Fighting Mad (1978)

"Where I came from, learning how to fight was learning how to live."  - Russell

aka: Death Force
After being left for dead, Vietnam Vet Doug Russell is rescued by two Japanese soldiers living on a remote island who teach him the ways of the samurai. Upon returning home, he seeks revenge on those who betrayed him.
Starring: James Iglehart, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Carmen Argenziano, Jayne Kennedy

Link to IMDB

Is that hat Army issue ?

We meet three soldiers as they are returning home from the Vietnam war: Russell, McGee and Morelli. They get the idea to smuggle out a crate of gold and sell it on the black market for some much needed money to take home with them. While Russell is eager to get back to his wife and child, McGee and Morelli plan to use their army skills in the world of organized crime. This means that Russell is just going to get in the way, so they decide to slit his throat and throw him off the boat on their way back to America.



Russell survives and washes up on a deserted island, where the only inhabitants are two old WWII Japanese soldiers that have yet to realize the war ended decades ago. Since they are all trapped there together, they nurse Russell back to full strength and become his friends. The Japanese soldiers have remained dedicated to the code of the samurai, and after some convincing they eventually agree to train their new friend.... And really, there is nothing else to do on the island besides suntan.

While life on the island continues, the two bad guys in America are becoming more dangerous and powerful each day, as they ruthlessly establish themselves as the new criminal lords in town. McGee is also harassing Russell's wife, Maria, who struggles with her singing career now that she's a widow. This makes us want to see Russell get back in the action even more!

"You like lasagna, you got lasagna."  - McGee

More like McSleaze

As an exploitation-revenge movie, it works great. Russell and his Japanese friends are fun characters to watch, and the villains are so sleazy that you just can't wait to see them get taken down. Although it does get a bit slow at times, and there's not as much violence as I thought there would be, it's still fully satisfying throughout. Our patience is rewarded with some good fight scenes when Russell finally jumps into action and starts taking down the criminal scum.




Be sure not to miss:
- I'm not sure if "mother humpers" is censored or if it was actually in the script. Either way, it's pretty funny.
- Was that Bob Ross getting killed at the poker game?
- Quentin Tarantino has cited this as a big influence, and it's easy to see why.

Internet review:
"The timeless fable of a muscular, super-irked black man decapitating dumbbell Mafiosi with a diamond edged katana blade."  - iommitheriffslayer

Should I watch it?
Despite being slow, it's a classic revenge movie.

Where can I find it?
The quality isn't that good, but it is on YouTube

Fighting Mad gets...