Fight for Your Life (1977) User Reviews

a low-budget revenge thriller...and so much more!

[Jonny_Numb · 7/10 · 9 July 2005]

The promotional gallery of posters, lobby cards, and stills on Blue Underground's DVD release of "Fight for Your Life" give one the impression that it's merely the umpteenth addition to the pile of exploitative revengers inspired by Wes Craven's landmark "Last House on the Left"; even the trailers (a 'white' and 'black' version) depict the money shots in what promises to be another parade of cruelty for cruelty's sake, accompanied by '70s soul music.

Yet when I got around to watching the movie itself, I was more than a little impressed by the frequency with which it ran contrary to my low expectations, to the point where I really did feel like applauding and cheering on the heroes. "Fight for Your Life" is more politically ambitious than the LHotL imitators it is commonly lumped in with, transposing the race roles of slave times (the 'master' is a moneyed man who cracks a mean whip; the 'slaves' are quietly obedient out of fear of abuse) into the late-1970s, after the Civil Rights movement, where blacks are only starting to find their place in an overwhelmingly white society. Robert Judd plays a pacifist minister whose family is taken hostage by a trio of thugs (led by the fantastically scummy Willaim Sanderson, whose dialog is a catalog of racial epithets) who get a perverse entertainment out of the torture, rape, and humiliation of their hostages. Of course the tables are turned in the third reel, but the film goes about it in a cleverly justified way. By making the criminals so unredeemable (and thankfully avoiding the clichéd comic relief some films gravitate toward), we are on the edge of our seats, waiting for their comeuppance; but "Fight for Your Life" also engenders multi-layered characters grappling with their own moral conflicts that makes the resulting graphic violence resonate on a deeper level.

The film contains some genuinely moving, even heartbreaking moments that would not carry such an impact if we didn't relate so strongly to the victims: the quiet aftermath of a rape (the details of which are not explicitly rendered); humiliation that unexpectedly turns to uplift (when Judd's character is forced to sing on a pedestal at gunpoint); the by-the-book police lieutenant who eavesdrops on the family's revenge, only to allow it to continue out of sympathy.

Though my review thus far might turn off those seeking a hard-edged revenge thriller, let it be known that "Fight for Your Life" is not a sentimental piece--quite the contrary, it is just as lurid and seedy as the best (worst) of the genre; the violence is vivid and unsettling, made all the more so by the reality of the characters and their situation. Though low-budget productions tend to be hampered by exaggerated acting and unconvincing effects by default, the whole cast is convincing in selling the premise, and reminding us that even genre pics can reach for high concepts and succeed.

Vile, exciting, hateful and touching

[christopher-underwood · 7/10 · 16 January 2006]

This is a pretty nasty piece of work that is nevertheless well made and effective. Race, rape and revenge but much more too when a modest God fearing black family are set upon by three escaped convicts who don't seem to like each other much more than do their captives. Much racist abuse and humiliation, though this all gets reversed as the family regain the upper hand and the 'by the book' cop makes an exception and allows the revenge to run it's course. Vile, exciting, hateful and touching by turns this is a very unusual, though non the more likable piece of exploitation cinema. Absolutely no way this film would be even considered today let alone be made and yet, in its own way it draws attention to that unspeakable prejudice within us all.

A pure exploitation experience.

[BA_Harrison · 7/10 · 18 May 2007]

In Fight For Your Life, a delightfully trashy and very un-PC piece of 70s exploitation littered with racist language, three vicious criminals on the lam (a 'honky', a 'spic' and a 'chink') hold a family of bible-thumping 'black-assed coons' hostage and submit them to a day of torture. Eventually, the 'jungle bunnies' get the upper hand, decide not to turn the other cheek, and smite down their oppressors. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, sayeth the good book.

In the UK, this now infamous movie was added to the Video Nasties list (where it has remained ever since); some nasty murders and a gang rape no doubt have something to do with that, but it is probably the film's endless array of racial slurs (see first paragraph for examples) delivered by bad-guy Jessie Lee Kane (William Sanderson) that keep this film from being released in 'good old Blighty'!

Of course, it is not the film that is racist, rather than the character portrayed within the film, but our moral defenders here in the UK rarely take the time to consider the facts, preferring to take no chances by stopping us from seeing such things altogether. Any sane person can see that the movie just uses racism to shock the audience (a great example of true exploitation). In fact, the black family who are victimised are presented as a morally upstanding bunch and are the 'heroes' of the film.

