Southern Comfort (1981)

86% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(5,130 ratings)

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 to Louisiana on a chilly weekend for war games exercises. None of these weekend warriors seem… More 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 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 While making their way through swamp country, the reservists discover their maps are out of date and they've become lost.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

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Walter Hill
Written By: Walter Hill, Michael Kane
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1981 Wide
On DVD: May 22, 2001

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Walter Hill gives machismo, and he takes it away
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Fails to deliver all that's promised.
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, eFilmCritic.com
Perfectly entertaining gung-ho war flick. Walter Hill knows his action.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Goes down relatively smooth. Pour yourself a glass or three of its namesake, and enjoy!

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

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… More
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 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.
David L

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 their… More
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 their 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.
Stephen M

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… More
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 Comfort" 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.
xGary X

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 so… More
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 so inclined.)
Wu C

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.
Barry L

Very powerful, typicaly late 70's and very well acted.
Christopher B

Some may call it a Deliverance rip off, but I call it wicked!