Swamp Country (1966)
7/10
I'm a misfit
13 October 2003
Gosh, this movie is great. Why hasn't anyone caught on to Swamp Country? Why aren't the local teen punk bands all covering the songs in this film? Where has this movie been all my life?

First of all, the soundtrack is probably one of the best sound tracks I have ever heard. Let me explain: There's this hobo kinda guy that no one likes except this girl. All he does is hang out where everybody is and play his acoustic guitar and make up songs about what's going on at the moment. He sounds like Elvis and looks like He-Man in over-alls (but not so muscley). His songs include "Swaaaaaammmp Country", "I'm a Misfit" and various love songs and tunes about the sheriff and searching for a murderer in the swamp. Even though he's a misfit, he has the sense of humor as your favorite grandpa. So charming and rebellious.

Secondly, the soundtrack, while not featuring the local talent on his guitar, is just someone screwing around on a slightly out of tune acoustic guitar. They're just banging away on it and playing random notes and sounds. When someone's running through the swamp, the guitar is playing a note really fast. It's pretty brainless yet I love it.

Another thing that makes this movie great is the way they present the swamp people. The gang of men who look for the murderer in the woods are so true and unstereotyped. The deputy is a real character, not some typecast "cop" that every horror movie likes the use. This guy is a real man. The local guy who knows his way around the swamp and drinks moonshine is probably my favorite. They don't belittle these local yokels or make them seem like stupid crazy inbreds. These guys are clever and real. Yeah, they drink moonshine, but that doesn't make them insane. I hate how movies make swamp people seem like idiots. This movie doesn't do that, and I love it.

I also was totally charmed by the 10 year old girl with the Ramona Quimby haircut. She was so darling. I love how they had her fishing with her dog all by herself. Made me happy to see that wasn't a boy. Usually when little kids are involved in a movie and they're fishing and running around in a swamp with their dog, it's a little boy. Some little daddy's boy. But no, this was a little girl, and she was so awesome.

The "murderer" himself is pretty cool. He plays a good role. Makes the plot interesting too.

Watch out for the local Blacks who either say things that no one can understand and then laugh and walk off screen, or are hanging out with the misfit guitar player and getting down to his music, only to be scared away by some tough mafia-like moonshiners. This was really the only stereotype in the movie that made me say - oh yeah, this movie was made a long time ago.

Is that a real bear mauling scene? It looks like someone is really getting attacked by a bear. This is pretty cool. I didn't know bears lived in swamps.. But I guess they do. ?? And panthers? Do they live in swamps? who knows. This movie is still great either way.

I recommend this movie if you want some kind of a feel good flick that isn't as cheezy as Disney and has some of the best spur of the moment folky songs you'll ever hear. And show it to your kids! This way they won't think swamp people are idiots. And they'll know how to outrun the cops by walking backwards!!
13 out of 15 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed