Txema Basterreneche (Jorge Rivero, Mace from Conquest!) is an ordinary truck driver hauling fruit between Spain and France, trying to make an honest living. However, his runs draw the brutal ire of the French Produce Mafia (which is totally a thing as this movie is loosely inspired by genuine historical tensions involving French farmers blockading and attacking Spanish trucks transporting produce across the border), who resort to intimidation, name-calling and ultimate sabotage by burning down Txema’s truck with his pregnant wife, Elisa (Ana Obregón, Bolero, Treasure of the Four Crowns), trapped inside.
Consumed by vengeance, Txema casts aside his quiet life and reconnects with Jacqueline (Margaux Hemingway), a former associate from a mysterious, deadly organization. Returning to his lethal skillset, Txema systematically hunts down the men responsible for his tragedy, working his way through rogue truckers, enforcers like Picot (Aldo Sambrell) and Koldo (Hugo Stiglitz), and syndicate boss Martin (Richard Jaeckel). The bloody trail ultimately leads to a final showdown with arch-baddie and produce lawyer Julot (Lee Van Cleef), with mysterious ties involving a character named Tony (Willie Aames) along the way.
As if the cast wasn’t so incredible — seriously, did I cast this? — the film’s score was composed by the legendary De Angelis brothers (Guido and Maurizio), iconic Italian musicians and composers famous for their work on numerous Euro-cult soundtracks, spaghetti westerns and action films under names like Oliver Onions.
Internationally known under various monikers, the film is most widely recognized in English-speaking markets as Killing Machine. The original title, Goma-2, refers to a specific type of industrial high explosive commonly used in Spain.
Director José Antonio de la Loma also wrote the script for the aforementioned Conquest.
I know that most people who rented this in the 80s probably hated it, enraged that Sybil Danning was only on the cover. But this hits everything I love: a movie about a Spanish, well, killing machine fighting French trucking bad guys while Olive Onions dib dab on the keys and Lee Van Cleef plays the meanest man in the world. Bonus points for the scene of toughs repeatedly punching Willie Aames in the belly with no Scott Baio to save him.
You can watch this on YouTube.