The film does suffer at times from some unnecessary and rather talky scenes, and Kane's verbal abuse becomes tiresome towards the end, but there are plenty of other moments that make this film worthwhile if you dig grindhouse cinema: a baby has a gun pointed at its head; a young boy has his head smashed in with a rock; a man is impaled on a huge shard of glass; and a woman is chased through some woods, her clothes come off, and she is pushed over a waterfall.

And when the family does get revenge, even the dog joins in by taking a leak on one of the criminals. Now that's entertainment!

Misunderstood Exploitation Classic

[Crap_Connoisseur · 7 February 2006]

Fight For Your Life (FFYL) is a hugely misunderstood film. Pretty much every low budget film with any kind of violent content was labelled a "video nasty" in the 80s but FFYL's notoriety even stands out from the rest of the "video nasty" crowd.

FFYL's bad reputation mostly stems from the film's rape/revenge scenario, which has resulted in comparisons with films like "I Spit On Your Grave" and "The Last House On The Left". While I greatly admire both of those films, they really have little in common with FFYL as far as tone and context are concerned. They all share a rape/revenge plot twist but the sexual assault in FFYL plays a relatively minor role in the film and is less graphically presented than rape scenes in mainstream fare such as "The Accused", let alone "Irreversible".

The other main aspect of FFYL's notoriety is the accusation of racism. The use of racist terminology is confronting and the scene in which Kane makes Ted dance and sing is, in my opinion, more shocking than any of the violence. However, the film is never less than sympathetic with the plight of the Turner family and the way in which their revenge is presented excludes the presence of any kind of racist agenda as far as I'm concerned.

Overlooking the controversy, what remains is a tightly constructed and expertly paced thriller. The film is quite brilliantly scripted. The characters ring true and the dialogue is sharp and often funny. The actors, with the exception of the ham who plays Lt. Reilly, all give great performances. William Sanderson, in particular, is magnificently vile as Kane.

Don't let this film's unjust reputation put you off. FFYL is a very good movie that deserves a wider audience.

Probably One Of The Most Offensive Films Ever - Unless You're A Scumbag Like Me...

[EVOL666 · 6/10 · 20 February 2006]

FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE is a mediocre and mean-spirited rape/revenge film that's full of more colorful derogatory epithets than a KKK vs. Black Panthers street fight. I personally don't get offended by this type of dialogue...but FIGHT relies so heavily on the racist aspect of the characters that it's hard to see the actually semi-decent performances that are going on...

FIGHT is about three inmates, a white guy (the "leader" of the group who is also the guy that played "Larry" on the NEWHART TV show (!?!)), a Hispanic guy, and an Asian guy (sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, huh???), who break out of jail during a botched prison transfer. The three go on a short robbery and murder spree before kidnapping a black woman at a liquor store, and deciding to hole-up at her home until dark. At the home are also the woman's little brother, mother, father, and grandmother. "Larry" is a racist piece of white-trash sh!t and does nothing but hurl racial insults and make the family members say and do degrading things for his own entertainment (although I gotta admit, the "dance" scene IS kinda funny...). This goes on for about 80% of the films run-time, until the three convicts decide to rape the daughter. After that, the balance of power is shifted back and forth between the family and the convicts in a few uneven scenes where the lone gun that was initially handled by "Larry" changes hands a few times during some goofy fight scenes. The conclusion comes between "Larry" and the father of the family, in a "tense" stand-off in front of the cops.

First off...FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE is a very mediocre rape/revenge film to begin with. I like this genre as a whole - but this one doesn't bring anything new to the genre, other than an uninteresting racist angle that wears itself thin after the first few amusing insults are hurled. The performances are pretty believable and the "action" is tense at moments - but my other big problem with FIGHT is that the revenge pay-off is way too quick and unfulfilling. Half of the reason to watch these films is to see the victims exact brutal and bloody revenge on their assailants - and this one doesn't deliver. Worth a look to the hardcore exploit fan - others will find FIGHT boring and/or offensive. 6/10

A Good, Topical Thriller

[TheExpatriate700 · 7/10 · 16 August 2011]

Fight for Your Life is a better than average exploitation thriller with a serious racial edge. It delivers on all the thrills you would expect from the genre, while simultaneously featuring good performances and characterization, particularly from Robert Judd and William Sanderson.

