The Exterminator

The Exterminator is a 1980 American vigilante action film written and directed by James Glickenhaus. It stars Robert Ginty as the Vietnam War veteran John Eastland, also known as The Exterminator. When a group of thugs paralyze his friend, Eastland becomes a vigilante embarking on a mission to cleanse New York of organized crime. The film also stars Samantha Eggar, Christopher George, and Steve James.

The film then shifts to New York, where Eastland and Jefferson work in a warehouse. One day, Eastland catches a group of thugs, called the Ghetto Ghouls, trying to steal beer. He is attacked, but Jefferson comes to his aid. They defeat the thugs, but the gang return to cripple Jefferson by gouging his spine with a meathook. Feeling let down by the police, Eastland decides to take the law into his own hands, and interrogates one of the gang members with a flame thrower. He then attacks the gangs base of operations, shooting one gang member and leaving two others tied up in the basement, which is full of hungry rats.Eastlands vigilante justice doesnt end there. The warehouse where he works has been forced into paying protection money. Gino Pontivini, the mob boss behind the scheme, has even taxed the workers paychecks. Eastland kidnaps Pontivini, and chains him above an industrial meat grinder. In order to steal Pontivinis money, Eastland needs the combination to his safe. Pontivini gives him the combination and his house keys, after being lowered dangerously close to the jaws of the meat grinder. Eastland barely survives an attack by Pontivinis Doberman, so upon returning, he lowers Pontivini into the grinder for lying about the dog. Jefferson and his family are given Pontivinis money to help pay their bills. ........

Source: Wikipedia