First Blood

• Directed by Ted Kotcheff
• October 22, 1982 (US)
• Based on the 1972 novel First Blood by David Morrell

A Vietnam vet with severe PTSD is harassed by local law-enforcement and forced into an ever-escalating series of events.

First Blood is a classic Sylvester Stallone action film that probably contains one of his more complex characters. His John Rambo is a drifter still suffering from the scars of war who starts the movie out trying to see an old friend and is shattered to learn his friend has succumbed to Agent Orange. In this fragile state he runs afoul of a local jerk sheriff named Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy) and from there things escalate. 

This Rambo is not fighting for king and country but rather simply struggling to be left alone. There’s pain and a wounded nature to Stallone’s performance here. Stallone has talent as demonstrated by Rocky and even Cop Land, but he has tended to go for action films that while entertaining do not showcase his talent but rather focus on his physique.

Stallone created a misunderstood and damaged individual who is resourceful and not framed as a villain but rather a victim of things. He is not the vet going over the edge and doing terrible acts but rather a victim of circumstances. Rambo’s monologue in the closing moments is rather heartfelt and sad. It is so well delivered that you believe Stallone is Rambo and he actually saw those things that traumatized the character.

The late Richard Crenna as Col. Trautman is perhaps the other best-known figure not only from this film but from the series as well. He is strong but fatherly and his character knows how in over their heads the others are has been copied dozens of times since. Rambo is the student who has surpassed the master.

First Blood is a little over 90 minutes and doesn’t waste time with much extra. It sets up the characters and situation in short order. The film is peppered with Vietnam flashbacks and the characters are portrayed are not necessarily one dimensional beyond that of Teasle who for some reason just wants to be an asshole.

There is not ridiculous over the top action as like the later films became known for. Rather it’s relatively realistic. Rambo must use the materials around him and his own wits in order to survive. He doesn’t have exploding arrows and it does not look like he’s hitting the gym on the regular.

Unlike other action films of the time with Vietnam as part of the core character’s history, this isn’t about rewriting history and winning the Vietnam War on film. Rather it’s about the emotional scars and the general consequences of the conflict to the individual. It’s about the feelings that are created on all sides. And that one man just can’t quite let it go as much as he may want. 

The film just keeps coming at you with a steady plot that doesn’t let up but also doesn’t overwhelm you. This is battle of the unprepared versus a skilled soldier. During the movie Rambo uses what he can find or just his brains to defeat those hunting him. In a somewhat meta moment, when he makes himself a tunic from a discarded tarp that was a real item they found and reportedly Stallone still owns it and considers it a prized possession.

First Blood is a classic and somewhat sophisticated entry into the action genre. It’s got a strong story and an interesting central character and is worth checking out.