The film follows a trio of escaped convicts, led by Sanderson, who take an upper middle class African-American family hostage. Sanderson, a racist, begins to terrorize the family, which is led by Judd's near pacifist minister. As the situation escalates and people begin to die, the Reverend faces a choice between sticking to his principles and saving his family.

The frequent action and good performances combine to make Fight for Your Life a truly engaging exploitation film. We actually care about these characters, which makes the film that much more frightening. The hard hitting racial theme, even if it caused the film's banning in Britain and elsewhere, also adds to the film's interest.

The film is also noteworthy for depicting an upper middle class black family. At that time, many blaxploitation films focused on poor black people and ghetto settings. This upper middle class family is a piece of Americana, making it much more identifiable for Americans in general.

The film's one flaw comes toward the end, when a major character, a police officer, switches character in a way that is not entirely believable. This change affects the plot, and makes it somewhat less credible. The film is still worth a watch, though.

Pure exploitation greatness

[The_Pat_Bateman · 7/10 · 2 December 2005]

I have recently got into exploitation films, and shock cinema, video nasties, whatever you want to call them I heard about this one and tracked it down, and it did not disappoint.

It is about 3 convicts who escape when being transported to jail. They go on a killing spree, and then invade a family's home. This family happens to be black. The head convict is a racist, even towards his fellow convicts (A china man, and a Spanish guy). If you cannot handle racism, you should not check out this movie.

The racist character makes the audience root for the family, and the last 15 minutes are action packed and do not disappoint.

This movie also has some good kills. One of the highlights is a boy being killed by the convict, but you will have to watch to find out how.

The movie has it all. It has some laughs, some good kills, and some good action.

Fight for Your Life (1977) **

[JoeKarlosi · 5/10 · 23 March 2005]

A group of thugs (one white, one Asian, one Hispanic) takes over the humble home of a kindly black preacher and his family and terrorizes them. Kind of like a cross between THE DESPERATE HOURS and LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT.

This is a very politically incorrect time capsule from the '70s, with a lot of racial insults and stereotypes, some of which are humorous in spite of themselves (the forced gun-dancing scene was a favorite). But what's interesting to me is that the "holy" victimized family, once they turn the table on their attackers, proves to be quite capable with the racial slurs themselves... not that they're unjustified by that point, of course! There is also a gruesome murder of a young boy, and the taunting of a little toddler with a gun pointed at its head. Quite unusual stuff, even for an exploitation film. ** out of ****

S10 Reviews: Fight for Your Life (1977)

[suspiria10 · 7/10 · 4 July 2005]

Jessie Lee Kane (William Sanderson of Newhart and Blade Runner fame) stars in this rather nasty exploitation flick as the leader of a trio of escaped cons. Kane and company are as nasty as they come knocking over gas stations and liquor stores until they take hostage of a middle-class black family. Kane is like the ultimate bigot and terrorizes everyone and is guaranteed to make wince or at least tick off practically anyone watching the film. But the family gets their revenge with equal nastiness.

Well right off the bat if you don't like racist or bigoted characters who don't mince words avoid "Fight". The overall tone of the film could easily upset some people. Technically it is a decent production with a catchy music score and interesting (to say the least) character moments. I think I enjoyed it (if one can) more than I should of. I watched this with a friend who enjoys 70's trash cinema as I do and we had a really raunchy time with it. We both were rolling with laughter due to the ludicrous nature of the racism on display (for the record I'm Caucasian and he's Negro). We did not take it serious at all. But "Fight" is not for everyone.

This could be taken so offensively

[hellholehorror · 4/10 · 1 October 2017]

This could be taken so offensively. It is a really trashy racist film. There is a revenge theme but it is not satisfying. They really don't make enough of the revenge. You want the revenge to be more savage than the previous torture. This is never realised and it just babbles along shouting racial slurs. It is intensely offensive but ultimately unsatisfying in the revenge/justice department.

Great fun revenge Exploitation film

[Sic Coyote · 9/10 · 21 November 2004]

I don't really get how this film is racist. It's got a main protagonist that's a total racist and says a lot of racist things, but then HE'S THE BAD GUY, that's what he does, be bad.

I thought this film was a great thrill ride, it's not high art and I agree with everything said on the audio commentary. The whole point of all the racist abuse and awful violence in the film is there to get people furious at the people doing it so they are right behind the family when they finally get to take their revenge in the end.

The acting is good for the most part although the two fathers in the film are a bit wooden. The out of town cop is as they say on the audio commentary 'acting in another movie' but it just works so well for the character and there is a great pay off at the end for it.

