Southern Comfort

release year: 1981
genre: drama/action
viewing setting: home DVD, 5/13/03

synopsis: A group of Louisiana National Guardsmen on training in the swamps end up fighting for their lives.

impressions: Pretty thrilling. What happens here is that a misunderstanding coupled with a prank gets the Cajuns firing live rounds at our boys, then tracking and hunting them. There was a lot of stupidity on the part of some of the Guardsmen, so it's kind of a weird movie to watch because you're not sure whether to root for some people or want them killed.

acting: Powers Boothe and Keith Carradine are the main likeable heroes. Fred Ward is also good as a nasty "hero", and there are several other noteworthy performances. The late Brion James was hiding underneath a beard as one of the Cajuns.

final word: Weird, but compelling.

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