Search - Uncle Sam [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

Anyone Who Doesn't Respect The American Way Of Life Deserves

Stanley Runk | Camp North Pines | 10/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A movie that actually has that line in it is already deserving of at least three stars. Uncle Sam is one entertaining film. Notice I say "entertaining" and not "scary". A few of the one star reviewers apparently expected this to be scary, but all you have to do is merely look at the coverbox of this film, and anyone with common sense knows that this isn't meant to be taken seriously. Uncle Sam is directed by Blue Underground founder, Bill Lustig. Lustig directed Maniac Cop, which this film is very similar to. B movie legend Larry Cohen wrote the script. Sam was "killed" by friendly fire in the Gulf war, and once his body is shipped home, he decides he isn't gonna rest in peace. Sam is a hardcore patriot(and psychotic and child molester), and blames his "death" on Un-American Americans(he indirectly refers to hippies and draft dodgers as "cowards"). Once out of the coffin, he dons an Uncle Sam outfit and wreaks havoc at his hometown's annual 4th of July celebration. His targets include the draft dodging schoolteacher, the cop moving in on his wife, a couple of flag burning punks, a tax cheater, and a guy who makes a mockery of the national anthem. As ridiculous as this plot sounds, and as easy as it may be to lump this film into the category of silly horror flicks like Leprechaun and Jack Frost, Uncle Sam seems to have a little more class. Though it's not meant to be taken seriously, it's not trying to be outright comedy like the aforementioned films. The style is more in the vein of an 80s slasher flick without taking itself as seriously as one. Bill Lustig knows the genre. He may not have directed many films, but he's extremely immersed in the horror/exploitation genre. He's made his own contributions in the early 80s, and of course he runs Blue Underground. Before the end credits he even has a dedication to Lucio Fulci(this film was made right about the time of his death in 96). Plus, with Cohen on board as the writer, we have a real dynamite combination. That's not saying the movie is perfect. There's a blind, crippled kid who shows up about an hour into the film possessing a psychic ability and a strange bond to Sam which is never fully explained. All in all this character is completely pointless and does nothing at all for the movie. Genre fans will be pleased to see Bo Hopkins, PJ Soles and Robert Forster in small roles. You eventually get a good look at Sam's face in the last ten minutes or so of the film and I must say he does look kinda creepy. Definitely one you should see. After all, you're not a communist are ya?"