An undiscovered gem that is very misunderstood. I'll be trying to get my friends to watch this. 9/10

Exploitation plus.

[punishmentpark · 7/10 · 4 February 2015]

More than textbook exploitation, with plenty of intelligent twists and details to keep the viewer alert. Nót shying away from lots of violence, but (for instance) when it comes to the obligatory rape scene, the viewer must use more imagination than with other, similar movies, but in this treatment lies a nice twist of the top cop condoning vigilante justice. The acting is good enough, though not great, even if William Sanderson comes awfully close, portraying a seriously damaged white man who hides his fragile state by laying the racism, degradations and violence thick on anyone who gets in the way. The rest of the cast do their jobs adequately, but that's pretty much it.

The ending, though it has the smart idea of exposing the fragile state of Jessie, felt rather off-handed. Even if exploitation films are all about the revenge, somehow this one didn't feel completely right. The best way I can explain this feeling is that the reverend's demeanor changes way too fast. It's sort of disappointing to see him lower himself to the baddies' standards, even if every blow he deals out is a just one - or am I getting too old for this shiii-it...? Nah. Other than that it is a pretty good exploitation flick, with a lot of violence (including the necessary gore and a little nudity) and some pretty smart writing here and there.

A good 7 out of 10 for now, perhaps more in the future.

Decent movie, but does leave a bad taste

[acidburn-10 · 4/10 · 22 August 2015]

The video nasties have always been something that has intrigued me over the years, I always love reading or hearing about it, and through the years I think that it's safe to say that I have seen nearly all of them, mainly the better known ones. This is probably one of the least remembered ones in my opinion as it kinda slipped through my radar for many years and have only recently came round to actually seeing it, as I have always enjoyed the home invasion genre of horror.

This one sees 3 prisoners break out of jail and take a family hostage in their own home. I can see why this is so controversial seeing that the main villain constantly spews racist slurs amongst the family members, all the while murdering anyone who passes by and tortures the family in some very sickening situations. The positive aspects of this film are firstly the cast, from both the family members and the villains who are played really well. Plus while the story is very basic, it does move along at a decent pace and never gets boring, always keeping you interested at what's gonna happen next. The family itself are very decent and loving, giving you that nice warm feeling that these people are genially nice, following they're great chemistry with each other and they're interactions with each other, really makes you feel horrified when it comes to them being tortured by the impending doom that's about to wait for them.

But the negative aspects of this are mainly in my opinion my personal tastes. Firstly the murder of the young boy was very disheartening and sickening in my opinion, just being there for shock value and I hated it, I would have rathered this being left out entirely, especially when you get to know the boy and his friendship with the black kid, was just uncomfortable. Also the level of violence that these criminals inflict on the family, does go over the top and becomes rather cartoonish, to be honest apart from this family being black, there was just didn't seem to be any reason why the main villain is doing this to them, except for just the fact that he's psycho and then only given a very quick tacked on excuse at the end, which just felt lazy. Then finally the pay off at the end when the tables are turned is very underwhelming, and didn't really feel that they quite got they're just desserts.

The cast were very well played in their parts, William Sanderson who plays the ring leader Kane was the only standout from the bad guys side of things, and he was very despicable and really made you hate him, he played it very well and does have that eerie presence, never knowing what he's gonna do next. The other two convicts however were quite forgettable, while they did have their moments; there weren't any development on them to make them standout. The Turner family however made very solid performances, Robert Judd who plays the head of the family Ted with much dignity and restraint. The young son Reggie Rock Blythewood was played very well, showing true courage and braveness to a role that in any other young child actor's hands wouldn't have been half as believable. But the true standout was Lela Small as the wheelchair bound grandmother just stole the show, with her ballsy and no nonsense attitude was just a delight, especially when she shows no fear to her captors and cuts them down to size with her own brand of verbal abuse was just excellent, she stole every scene she was in.

All in all "Fight For Your Life" is an okay overall movie, but it does leave a bad taste in your mouth and makes you feel uncomfortable throughout, but overall it is saved slightly by a very strong cast.

An exploitation classic

[stevenfallonnyc · 8 January 2003]

***SLIGHT SPOILERS*** It's a shame that no one makes (or is allowed to make) a film like "Fight For Your Life" anymore. This may be the most non-politically-correct film I've personally ever seen, as three escaped criminals (the white leader, the hipanic and the asian) shack up at the home of a black preacher, and take him, his kids, wife and mother hostage.

