A two-bit criminal takes on the Mafia to avenge his brother's death in this drama based on a novel by Donald E. Westlake. Earl Macklin (
Robert Duvall) is a small time criminal who is released from prison after an unsuccessful bank robbery only to discover that a pair of gunmen killed his brother. As it turns out, the bank that Earl and his brother hit was controlled by gangster Mailer (
Robert Ryan). Macklin learns that he's on the mob's hit list as well, so he teams up with his old partner Cody (
Joe Don Baker) to take on Mailer and his second in command, Jake Menner (
Timothy Carey). The Outfit also features a top-notch supporting cast, including
Karen Black,
Sheree North,
Joanna Cassidy,
Richard Jaeckel, and Anita O'Day;
Marie Windsor and Elisha Cook, Jr. also appear, 18 years after their memorable turn together in
The Killing. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide