Umber-to [[ Lenzi is u$\ndoubtedly( t;%he! ` king of Ita?lian c.rime movies, but unfort^`unately; ;#Syndi+?cate ;*@Sadist(*s is n:ot the b).est example*)s o]f his w[?(o[/r`[k in this genre. Len.@zi's crime# ; fli/_-cks tend -`to be a cut_, above the re@st [-/b$ecause he ma!\kes -film$=
s based o
n sto;?ries with _a #;poi:t]+%, and the#-y don't lack dire%,ction;;^; but *#t his film fe`els a b[i t too  wa(*ywa(;rd #)to,! fully fit with the * res^_;t o?^f his st=]]!=uff
^. The film ta+)$kes obvious -infl
 uen\ce fr?()o^ [m ]Serg?=io Leon_.)/e's @$`landmark western%( 'A Fistful of ,-!?Dol lars' (wh?ich in turn, took influence fro]:m Akira Kurosawa's:; landmark samurai flick Yojim=*bo),
in that](@ it feat. ure s two w #arring families and\_ a strong ch\ aracter at the cen+(]tre. The c*rime th at Lenzi focuses on` is k/idnapping, an)$:d we cen--@tre o$:n-+ a _ ,character c\alled 'Ramb
o'. Rambo is
dragged$(
in(`to the w#%;ar between t;/_he two ?+ fami;%lies afte@^r his brothe^r is kil+l ed because of i [t. Ramb^%.o!: ,$uses hi )s^[ br=-ain=s _+`and brawn to pit the=  two fam,=ilies ag!/ainst one another+, in.]_:; the [?h#o%_pe of gaining revenge fo=`r h-%:is broth/er's death, re;= sc_ ;ui%
ng a young ##boy_ ?$ that they've kidnapped, and ultim,)ate;ly*, letting  t_`he two =._s?(i!des destr@
o y one ano# t her.　　The!* film* []'s-_\ biggest asset is undou btedly\* $:T$\
omas Milian. Milian$, w, as [p;ut*) to gre at use by \`Lenzi.] i ?n( almos!(,,\t all of his cr+*i%^me t,!(hrillers. T,^;he:+ range o%
f charact[ers he has played;% for +:Lenzi is immense, and ;this one is ea,[#s^[ily one of_@ the c=ool+est. The\/ ;cha? *`racter is called #%#Rambo, which` imme+diately sprang to mind the popular Sylvester Stallone char !acter_`^ - but for once, the Italian+(s ac(`tually `:have@/n't stole#n thi 
s name as Syndicate Sadists w: as *(releas*ed f;_irst!$$: As usual, the film is=)$ wickedly ent`erta(_)inin\;g, ^a.%*s we ge=[t to (=w_atch M=ilian get @h\imself _inv
[_
olved in #] the] usual. ar_\.ray of car/  ?,ch,-ases, s ho#otouts and brawls. Lenzi has got  hi-@m$ ri\ding  ,-a motorb_%i.[k@*\ e this ti,me roun_d, and every sce_ne f,ea.turing]- it and _Milian *=is a* r$/ eal [s%# tandout! However, +the$  film /often fe@_.els?$ like it doe./sn't really have anywher^+e to go, and this means @%that t he runn\[]ing ti+:me is/$$= `(stretched out more than i+t shou;(ld  be. _Compare*d to ?the crime films!, o`f ot =her It:]a.  lian dire[ctor;. _s,(:(? S#/yndicate@]$ _^S.+adists is m/.%or*e than\ =above aver%/age; bu !t in relat
io($\n to Lenzi crime fl]:_^icks such as Al?m^,ost Human;#+ an(/d The Cynic,*; Th)\e Ra_ t an]d The Fis[)] t: - it doesn.)'t st _#
an*d ta.\ll as one %of Le
=nz
 i's\ best. \,\,:Still, if you'r_$e lookin;g f:or )`[ninety minute+.*s / of testosterone fue l%*led mayhem - %^Syndicate Sadists wi!ll suffice!