Uncle Sam (1997)

This G.I.-zombie tale, smartly scripted by exploitation auteur Larry Cohen (It's Alive, God Told Me To) and directed by William Lustig (Maniac, Vigilante), straddles the line between antiwar satire and slasher-movie silliness. American soldier Uncle Sam, as he's known to his hero-worshipping young nephew, is a bullying homicidal misfit too ornery to die. His bloodied and burned corpse, sent home from Kuwait for burial, crawls out of his casket and declares war on punks, crooked politicians, draft dodgers, and pretty much anyone who wanders into his path. There are some interesting ideas floating around--a pointed commentary on the attraction of violence under the flag of patriotism, an undercurrent of psychosis and sadism in Sam's home life, and a clever twist on all-American iconography--which get lost in the Fourth of July reign of terror. Body-count fans will appreciate victims hacked with hatchets, cleavers, and garden shears, teenagers buried alive, and a severed head found smoking in a barbecue pit. David "Shark" Fralick stars as Sam, with Isaac Hayes as a crippled Korean War vet and small roles by cult stars Bo Hopkins, Timothy Bottoms, P.J. Soles, and Robert Forster, a smarmy governor given a fireworks sendoff he'll never forget. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

A bloody 4th of July!

Sgt. Sam Harper has been killed during the Gulf War and his body has been brought back to his American hometown. His wife and nephew are both shattered by the news of his death, but a night later he is brought back to life mysteriously as a zombie who has a vengence to kill especially those who aren't patriotic and even dresses up in a Uncle Sam costume to kill his victims, as it's up to a former Korean war hero ( Issac Hayes) and Sam's nephew to put an end to this maniacal undead fiend from continuing to kill people.

Entertaining and gory if funny horror comedy from director William Lusting ( "Maniac", "Vigilantee") and writer Larry Cohen ("The Stuff", "It's Alive") combines a witty and gruesome little tale about a bloody 4th of July. There is some social satire like in some of Larry Cohen's stuff and dark humor as well in this now modern cult horror comedy fave that is well worth a look.

This DVD from Blue Underground has good picture and sound quality, two audio commentaries, Theatrical Trailer and poster-and-still gallery.

Also recommended: " Hostel", "Rabid Grannies", "Re-Animator", "House of 1000 Corpses", "The Devil's Rejects", "From Dusk Till Dawn", " A Nighmare on Elm Street series", "Street Trash", "Friday The 13th series", " Freddy Vs. Jason", " The Burning", "Sleepaway Camp", "Demons", "Tenebre", "The New York Ripper", " Faust: Love of the Damned", "Ichi The Killer", "The Toxic Avenger", "Tromeo and Juliet", "Scream 1 & 2", "High Tension", "Q: The Winged Serpent", "Cemetery Man", "Troma's War", "Combat Shock", "Kill Bill Vol. 1", "Terror Train", " Halloween", "Bad Taste", "Dead Alive (a.k.a. Braindead)", "Evil Dead II", " Texas Chainsaw Massacre part 2", "Martin", "American Werewolf in London", "Hannibal", "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer", "Jack Frost ( Horror flick)", and "Ginger Snaps". May 24, 2006

Anyone Who Doesn't Respect The American Way Of Life Deserves To Have Their Butt Kicked

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? October 16, 2005

Right

Are you kidding me? This movies is about as interesting as Children of the Living Dead. May 11, 2005

i love this flick

I remember back in the day, I skateboarded to the local blockbuster (this was when I lived in Milwaulkee, Alaska doesn't have very many blockbusters lol), skipping school because it was the day before we got off for thanksgiving and we weren't doing anything anyway, and got this movie and Creepy Crawlers on VHS. I went home and watched it, and it scared the crap out of me. When he buries that guy alive, the impalement, the decapitation, I won't ruin anymore for you. But I will tell you this, if you like horror(and I am referring to real horror, not Scream and the like, but TCM, Halloween, the Funhouse, clownhouse, etc.), then you HAVE to see this movie. I finally found this on DVD, along with Creepy Crawlers, and I am so glad that I have them. It is absolutely perfect to watch on a stormy day in a dark room. It has a few political messages, but not enough to ruin the horror or atmosphere of the movie. So if you like 80's style horror/slasher flicks(I love em), then you gotta see this, hands down. A perfect double feature with Creepy Crawlers(that is probably just me though, because it reminds me of those rad cold days skating and watching horror movies, plus Creepy Crawlers is one hell of a scary movie). Kick back and enjoy a movie that is easily one of the best horror flicks of the 90's(Scream eat ya heart out!!) April 12, 2005

Psychotic Movie.

I really enjoyed this movie it was chessy but at the same time kinda creepy.It made no sense that they would send a three year dead corpse to a family's house.I think this was the last of creative Horror Movies brutal deaths ,and funny one liners by Sam Harper.I thought the plot was good Though it never explains why he came back from the dead.Anyhow this a must have for any horror movie fan Collection. July 10, 2004

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