeople, and they soon begin to make a difference through their violent tactics.

As the vigilantes gain more power and influence, they start to face opposition from the police and the Vantayge Family. The situation spins out of control when the vigilantes take over the town, turning it into a military state, and the gang members band together to launch a counter-attack.

Throughout the film, viewers are treated to tense and action-packed sequences, including car chases, shootouts, and explosions. The film also tackles themes of power, corruption and justice, as well as the idea of ordinary people taking the law into their own hands.

The performances in Vigilante Force are solid, with Kris Kristofferson delivering a charismatic and compelling turn as Aaron, the oil driller and leader of the vigilante group. Jan-Michael Vincent's Ben, who is motivated by a desire to avenge his wife's death at the hands of the Vantayge Family, offers an emotional and nuanced portrayal of a man pushed to the edge. Victoria Principal, meanwhile, is strong as Linda Christopher, the widowed owner of a truck stop who becomes romantically involved with Aaron.

The film is also notable for its stunning visuals, with scenes of the desert and surrounding landscape creating a sense of isolation and desolation. The cinematography, particularly in the action sequences, is well executed and adds to the intensity of the film.

Vigilante Force may not be a perfect film, as it can be criticised for its sometimes heavy-handed approach to violence and its lack of character development for some of the support characters. However, it remains an entertaining and thrilling action movie that is worth watching for fans of the genre.

In conclusion, Vigilante Force is a classic action movie with a satisfying mix of thrills and drama. With strong performances and impressive visuals, the film offers a compelling exploration of the consequences of taking justice into one's own hands. If you are looking for a thrilling ride, Vigilante Force is definitely worth your time.

Vigilante Force is a 1976 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.