The humiliation that leader puts the family through (especially the father) is so over-the-top that one cannot help but actually laugh, actually making this film absolutely hilarious in many scenes. A few of my faves were the leader making the father dance, with the father first forcing himself to do a few lame shuffle steps only to go dance-crazy across the room when the leader shoots at his feet with his gun; the scene where the family is forced to have a sing-a-long, which backfires on the leader when he sees the family actually enjoying themselves; and virtually every line that Grandma (in a wheelchair no less) spews out, she is easily the movie's most hilarious character. There is one great scene where she verbally tears into the leader, and she informs him when he gets annoyed, "I'm just getting started!" And virtually every line spoken by the leader contains some kind of racial insult (even towards his own partners!) but he delivers them in such fashion that you cannot help but find a perverse humor in it all.

But despite all the hilarity, there are a few scenes many may find a bit disturbing, like holding a gun to a baby's head, the rape of the pretty daughter by the three men (although this really isn't too graphic) and most notably, the killing scene of a little boy getting his head bashed in by a rock by the asian criminal, who seems to really relish causing pain to others and speaks like a psychopath.

Eventually the family gets a chance to get revenge on the criminals, where we see the preacher father actually get all mean and nasty and even use racial insults himself, like "spic" and "honkey" (if you listen closely, you can even hear 'ol Grandma call the asian "slant eyes" earlier in the film). It definitely is an interesting sight seeing the father turn into a revengeful man!

In the end, the criminals "get theirs" but not after they leave a lot of death in their wake.

There is simply no way in hell this film would EVER get made today (except perhaps if the main race roles were switched, these are very PC times we live in of course) but I did read this may actually be released on DVD soon. I'd buy it especially to see it in widescreen and in perfect condition, as opposed to the crappy fourth generation dub I have on VHS. And of course, I'd buy it for laughs. If it does see the light of day on DVD, a few decent extra features would be fantastic.

Pleasantly surprised. Better than expected.

[Stevieboy666 · 7/10 · 25 February 2019]

I am gradually trying to work my way through the list of movies known as Video Nasties, I've seen most but this was my first time watching FFYL. It is one if the few that is technically still banned in Britain, but I'm sure that is because nobody has since sought to rerelease it. They should. I heard a few negative reviews prior but I never take too much notice of other people's opinions. A home invasion movie that features violence, rape, murder and a great deal of racism, true exploitation material. The producers did a good job. The acting is generally quite convincing, in particular the lady who played the wheelchair bound Nan. The film is shocking but at the same time does have some humour to help balance it out. Certainly not a film for everybody but if you enjoy grindhouse/exploitation then this is essential viewing.

Racial video nasty that tries just a little too hard to shock

[RomanJamesHoffman · 6/10 · 4 December 2013]

The premise of 'Fight for your life' sure sounds like an intriguing watch on paper: takes the vigilante rape/revenge format of films like 'Straw Dogs' (1971) and proto-type video nasty 'Last House on the Left' (1972) and apply it to a racial context. Even without the Civil Rights and Black Power movement still fresh in the public consciousness, the result was always bound to be explosive and some/many were always bound to be offended. However, the question concerning 'Fight for your Life' has always been: does the movie offer enough to escape the charge of just trying to shock? Many would answer "no", however I would disagree and say that, despite some flaws, it really does.

William Sanderson (who would later star in 'Savage Weekend' and 'Blade Runner') plays Kane, the vehemently racist leader of a trio of escaped convicts who stumble across a house belonging to a black minister and his family and decide to hide out there. While there, the trio hold the family hostage and subject them to increasing levels of exploitation and sadism including a seemingly interminable array of racial swear words and a rape (although thankfully not graphically presented). However, the family resist the violence and abuse in various ways (some very moving) and as the upper hand swings and sways between the two groups the convincing performances from the cast definitely elicits fear, suspense, pathos, and rage from the viewer until the racists finally get their comeuppance.

But is it a film about racism or is it a racist film? It's clear to me that, a similar way to D. W. Griffith's 'Birth of a Nation' (1915), it is a powerful film about racism and this power comes precisely from the depictions of racism in it. Sure there is an extraordinary amount of racially offensive language in it, but that's because the characters in it are racist! In fact, if there is any moral dubiousness in the film's premise it's the way the viewers' identification with the family sanctions the violent revenge enacted UPON the racists at the end of the film, a moral grey area acknowledged in the film by the police officer listening to the unfolding vengeance down the phone line.

