Fred Williamson directs himself for the first time in Mean Johnny Barrows, a mercifully brief actioner which has a far better cast than it deserves. The plus points include the terrific soul-funk soundtrack (even if it is poured a little too thoughtlessly over the on-screen events), a memorable cameo appearance from Elliot Gould, and a handful of decently handled action sequences. The negatives would probably take too long to list in full, but chief amongst them are the general air of dispiritedness that hangs over the film, the hopelessly weak script and the largely listless acting. Folks like Roddy McDowall, Stuart Whitman and Luther Adler are capable of much more than is required of them here – their performances are lazy and unconvincing.
Vietnam vet Johnny Barrows (Fred Williamson) returns from 'Nam with a dishonourable discharge after striking his commanding officer (the C.O. did deserve it though, having let Johnny step on a live land-mine as a prank). Johnny returns to his home town but finds it tough getting by. Jobs are few; crime and mugging is aplenty; and the cops seem more part of the problem than the solution. Johnny is approached by gangster Mario Racconi (Stuart Whitman), who offers him a job as a well-paid hired heavy, carrying out beatings and killings for the powerful Racconi family. Johnny refuses point blank, taking up an honest job at a petrol station instead. Meanwhile, gang warfare erupts between the Racconis and a new Mob family-in-town, the Da Vinces. Johnny tries to remain impartial to the violence, but when Mario's girlfriend Nancy (Jenny Sherman) is taken prisoner by the da Vinces he finally snaps. Seems Johnny has developed a soft spot for Nancy and won't stand for her coming to any harm. He finally relents and agrees to go after the da Vinces, working through the entire family, including the youngest son, Tony (Roddy McDowall).
There's a plot twist towards the end which doesn't make much sense, including a particularly bizarre final scene involving a land-mine (presumably intended to link things back to the opening scene?) The relationship between Nancy and Johnny – so important to the plot, since it governs his ultimate decision to start killing people after spending most of the film trying to go straight – is hopelessly under-developed. Sherman is too bland as Nancy anyway, making it hard to understand exactly what draws Johnny to her in the first place. There are a few flashes of neatly choreographed, violent action, but all in all Mean Johnny Barrows is a pretty lacklustre offering which isn't worth making any effort to see.
Vietnam vet Johnny Barrows (Fred Williamson) returns from 'Nam with a dishonourable discharge after striking his commanding officer (the C.O. did deserve it though, having let Johnny step on a live land-mine as a prank). Johnny returns to his home town but finds it tough getting by. Jobs are few; crime and mugging is aplenty; and the cops seem more part of the problem than the solution. Johnny is approached by gangster Mario Racconi (Stuart Whitman), who offers him a job as a well-paid hired heavy, carrying out beatings and killings for the powerful Racconi family. Johnny refuses point blank, taking up an honest job at a petrol station instead. Meanwhile, gang warfare erupts between the Racconis and a new Mob family-in-town, the Da Vinces. Johnny tries to remain impartial to the violence, but when Mario's girlfriend Nancy (Jenny Sherman) is taken prisoner by the da Vinces he finally snaps. Seems Johnny has developed a soft spot for Nancy and won't stand for her coming to any harm. He finally relents and agrees to go after the da Vinces, working through the entire family, including the youngest son, Tony (Roddy McDowall).
There's a plot twist towards the end which doesn't make much sense, including a particularly bizarre final scene involving a land-mine (presumably intended to link things back to the opening scene?) The relationship between Nancy and Johnny – so important to the plot, since it governs his ultimate decision to start killing people after spending most of the film trying to go straight – is hopelessly under-developed. Sherman is too bland as Nancy anyway, making it hard to understand exactly what draws Johnny to her in the first place. There are a few flashes of neatly choreographed, violent action, but all in all Mean Johnny Barrows is a pretty lacklustre offering which isn't worth making any effort to see.