The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Gems: First Blood (1982)

How do you choose what to watch on all those streaming services you have access to? There are so many options that it is just overwhelming. These services constantly release new content and overshadow all the great films from the past that are already there and ready to watch. Now there is The Wasteland Gems! Here is a great film on streaming right now that you should check out this weekend:

First Blood (1982)

Where did one of cinema’s greatest action franchises get its start? John Rambo has become one of the most iconic characters in the career of one of cinema’s most iconic stars, Sylvester Stallone. The franchise has become known for its crazy, over-the-top action and in later installments, some brutal and disturbing violence and blood. But if you are still paying attention, these sequels still tackle issues that are significant and have geopolitical weight. Drug cartels. Atrocities in Myanmar. The Russian aggression in Afghanistan in the 80s. The aftermath of the Vietnam war. But this all stemmed from a layered, dynamic, impactful, and brutal thriller with the initial John Rambo story, First Blood.

What makes this film so poignant and standout amongst so many other action and thriller films that Stallone made in his career? David Morrell wrote the original novel and there were a lot of layered elements to the story that director Ted Kotcheff has brought to the big screen. The key central thematic foundation of the film is based on the aftermath of Vietnam and what happened to our veterans who returned. The protests which labeled our soldiers “Baby Killers” obviously made an impact on the men who returned. But more of these men did not come home alone. Whether it was the health effects of chemical warfare (like one of Rambo’s friends who “came home” only to die from the effectives of Agent Orange) or the PTSD that they struggle with, there are so many horrible things that our soldiers went through. First Blood explores PTSD flashbacks that Rambo has because he was tortured as a POW. Then you have the small-town politics and strong army tactics of a local sheriff. The far-reaching authority of a man on a power trip is the match that ignites the explosive and horrific events of this film. You even see the cold and calculating hand of the US military and how they chewed up our soldiers and abandoned them when they were in need. Don’t write off First Blood as just another action film…this is so much more.

How has this film stuck with audiences for so many years? There is plenty of impact and emotion to be found in this cinematic experience. Starting at the end, the final confrontation between Rambo and his former commanding officer, Trautman, is an emotionally devastating sequence that navigates the horrors of war and the terrible effects of PTSD. If this sequence doesn’t make you want to support investing in full medical support for soldiers who fought in war…I don’t know what to tell you. But the sadness and frustration of the climax certainly aren’t the only emotions this film elicits. The frustration is built throughout the film due to the systemic elements and the small-town dynamics that judge Rambo and pit the whole town and narrative against him because of the corrupt and power-hungry sheriff. Then the whole film is jam-packed with tension and thrills. From the initial escape from the police station, Kotcheff delivers a thrilling ride with plenty of great set pieces. Rambo’s taking out the whole local police force in the woods is downright terrifying. There are some great chases on the road as well that are shot to maximize the tension and suspense. The final siege of the town by Rambo gives this film an impactful and pulsating finale that really ties things together and gives the space for Rambo’s final emotional breakdown. The iconic and poignant score of Jerry Goldsmith just brings all these scenes together because the music is just pregnant with emotion and tension as well.

Who really ties this whole film together? This cast is top notch. One of Stallone’s best performances, Rambo, is a stoic warrior but there is a throbbing nerve underneath the surface which is ready to erupt at any moment. Stallone can deliver the needed intensity to be such an unnerving killing machine, but it is the final confrontation that allows this iconic actor to leave it all out. That final sequence finds Stallone so vulnerable and deeply empathetic. Brian Dennehy is a swaggering presence that is so essential for this film to work the way that it does. Teasle is a bastard and thinks he is so tough and demands respect and felty…but does earn it. The arrogance that Dennehy injects into this character is so impactful and makes this character really come to life. Richard Crenna is also confident (in opposition to Dennehy) but his performance is colder and more distant. Crenna gives Trautman a calculating dynamic that makes him like a chess master looking at this tumultuous situation and he is always a few steps ahead. This trio anchors this whole film down and without them, this could have easily fallen to pieces. But it doesn’t and Kotcheff and company deliver an iconic, meaningful, and impactful thriller with so much to say and so much action to offer.

First Blood is streaming on Peacock.