THE PLOT THUS FAR
From the director of The Warriors and 48 Hrs. comes this gut-wrenching tale of backwoods terror that ’draws you into the eerily beautiful Louisiana bayou…then has you running for your life’ (Pauline Kael, New Yorker)! Keith Carradine (The Duellists) and Powers Boothe (Sin City, Deadwood) lead a ’first-rate ensemble’ (Newsweek) in this ’exciting, arresting and tautly told suspenser’ (Variety).
Nine National Guardsmen enter the Louisiana swamp for routine training, but an error in judgment by one of the team incites an all-out war with some angry Cajuns who know the territory like the backs of their hands. Armed with a precious few bullets, and confused by the dimly lit, moss-covered maze into which they’ve stumbled, the guardsmen know they’ll be picked off one by one, until they come up with a solution using the only resources they have left…their wits.
Also starring Fred Ward (Tremors, 2 Guns), T.K. Carter (The Thing), Peter Coyote (Jagged Edge) and Brion James (Blade Runner).
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Southern Comfort” is lazily dismissed as an allegory about Vietnam. I agree with Walter Hill, when he says that he doesn’t believe it is anything other than a survival flick. While you can read a lot into everything from Peter Coyote’s execution to the rural setting, it balances out. The crew of National Guard troops are willing to turn on each other at a moment’s notice. Plus, Carradine and Boothe seem to have no control over what’s going to happen next or the authority to lead anyone. If anything, the only real leadership I see comes from Fred Ward and his efforts to protect the group from the rural Cajuns.
Walter Hill is one of my favorite directors. I’d put him somewhere in the Top 50. That makes me feel like one of those list making weirdos, but I want to put his accomplishments in perspective. Walter Hill makes manly movies without resorting to the bullshit that alienates them from a larger audience. He wants to show you the consequences of charging into a situation with testosterone blazing, while giving credence to the greater environment. If you’re looking for a double feature, I’d recommend pairing this one up with “The Warriors”.
The Blu-Ray comes with a featurette, trailer and still gallery as the special features. The A/V Quality is a refreshing mix that makes the movie pop. The DTS-HD mono master audio track is clean and it helps Ry Cooder’s score to come to life. If that wasn’t enough, this is the cleanest 1080p transfer for a movie of its age. “Southern Comfort” will make you feel like you’re pinned down next to Fred Ward in a swamp. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: 07/08/2014