Four psychos go on a crime spree robbing restaurants and raping and killing waitresses. The goons are arrested and brought to trial, but they get off because of a technicality. Chris Mulkey stars as the brother of one of the victims who goes out for revenge. His uncle (Blood Feast’s William Kerwin), a detective on the case, bends the law and turns a blind eye to Mulkey’s actions, allowing him his opportunity for justice.
Tomcats is basically a Death Wish rehash. It’s a bit on the uneven side and is sometimes frustrating, but it certainly has its merits. The opening attack sequence is surprisingly strong. It also does the whole heavy breathing stalker POV camerawork thing rather well. (A full year before Halloween made it chic.) That’s the only real distinguishing stylistic characteristic though. That cool scene aside, the rest of the picture is mostly drab and none too subtle.
The finale is a bit of a letdown. I mean the guys are all cretins. You want to see them get what’s coming to them. Unfortunately, most of the scumbags get off way too easy, which is sort of the big problem. The shootouts and chase scenes in the third act lack sizzle too.
The movie coasts on the strength of Mulkey’s performance. He has a quiet, likeable toughness about him, and you can’t help but to root for him. Wayne Crawford (who also co-wrote the script) is appropriately sleazy as the head rapist. You just wish he came to a more fitting demise. Kerwin (brother of Harry Kerwin, who also directed) is fun to watch, especially since he’s playing a slight variation on the character he played in Blood Feast.
Ultimately, Tomcats is better in its first half when it’s detailing the gang’s reign of terror. Once it switches gears and becomes a revenge flick, it all kind of fizzles out. Still, there’s still plenty of grimy atmosphere (not to mention copious amounts of T & A) to go around. It’s not bad as far as ‘70s revenge flicks go, but it falls just short of being a good one.
Kerwin and Crawford reteamed for Barracuda the next year.
AKA: Getting Even.
AKA: Avenged. AKA:
Deadbeat.
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