However, saying this, my issue with the film is that the while the racially offensive language used in the film is quite effective at the beginning, as it swiftly sets up both the perpetrators and the victims, the sheer quantity of these racial epithets lessens their impact considerably, even to the point of near boredom. I'm sure this felt "edgy" to the director at the time but set against the moral complexity mentioned before it comes off as unnecessarily crude. And yet, it was this very over-the-top language which got it on the list of Video Nasties drawn up in the UK in the 1980s and, like so many of the films on the list (although 'Fight for your Life' is more deserving than many of the others), it managed to gain a longer shelf life than it probably would have had otherwise.

It's not a masterpiece by any measure, and the offence at times feels showy, but the film has heart and is definitely worth a (discomforting) watch.

Forgettable shocker is mostly boring

[Groverdox · 6/10 · 16 July 2020]

"Fight for Your Life" has a reputation as a nasty shocker, the kind of thing you might have found in a small, privately owned video store while digging through the crates, feeling like you'd stumbled upon an unholy grail of depravity.

But how extreme is it really? The answer is, not that much. If you're only looking to watch the movie for shock value, you're probably going to be bored for most of it. There's only maybe one genuinely shocking scene, which is only really shocking for what it shows, not how it shows it. Like the rest of the movie, it's not particularly graphic, nor convincing in its effects.

The movie stars legendary character actor William Sanderson as the "Krug Stillo" type role, the escaped psychopath with a couple of other psychos in tow who breaks into a bourgeois home and holds the family hostage.

This time, there's a racial aspect being that the well-to-do brood are all African American, and Sanderson is a Southern low-life.

What was probably intended as the movie's most shocking aspect is the racist language constantly used by Sanderson. In fact, the extent of the gruelling "torture" the low-life puts this family through is mostly just racial abuse, at least up until the end, when it's finally stepped up.

Once the low-lifes break into the family house, the movie seriously lulls, as if they thought the racism coming out of the character's mouth would be shocking enough to distract you from the inertia.

Sanderson is always believable as a Southern low-life, but he was miscast here. He's not scary enough, and looks like he would be easily overpowered.

Revels in its own nastiness

[tomgillespie2002 · 3/10 · 21 February 2011]

When three prisoners escape from a prison van when it crashes, they begin a deadly cross-country crime spree before hiding out in a remote house belonging to a black minister and his family. The self-appointed 'leader' of the gang Jessie Lee Kane (William Sanderson) is full of racial hate and aggression and begins a sadistic tirade against the poor family. With the police on their trail, they must decide their next step, or if they should hold out where they are and enjoy themselves while they can. The minister Ted Turner (Robert Judd) is a reserved and proud man, willing to do anything to protect his family, and is gradually being pushed further and further over the edge by the increasingly violent threesome.

Listed as one of the notorious 'video nasties' back in 1984, it is the only film to be banned based solely on the language used. After watching the film, it's not difficult to see why. Don't get me wrong, I think censorship is just a scapegoat for problems on a larger scale and the films on the video nasty list were mainly hilarious anyway, but the amount of racial slurs bounded about in the film is just offensive and wholly unnecessary. This is not a racist film by any means - if anything it falls into the traditions of the blaxploitation genre - but in one scene the 'n' word must be used by the same person about fifty times in the space of a couple of minutes. Okay, we get it, Kane is a racist scumbag, we don't have to hear it in every sentence. It's unfortunate, as the film has some good moments, and its production value seems to be evidently better than the majority of Grindhouse films at the time. Sanderson convinces in the lead role, and would go on to star as J.F. Sebastian the toy-maker in Blade Runner, and appeared in HBO's Deadwood and True Blood. The film just unfortunately revels in its violence and racial abuse. Only worth seeing for the scene where a wheelchair-bound grandma points a gun and shouts "don't move, or I'll blow your motherf****n' balls off!"

