Rolling Thunder (1977): Brutal, Brooding, and Criminally Underrated

Okay, so I finally got around to watching "Rolling Thunder" (1977), and wow. Just...wow. I knew it was supposed to be a dark revenge flick, but the atmosphere is what really got to me. The whole movie just feels like a humid, simmering nightmare. William Devane is absolutely incredible as Major Charles Rane. The way he portrays the PTSD and the quiet, simmering rage beneath his stoic exterior? Chilling. The scene where he's trying to learn to write with his prosthetic hand...ugh, gut-wrenching. Def not a feel-good movie, obviously. Also, did you know Quentin Tarantino is a HUGE fan? He named his production company partially after it! I especially loved the cinematography. The way the director (John Flynn, btw, I forgot to mention) uses long takes and static shots emphasizes the isolation and emptiness Rane feels. There's a scene in the diner, early on, where he's just staring blankly into space after the celebration, and the camera just lingers... it's so powerful. And the violence, when it comes, is shockingly brutal and unflinching. Some might find it excessive, but I think it serves the story's theme of the dehumanizing effects of war. It's not just glorifying violence, it's showing how it can hollow a person out. The pacing is pretty slow, which I usually don't mind, but I can see how it might turn some people off. And honestly, the ending felt a little rushed considering the build-up. I wish they had spent a little more time exploring the consequences of Rane's actions, but overall, it's a seriously impressive and disturbing film. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a gritty, thought-provoking revenge thriller that isn't afraid to get really dark. Definite shades of "Taxi Driver" here too. What did y'all think if you've seen it?