ENZO G. CASTELLARI DIRECTS FABIO TESTI IN 'THE HEROIN BUSTERS'

David Hemmings y Fabio Testi di LA VIA DELLA DROGA Year: 1977

It's distracting that, in the first twenty minutes of THE HEROIN BUSTERS, handsome Italian actor Fabio Testi just doesn't look right. As if a similar yet grungy, emaciated actor with the same semi-beard took his place during scenes where he's busted at an airport, and then helps a junky escape from jail...

The junky, played by Wolfango Soldati, who, to further complicate matters, resembles Fabian, initially seems like an important side-character, as does gorgeous TENTACLES starlet Sherry Buchanan as a bisexual model wielding much appreciated gratuitous nudity. But soon enough this FRENCH CONNECTION inspired programmer turns into a simple and singular action/chase flick (undercover cop Testi being chased by a mob of spurned/betrayed dealers) ranging from a rural, broken-down-factory shootout; speeding cars getting rammed and smashed; motorbikes zipping down escalators then zooming through futuristic-looking subway tunnels; and a zigzagging, nail-biting, bombastic airplane sequence that, before you know it, concludes this drug-bust exploitation that seemed like it was just getting started...

Bring back the head of Fabio Testi since he's making it hard to SCORE: ***

Added to that a surprisingly upbeat, loose and funky Goblin score and English BLOW-UP actor David Hemmings providing random sideline lectures in what plays like director Enzo G. Castellari's 80-minute trailer...

And as these 1970's Italian crime flicks can often be overlong and plot-convoluted (like the director's prior THE LAST RACKET using many of the same cast), frugality's not such a bad thing. Although a second viewing is probably the best bet here: to figure out the first half's rambling exposition to then better appreciate and comprehend all of the last half's running around.

Fabio Testi with a gun at hand in Enzo G. Castellari's The Heroin Busters

Here a Bruce Springsteenish Fabio Testi working out a plan in THE HEROIN BUSTERS

Step one in a great setup by director Enzo G. Castellari of THE HEROIN BUSTERS

Step two getting THE HEROIN BUSTERS gunman in his site...

Step three has Fabio Tesi testing out his plan in THE HEROIN BUSTERS and...

The final solution in Enzo G. Castellari's THE HEROIN BUSTERS aka Action immédiate

Sherry Buchanan in THE HEROIN BUSTERS aka La via della droga aka A Via da Droga

Sherry Buchanan kissed by Patrizia Webley in La via della droga aka Drug Street

Sherry Buchanan in The Heroin Busters aka La via della droga aka Esquadrão Anti-Droga

A ratty-looking Fabio Testi in Heroin Busters aka Dealer Connection: Die Straße des Heroins

Wolfango Soldati in an Easy Rider cell ala THE HEROIN BUSTERS aka A heroin útján

Action in the last act of THE HEROIN BUSTERS aka Oi ektelestes tis prasinis paparounas

Fabio Testi under the Noir-inspired direction of Enzo G. Castellari in LA VIA DELLA DROGA

Fabio Testi under the Noir-inspired direction of Enzo G. Castellari in LA VIA DELLA DROGA

Fabio Testi under the Noir-inspired direction of Enzo G. Castellari in LA VIA DELLA DROGA

Fabio Testi under the Noir-inspired direction of Enzo G. Castellari in LA VIA DELLA DROGA

Fabio Testi under the Noir-inspired direction of Enzo G. Castellari in LA VIA DELLA DROGA

Sideliner David Hemmings takes part in a little action in THE HEROIN BUSTERS

Enzo's The Last Shark villain Massimo Vanni as the villainous Massimo in The Heroin Busters

Fabio Testi in the opening credits of THE HEROIN BUSTERS

Plane Climax from Oi ektelestes tis prasinis paparounas

Plane Climax from Kynigoi iroinis aka The Heroin Busters

Plane Climax from Esquadrão Anti-Droga aka The Heroin Busters

Plane climax in Heroin Busters aka A heroin útján

Crashing  hard with THE HEROIN BUSTERS

Crash and burn with THE HEROIN BUSTERS aka Drug Street

Burn and churn with THE HEROIN BUSTERS aka Action immédiate

Fabio Testi in THE HEROIN BUSTERS aka Pot mamil

Fabio Testi in THE HEROIN BUSTERS aka La vía de la droga

Luke  Perry looking Fabio Testi with Wolfango Soldati as Gilo in THE HEROIN BUSTERS

Merde is a French word for Sh-t with lesbians behind The Heroin Busters door

A little bit louder now as Merde is a French word for Sh-t in Heroin Busters

Fabio Testi and a few Enzo G. Castellari stock actors in THE HEROIN BUSTERS