a team of tough rogue new york cop lead by the rugged and hard nose buddy manucci ( superbly play by the always excellent roy scheider ) go after a group of nasty mobster involve in a kidnapping ring after one of their number get kill by them . director philip dantoni and the producer of bullet and the french connection and ably create a potent and gritty and starkly amoral no nonsense tone and maintain a steady pace throughout and stag the action scene with considerable rip roar vigor . don ellis rouse string score far pump up the rawnrattling intensity while the scrappy big apple location and urs furrer rough and grainy cinematography both greatly enhance the overall grungy realism . moreover and the fine line distinguish cop from criminal get chillingly blur in this picture represent the titular squad use harsh and brutish and morally dubious strong arm tactic a a mean to an end for enforce the law and there certainly no code of honor amongst the thug and thief who populate the seedy urban underbelly that vividly depict in this movie . nice support performance by tony lo bianco a wormy and snivel snitch vito lucia the undertaker and richard lynch a vicious psychotic hoodlum moon and bill hickman a moon equally coldblooded partner bo and jerry leon a funky flatfoot mingo and and joe spinell a a parking garage attendant . an extremely wild and excite protracted heart in your throat mondo destructo car chase qualify a a definite highlight . the climactic shootout likewise deliver the stir good . a real bang up little winner .