After being raped, Linda (Jo Ann Harris) learns that she is not the only victim of the “Jingle Bells Rapist,” who earned his nom de crime by forcing the women to sing “Jingle Bells” while he assaults them. Linda meets other women who have fallen prey to him and they are all unsatisfied with the inability of the police to arrest him. So the group of women form a Rape Squad, with the goal of protecting other women and taking vengeance on their attackers. As the serial rapist escalates to murder, he leads the Rape Squad on a deadly game of cat and mouse they can't possibly survive.

This flick was not exactly what I was expecting to see. With a name like Act of Vengeance, I thought I was going to see a gang of women brutally torturing and executing their attackers depicted in shocking blood-o-vision. (Which makes me glad that I didn't learn of the original title, Rape Squad, because I would have thought that was referring to a group of scumbags committing the crimes and been really confused.) What is presented is an enjoyable revenge exploitation movie. Though not one with quite as much sleaze and graphic violence.

Although not as graphic as other movies in the genre, there are some uncomfortable scenes to watch. The rape scenes are fairly brutal as the ladies do get beaten in them. And the pain of Linda's pre-Law & Order: SVU police interview and medical examination is really expressed well by Harris. She has to go in to great detail regarding in rape in a room full of male cops and criminals who seem to be hanging on her every word. And neither the doctor or nurse show any signs of empathy, or sympathy, for her situation. All shown in order to build up to her breaking point.

In an effort to support the Rape Squads goals, all men are depicted as lowlife pigs. The police are incapable of helping them, one even says he would just lie back and enjoy it if he were raped. Linda's own boyfriend, Tom (Steve Kanaly), accuses her of wanting to have sex with the rapist. Even two Joe Schmoes having lunch say the rape is their favorite sport when they see Nancy (Jennifer Lee) posting flyers. You can't even find a good man in the bars.

I like that the ladies are all smart and fight back – before, during and after they are attacked. Linda plants a good hit on the rapist and runs away. When she falls, she has the good sense to kick off her platform, clog-looking shoes (I'm definitely not a fashionista), so she can actually run away. Karen (Lisa Moore) looks around and manages to get her hands on a large pair of scissors. And Diane (the appropriately named Ginger Mason) delivers a good shot to the crotch which had to have brought stars to his eyes.

Then plot seems to falter near the end. These women who have proven to be smart and tough, seem to lose sight of their objective. Without giving anything away, I'll say that they don't use their heads when they should. I don't know if the budget was running low or if they decided they had to end it quick.

There is a strong TV movie feel throughout the movie. And not just because of all the external shots of 70s era cars. The entire cast reads like a who's who of 70s network television regulars with a couple of exploitation staples thrown in for good measure. I've already mentioned the lovely Jo Ann Harris, whose had multiple TV and film roles, Steve Kanaly, who became a household name from Dallas, Jennifer Lee, married twice to Richard Pryor, and Lisa Moore, TV regular who appeared in a number of other exploitation flicks including Slaughter's Big Rip-Off and Harrad Summer. There are also featured appearances from television and soap opera veteran, Patricia Estrin, b-movie stars Connie Strickland from Bummer! and Black Sampson, Tony Young seen in Superchick and Black Gunn, and Joan McCall of Peopletoys and the epic Grizzly. They also threw in Penthouse pet Anneka Di Lorenzo to provide a little hot pants bike riding.

Act of Vengeance was released by American Independent Pictures, the early home of Roger Corman. It was written by David Kidd, as Betty Conklin, and H.R. Christian. Bob Kelljan, the man who gave us the Count Yorga movies, did a fine job with direction. And to keep up with all the b-movie connections, the set decorator was Charles B. Pierce. Who directed the original The Legend of Boggy Creek movie.

All in all, this is a fun beer night film. There is a fairly creepy touch as we listen to the rapist making notes on a tape recorder as he follows his victims. The sense of helplessness is felt in some point of view shots as he stands gloating over his prey. This is balanced out by a rape support group that meets in a hot tub, 30 year old men still wearing college sweaters in swinging singles bars, and lines spoken by males and females alike, that are as politically correct as those uttered by Family Guy's Peter Griffin. Or for a more appropriate 70s TV reference, All in the Family's Archie Bunker.

So crack open a few pints and sit down to an fun rape/murder/revenge flick where the women may hate men, but they hate bras, too.