A.K.A. Angel of Vengeance. I like that title better, mainly because there's something about Ms .45 including a period before the 45 but not after the Ms that bugs me.
Exploitation can be a tough tightrope to walk. You need to incorporate all the typical hallmarks (violence, campiness, exaggerated acting), while still presenting a tender side - something the audience can root for. And Ms .45 strikes that emotional balance in the form of a vulnerable young character who gets pushed to her limits after being raped twice in the same day. Fun premise, right?
Actually, it is kinda fun. Once Thana decides she's gonna get some revenge, it's just scene after scene of her taking out her frustrations by shooting men in the head. And while it starts to get slightly repetitive after a while (and it feels like a bit of a copout that almost all of these guys are assholes who get what they deserve), it's still cathartic and entertaining stuff. And Abel Ferrara's scuzzy direction greatly adds to both the realism and the deranged state of mind.
Unlike King of New York or Bad Lieutenant, I can't see myself returning to this one all that often. But the action sure packs a similar punch, and Zoë Lund's powerful and emotive performance is right up there with the likes of Walken and Keitel.
Grade: B+
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