A relentless inspector hunts vigilantes in 1970s Italy’s shadowy underworld.
EXECUTION SQUAD
With killers on the loose who's putting the cops out of business?
An inspector pursues a secret society of former police officers who go beyond the law by killing notorious criminals without trial.
Execution Squad is a 1972 Italy-Germany action crime thriller directed by Steno about an inspector tracking down a vigilante group of former police officers who murder criminals beyond the reach of the law.
The SassyFlix Take
Steno swapped slapstick for shootouts, and the results are anything but a laughing matter.
Why Cult
A secret society of former cops takes the law into its own hands, targeting criminals the courts can't convict.
This film is a prime example of the gritty Italian crime subgenre, steeped in 1970s urban violence and corruption.
Director Steno, famed for comedies, delivers hard-hitting drama, while pop star Jürgen Drews makes a rare criminal turn.
Set amid Italy’s turbulent Years of Lead, the film channels real anxieties about police, power, and mob violence.
Synopsis
Director Steno (birth name: Stefano Vanzina) is best known as a director of comedy (e.g. films with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill), but this crime thriller is everything but a comedy. It tells the gripping story of an organized vigilante group that kills criminals who couldn’t be convicted by the police.
All in all, “La Polizia Ringrazia” delivers impressive social comment and handles the topic with a complexity one rarely sees in a crime thriller. Highly recommended.
- Director
- Steno
- Writers
- Steno, Lucio De Caro
- Release
- 1972
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Country
- Germany, Italy
- Language
- Italian
- Also Known As
- A rendőrség megköszöni, The Enforcers, Execution Squad, Société anonyme anti-crime, Das Syndikat, Original title: La polizia ringrazia
Themes & Keywords
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Execution Squad about? +
Execution Squad is about an inspector investigating a vigilante group of former police officers who kill criminals beyond the law's reach.
When was Execution Squad released? +
Execution Squad was released in 1972.
Who directed Execution Squad? +
Execution Squad was directed by Steno.
How long is Execution Squad? +
Execution Squad has a runtime of 98 minutes.
What genre is Execution Squad? +
Execution Squad is an action, crime, drama, and thriller film.
Where can I watch Execution Squad? +
Execution Squad is available to watch on SassyFlix.
Collection Spotlight
Getaways End Badly
Hot rubber, hard steel, and bad decisions collide fast—these chases don’t slow down, they fold fenders, snap axles, and leave engines bleeding oil.
Explore Collection →