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Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Fred Ward, Franklyn Seales, T.K. Carter ... see more see more... , Lewis Smith , Les Lannom , Peter Coyote , Alan Autry , Brion James , Sonny Landham , Ned Dowd , Rob Ryder , Marc Savoy , Alan Lee Graf , Greg Guirard , Dewey Balfa

A handful of part time soldiers unwittingly turn a field exercise into a miniature war in this offbeat action drama from writer and director Walter Hill. A group of National Guard reservists are sent ... read more read more...to Louisiana on a chilly weekend for war games exercises. None of these weekend warriors seem especially happy to be there, especially laid-back Spencer (Keith Carradine), tightly-wound macho man Reece (Fred Ward) and transplanted Texan Hardin (Powers Booth). While making their way through swamp country, the reservists discover their maps are out of date and they've become lost. Rather than march back to camp and start over, they decide to "borrow" several canoes they've found by the banks of the bayou, which should put them back on track. When a Cajun local catches the soldiers stealing his canoes, Stuckey (Lewis Smith) fires a few rounds in his direction; for the purposes of their exercises, the Guardsmen have been given blank shells, so Stuckey imagines this is a harmless way to scare the man off. However, the Cajun soon returns fire -- with real bullets. After Poole (Peter Coyote) is killed by a shotgun blast, the Guardsmen find themselves lost in a place they do not understand, surrounded by angry men determined to drive the unwelcome visitors off their land at all costs. A taut and atmospheric action film which is also serves as an intelligent and evocative metaphor for America's role in the Vietnam war, Southern Comfort also features an excellent score by guitarist (and frequent Walter Hill collaborator) Ry Cooder. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

5,130 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

14 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Walter Hill

Release Date: January 1, 1981

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DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001

Stats: 339 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (339)

  • tsigur
    March 30, 2009
    tsigur
    This movie is fucking entertaining as all get out. Just look at the line up in this movie: Powers Boothe, Fred Ward, Carradine, these guys are all great in this trashier version of Deliverance. But instead of that plastic Reynolds and Voight facing rednecks, these guys are facing... read more people from my neck of the woods. It's a helluva lot of fun with an ending that I loved. There were a couple of bumpy parts, but the creepy, violent thrilling moments more than make up for it. Walter Hill is underrated and usually thought of as just an action director, but this movie shows him as a filmmaker who knows there is more to what most people consider B-movies than meets the eye.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    May 18, 2008
    cancercapricorn2002
    A excellent paranoia thriller that takes place in a swamp in the Louisana where eight National Guard members who are on a routine reconnaissance excerise, unwillingly and intentionally start an exhausting battle of wills and survival with some Cajuns who know the swamps like if t... read moreheir own backyard.

    Director Walter Hill ("48 Hours", "Undisputed") and his screen-writers (David Giler and Michael Kane) have unveiled an expected surprise that surpasses even my expectations of a top-notch thriller.

    As for the cast, Keith Carradine and Powers Boothe emerge here to give the best performances. Boothe is good as Hardin, who came to the unit as a transfer from Texas while Carradine is the relatively easy-going Spencer. Fred Ward and Alan Autry also deliver here as two members who are both troublesome in two different ways. Ward is the bully who doesn't need much to provoke a fight with anyone and Autry is the emotionally shell-shocked soldier whose fragile feelings are rocked when the unit's leader, Sargeant Poole (Peter Coyote) is unexpectedly shot and killed.

    Some of the locals that the team run into are either harmless or polite instead of being stereotyped. However, the Cajuns that are seeking revenge are about as hard to find as the shark in the first half of "Jaws".

    Even a few of the Hill regulars: musician Ry Cooder, photographer Andrew Laszlo, and production designer John Vallone add another key element to the movie. The look, the feel, and especially - the music fit the atmosphere like it should be and I was satisfied with that.

    A great movie and well worth checking out.
  • harrycaul
    March 16, 2008
    harrycaul
    On exercises in the swamps of Louisiana, some National Guardsmen provoke an indigenous Cajun trapper community and find themselves systematically hunted for sport. As Robert Aldrich's "Too Late the Hero" and John Boorman"s "Deliverance" covered somewhat similar ground, "Southern ... read moreComfort" wins no prizes for originality, but it's still an excellent, unusually intelligent action movie. Walter Hill assembles a cast of dependable B-listers -- including Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Fred Ward, Peter Coyote and Brion James -- and Ry Cooder's bottleneck guitar perfectly compliments the hauntingly beautiful swampland scenery. The infighting of the National Guardsmen is generally well-handled, but the mutual antipathy between Ward and Boothe is rather improbably resolved . Also, considering that the Guardsmen have only been out in the swamp for a couple of days, the fact that three of them go a little doolally feels like two too many, at least. The tense finale is absolutely brilliantly executed. The use of booby-traps points the way to "First Blood", released the following year.
  • garyX
    July 14, 2007
    garyX
    Atmospheric variation on the Deliverance theme involving a collection of arrogant gun-toting rednecks in uniform biting off more than they can chew in the lawless louisiana swamp. Could also be read as an allegory of the US involvement and subsequent defeat in Vietnam (if you are... read more so inclined.)
  • KLFilmmaker
    January 23, 2012
    KLFilmmaker
    Redneck national guard trainees 'borrow' some canoes from redneck cajuns. Deliverance style action ensues. Great cast delivers with the always reliable Walter Hill directing. A hidden gem from the 80's.
  • DrLappos
    March 14, 2008
    DrLappos
    Very powerful, typicaly late 70's and very well acted.
  • cacutshaw
    January 17, 2008
    cacutshaw
    Some may call it a Deliverance rip off, but I call it wicked!
  • Maggie9731
    April 5, 2011
    Maggie9731
    similar plot to DELIVERANCE set in the LA bajou. Loved the Cajun music. Culture clash when the National Guard are thrown into the swamplands and make a lot of blunders along the way. This movie was withbKeith Carradine and Powers Booth.
  • AD917
    September 2, 2009
    AD917
    A combination of macho action and survival horror. Sort of putters along with only brief moments of excitement for most of the runtime until it reaches a pitch-perfect climax in the last ten minutes. Ends on a strong enough note to warrant a second viewing sometime down the line.
  • 2ickslinger
    August 30, 2009
    2ickslinger
    Out gunned - cut off -abandoned
    no one gets out alive so forget about it my the things that lie hidden in the swamp somebody lives there who?

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Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce
April 2, 2010
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Walter Hill gives machismo, and he takes it away Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
June 27, 2009
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Fails to deliver all that's promised. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 10, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

An atmospheric, tough-as-nails survival tale, and arguably Walter Hill's best movie overall. Well cast with a great Ry Cooder score. Packs a definite wallop.

Scott Weinberg
April 3, 2005
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Perfectly entertaining gung-ho war flick. Walter Hill knows his action.

Brian Mckay
March 19, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

Goes down relatively smooth. Pour yourself a glass or three of its namesake, and enjoy! Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Philip Martin
December 26, 2004
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
November 23, 2004
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

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