Episode 253 - Revenge '77

1977 was apparently a big year for revenge at the cinema! We look at two films from that year that don't pull any punches in serving up some icy-cold vengeance! We start off with "The Farmer", the only directorial effort from David Berlatsky, who primarily worked as an editor. A soldier, played by Gary Conway returns home from World War 2 to find his family farm in disrepair and about to be foreclosed upon. After getting involved with the local criminal underworld as a way to pay off his debts, he ends up on a personal path of revenge that sees many people be assaulted and die. We follow that with the legendary "Rolling Thunder" from director John Flynn and co-written by none-other than Paul Schrader! This one also sees a soldier returning home from war, but this time it's William Devane coming home from Vietnam where had been a prisoner of war for years. His wife has moved on and found a new man, his son doesn't even remember him, and he is targeted by a local gang that attacks him and his family in a shockingly violent scene. This sets him on a violent path and leaves many many bodies in his wake. These are both starkly told stories with stoic leading men with almost nothing joyful in either. If you enjoy these types of stories, these are two excellent choices! You can email us at flickersfrom@yahoo.com or flickersfrom@gmail.com. You can also reach us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.