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Superb exploitation with racist themes

[The_Void · 8/10 · 16 August 2006]

It's easy to pass Fight for Your Life off as 'Last House on the Left' inspired racist garbage, but this film approaches it's subject matter in an assured and straight-up manner, and while it often gets uncomfortable to watch; it's hard to deny that the film provokes a reaction in the viewer - and that is the most important thing about a film like this. The film definitely takes influence from Wes Craven's pioneering shocker, as well as the rest of the 'rape and revenge' genre, but by adding racist themes into the mix, director Robert A. Endelson instantly gives his film more scope and more potency, as rather than have the violence directed against one, or a group of people; it's directed against a whole race of people. The plot follows three inmates that escape from prison. While on the run from the cops, they decide to hole up in a house in the woods, inhabited by a family of black people. These convicts aren't very nice anyway, but their leader also happens to be an astute racist; and so decides to take out his frustrations on the captive family in the most brutal and humiliating ways possible.

Fight for Your Life benefits from some surprisingly good production values, and a host of well worked and convincing performances. Most of the characters are a little over the top, but it's easy to believe them and the situation that the film presents. There isn't quite as much brutality in this film as there has been in many similar films made before or after this one, but the way that the director puts the focus on the things that the characters say increases the tension ten-fold, especially in this day and age, as it's difficult to comprehend how someone could be so uncompromisingly racist. The scenes that see the lead convict take his frustrations out on the well-mannered family are uncomfortable and shocking, and this is where the film's power lies. It's hard to sit there and simply watch what is going on, and while I can't deny that I thoroughly enjoyed this film; it doesn't always make for easy viewing. It all boils down to a satisfying conclusion that both gives the audience what they want and brings credence to the lead characters. Overall, this won't be everyone's cup of tea; but I found it to be an excellent slice of exploitation and comes recommended to all the right people.

Desperate Blaxploitation Hours

[searchanddestroy-1 · 6/10 · 17 December 2020]

This blaxploitation grindhouse feature is obviously a tribute to Bill Wyler's DESPERATE HOURS, and the most interesting is that the evil dudes are one White, One Mexican and One Asian; I think that's funny, so far the family man taken as hostage is a Black man. It is a pure exploitation flick, so don't expect too much from it please. But you have to deal with plenty of gratuitous violence such as the massacre of a young boy, in the woods by one of the punks, escaped convicts. Unbearable sequence.

The only shame you get from watching this...is that you did at all!

[incognito005 · 1/10 · 2 March 2007]

I enjoy movies. They just have to be entertaining. This movie might be shocking to you if the only movies you've seen were after-school specials. The scenes are not that vile or outrageous either, which is both shocking and sad for this kind of movie. As I watched, I waited for something interesting to happen, only to see the most predictable scenes acted out by the worst possible actors. Dialog, plot, acting, isn't really B movie material, its just shoddy. After a while of watching you realize this is all there is and you can't help but feel a little cheated. It might have helped they made an attempt at a plot that made sense, or better yet actually did something with the characters. I saw this movie expecting a revenge film and got some director's attempt at trying out his camera angles. I could probably watch two cows chewing grass for an hour and half, and came back with more than this gunk.

Incredibly shocking, heartbreaking and very important.

[siteslinger · 10/10 · 17 April 2007]

There are all kinds of movies out there. Great movies, bad movies, mediocre movies, etc. I've seen so many different kinds of films in my time that few are capable of evoking a strong reaction out of me. Fight for Your Life is simply unlike any movie experience I can remember having.

Let me say that this is not a film for everyone. It is hardly what I would call an enjoyable experience, but it is an important experience nonetheless. While the film features some of the most heinously racist dialog of any movie I've ever seen, there is never a moment in the film that seems self-indulgent for white people. Sexual violence at the hands of the villains is portrayed in typically shocking form as well.

As if that weren't enough, it also has a very touching bond between two young boys, only to leave you completely broken hearted at their fate.

I sat there at the theater, riveted and nearly sick to my stomach throughout the film, and left completely stunned. I knew I had seen an important film. This is not just another grind house exploitation feature. This is something else entirely.

Racist thug gets what's coming to him

[asaharris · 6/10 · 16 February 2022]

Trio of repugnant creeps invades the home of a dignified black family and terrorise them into retaliation. Nasty, audience-manipulating melodrama features one of the most irredeemable villains in movie history, as well as non-stop barrage of racial slurs that will probably keep this permanently on the forbidden list. Well-made of its type, with a bravura performance by William Sanderson.

Unconvincing and very poor acting

[ray-100 · 4/10 · 2 April 2002]

Three escaped convicts seek refuge at the home of a black minster and his family, there the family is humiliated and beaten. When his daughter is violated the family begin to embark on some vengeance.

A film which has very little to offer other than racial hatred and some rather disturbing scenes of violence. Like many other films not worthy of its cult banned 'video nasty' status.