Verdict
Summary
It’s not Dirty Harry by any means, but it’s for the same demographic, more or less, with a lean towards exploitation.
Plot:
A crazed bomber is terrorizing Los Angeles, and the only one who can identify him is a murdering rapist!
Review:
William (Chuck Connors) is a self-entitled citizen who believes he is righting all the wrongs in society, setting and detonating bombs all over Los Angeles, while also self-policing the streets, like punishing and humiliating people who litter or check stand ladies at the grocery store who won’t honor his coupons. He bombs women’s lib meetings, hippie gatherings, and a college where a deaf girl is raped by another maniac, a sex fiend named George (Neville Brand), who is another force to be reckoned with. George doesn’t just rape, but he also kills, but the police force deems the bomber to be more of a threat, and so they focus on that, but when they literally catch George in the act of rape, they also piece it together that he is the only person who can eyewitness the bomber, which will take a bit of convincing. When they force George to help them create a composite sketch of the bomber, they are finally able to hone in on William, who is already on their radar, but they have to get to him before he kills a load more people.
A sleazy, nudity-filled thriller with a mean edge to it, The Mad Bomber focuses much more on the villains than the cop heroes on the case, which gives the film an interesting point of view. It’s wall-to-wall with graphic rapes, gratuitous nudity, and stunningly gory aftermath scenes of the bombing victims. The last moments of the movie are eyebrow raising too. Director Bert I. Gordon (best known for his creature features like Empire of the Ants) gives the movie a very gritty, but satisfyingly pulpy vibe, especially if you are a fan of “adult” men’s adventure books. It’s not Dirty Harry by any means, but it’s for the same demographic, more or less, with a lean towards exploitation.
Severin has just released a premium Blu-ray edition of The Mad Bomber, in a totally uncut, all-new 4K scan of the film that brings out the vibrancy for high tech, top-of-the-line TVs. Special features are aplenty, and there’s a slipcover and an insert booklet as well.
Bonus Materials
- Audio Commentary By House Of Psychotic Women Author Kier-La Janisse With Retired Bomb Squad Detective Mike Digby
- Isolated Score
- Audio Interview With Director Bert I. Gordon Conducted By David Del Valle
- Patricia Gordon Remembers Her Father
- To Be In The Moment – Interview With Actress Cynthia MacAdams
- On The Trail Of THE MAD BOMBER – Locations Featurette
- THE MAD BOMBER TV Cut
- TV Spots
- Booklet: THE MAD BOMBER Story – Essay By Andy Turner With Exclusive Images From Still Photographer Carol Gordon
