Fight for Your Life

1977
R
1h 22m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

A mean trashy exploitation picture about three convicts who escape from jail and hole up at the house of a black minister. There are a few nasty scenes where the minister's family is being r... Read allA mean trashy exploitation picture about three convicts who escape from jail and hole up at the house of a black minister. There are a few nasty scenes where the minister's family is being repeatedly terrorized by the thugs. In the end the minister turns the tables on the 3 convi... Read allA mean trashy exploitation picture about three convicts who escape from jail and hole up at the house of a black minister. There are a few nasty scenes where the minister's family is being repeatedly terrorized by the thugs. In the end the minister turns the tables on the 3 convicts and gives them their just desserts.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

1.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The marketing of this film was unique and unusual. For example, there was a theatrical trailer for the film that was geared toward Caucasian audiences, and another theatrical trailer for the film that was geared towards African-American audiences (using the alternate title of the movie, "Stayin' Alive"). Another example would be the teaser trailer, which was just an almost 30-second clip, without music and sound, of a still-photograph from the movie, along with the title and MPAA rating.

Goofs
The first time we see the Turner family's pet dog on the couch, a wire is seen and a hand to the left of the screen is clearly moving up and down. The wire is attached to the dogs tail and is being used to wag its tail, suggesting the dog is being friendly.

Quotes
Jessie Lee Kane: [to Ted Turner] Repeat after me..."Yes sir massah Kane sir, all of us black-ass coons is hungry!"

Alternate versions
Very graphic scene of boy getting head beaten to pulp with a rock has been cut from some prints.

Connections
Featured in American Grindhouse (2010)

User reviews52

Review

Featured review

They Certainly Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore

Fight for Your Life (1977)

*** (out of 4)

Downright insane exploitation film has three convicts (a white, Asian and a Hispanic) breaking free from a van carrying them to prison where they're about to serve life sentences. They end up at the house of a black preacher and his family who they take hostage and abuse.

FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE is the type of exploitation film that certainly wouldn't be made today and when you really think about it it's actually hard to believe that anyone would have produced this even in 1977. This film has a rather notorious reputation and this is one rare case where the film actually lives up to the hype. Many people have called this another cash-in on Wes Craven's THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and while there are a few minor connections there's no question that this thing takes on a life of its own.

This is without question one of the most racist movies that you're ever going to see. The white leader Kane (William Sanderson) is quite evil from start to finish but he gets a sadistic kick out of picking on the black family and making them feel less than human. There are countless racist names being thrown at the family but some of the harshest things to watch in the film isn't the violence but instead it's the father (Robert Judd) being humiliated in front of his family. Being forced to dance and call Kane "master" are just a few of the racist scenes that play out in front of your eyes. In all honesty, I'm really surprised that they were able to find actors willing to put up with this.

The performance are pretty much split down the line but none of them are horrible enough to take you out of the picture. Sanderson easily steals the picture as the racist nut who is constantly shouting and humiliating people at every move. There's not a single second where you feel like you're not watching a real wacko and this certainly helps sell the movie. Judd is also good in the movie and manages to present a very stern performance. Lela Small has some unintentional hilarious moments as the grandma in the wheelchair who is constantly getting fed up with the comments.

Is FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE a good movie? I guess that will depend on your definition of what a good movie is. It's certainly not an Oscar-caliber picture but it wasn't meant to be. If you're looking for something trashy, downright dirty and sleazy then the film certainly succeeds at that. FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE is one bizarre exploitation film that manages to entertain and shock.