Citizen Vigilante is a gory and disturbing movie that plunges headlong into the murky waters of justice, ethics and vigilantism. It focuses on Sanders, a former soldier and avenger whose frustration is fueled by immigrant violence and corrupt legal systems, and who carries on a relentless campaign. The novel is dramatic and uncompromising, showing the dark side of man and the repercussions of self-justices. The film is gritty and uncompromising, and will make viewers face uncomfortable questions about morality and the boundaries of justice.
The acting, especially from the lead, who takes the role of Sanders, is compelling and layered, and brings the character from a grieving son of a former president to that of a scrupulous vigilante. The direction is all about the brutal realism: tight, tight cuts, rusty cinematography, a strong pounding score, each act of violence is raw and effective. Sanders’s more radical radicalism makes for a moral dilemma: is this wise and appropriate vigilantism or perilously misguided? The film’s portrayal of the repercussions of vigilantism is not ignored, which adds to the film’s moral ambivalence, leaving the audience pondering long after the credits have ended.
The movie’s indictment of the corruption of the system, and its salute to justice without the law, were most striking. I was uncomfortable with Citizen Vigilante because I felt sorry for the victims, but I didn’t like the way that they were being killed by the protagonist. It is a sobering reminder of systems gone wrong on innocent victims and how the quest for justice can sometimes go down a dark, unobstoppable road. A grim and contemplative examination of revenge and ethics that will haunt the audience after the credits roll.
