Syndicate Sadists is a 1975 movie directed by Umberto Lenzi.
WHAT HAPPENS?
A biker vows revenge on two rival crime families after his brother is murdered while investigating a kidnapping.
ONE LINE REVIEW
Tomas Milian shines in an essential 70’s Euro Crime classic.
THE ACTORS
Syndicate Sadists is Tomas Milian’s show. His Rambo character is a drifter that possesses an impeccable cool and Serpico-esque, 70’s style. His wit and wiry, physical prowess foreshadows a more natural version of the amped-up action heroes that would soon follow. Milian’s easy delivery and natural comic style carries the movie.
The Cruel Ones is a 1967 Italian Western directed by Sergio Corbucci.
The Cruel Ones, aka I crudeli, aka The Hellbenders tells the story of Jonas, a Confederate officer who is attempting to raise an army and continue the Civil War. Along with his sons, he steals Union money and hides it in a coffin – with the rouse that he is escorting his “daughter’s” husband’s remains.
Within the filmography of Sergio Corbucci, The Cruel Ones holds a unique position. It’s sandwiched between Django, Navajo Joe and The Great Silence – three of Corbucci’s most recognized works. It also predates his later “revolutionary period” titles The Mercenary and Companeros.
In a fitting nod to such an artistically rich sub-genre, The Cruel Ones is unlike any of Corbucci’s other Westerns. There is no mysterious drifter or overt political message to be found. It’s reliance on family and Civil War themes are more representative of American Westerns. Yet, The Cruel Ones features Corbucci’s trademark style, sounds and splashy violence.
In short, this is an impressive offering from a vastly underrated director.
The story’s concept – transporting stolen money in a coffin – is the perfect vehicle for a corrupt family to tear themselves apart. Greed and power emerge as potent forces. The family patriarch, Jonas – savagely played by Joseph Cotten – has a grand vision of restoring the defeated Confederate Army. He commands his sons in a vicious attack against Union troops, stealing millions of dollars.
