Rolling Thunder (1977) ****

I wrote in my previous review of Rolling Thunder (1977) that, having seen it twice, neither viewing grabbed me quite the same way that other Paul Schrader-penned films like Raging Bull (1980) (review) and Taxi Driver (1976) (review) had. But, much like TD, it's taken me a few viewings of RT to fully appreciate it. It's a slow burn with a strong payoff, naturalistic performances (including a particularly detached and impressive William Devane), noir-inspired cinematography by Jordan Cronenweth, and a sparse and ominous score by Barry De Vorzon.

This tale of a war veteran returning home after being a POW touches on themes Schrader often explores—masculinity, violence, men on some kind of hopeless quest, women with poor choices in men. Schrader can be artsy and weird in some of his work (I'm looking at you Cat People (1982) (review) and Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters (1985) (review)). Not here though—RT is a straightforward revenge picture through and through (so much so that Schrader was dismissive of the film), operating on the same wavelength as many movies by Sam Peckinpah and Walter Hill. This was an intentional choice by director John Flynn, but, despite the economy of the filmmaking, there is plenty going on beneath the surface of this brooding psychological post-Vietnam thriller.

Recommended for fans of Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia (1974), Southern Comfort (1981) (review), and Hardcore (1979).