Casualties of War - Dark, and Still Sticks With Me (Years Later)

Okay, so I finally got around to rewatching "Casualties of War" last night. I saw it years ago, probably in high school, and it definitely left an impression. It's about this squad in Vietnam who kidnap a young Vietnamese woman, and how Eriksson (Michael J. Fox) is basically the only one who thinks it's totally wrong. What really gets you is how matter-of-fact the whole thing is with the other guys. Sean Penn is terrifying as Sergeant Meserve. He's so charismatic in a twisted way, it's easy to see how he can manipulate everyone else. The scene where they're actually planning the kidnapping? Chilling. And the aftermath... ugh. I think it's Eriksson's internal struggle that really makes the movie work though. He's constantly battling with himself, trying to do the right thing but also terrified of being ostracized. That internal conflict felt super real, and Fox did a great job showing it. The movie isn't perfect, though. Some of the dialogue felt a little clunky, like they were trying too hard to make a point, and sometimes the pacing felt off. But overall, it's a powerful film that makes you think about the complexities of war and morality. I'm curious what everyone else thinks. Did anyone else find Meserve's 'logic' disturbingly convincing, at least in the moment? And did you feel that the ending wrapped things up too neatly, or was it a necessary kind of justice? Let me know!