I may be a sucker for "B" movies, but there are a lot of good ones out there! This one is pre-"First Blood", but has the same, basic theme. Dirk Benedict stars as a Vietnam vet (what's with the raw hamburger?) who wanders into some unknown Southern town & gets harassed by some of the locals. Linda Blair (aka the possessed girl from "The Exorcist") is the widow of a Vietnam vet who befriends him. A lot of familiar faces in this--actors from many other movies who you may recognize. A very entertaining flick, in a not-too-serious way. It sort of has a "Dukes of Hazzard" feel to it. I can remember watching it as a 10-year old and thinking it was one of the best movies I'd ever seen at that time! It is no longer in my Top 25, but still an entertaining film.
18 Reviews
Basically a lighter version of Rambo.
Aaron137515 December 2009
This film is okay from what I remember of it. Unfortunately, it is not all that much seeing as how it has not come on television in many years and I have never seen a DVD of it. Heck, I never even knew the title of this movie and had the hardest time finding it on this site. I remember it having a bit of humor in it so I had added comedy to part of the search criteria and that is what threw off my search for the longest. Then I looked up Dirk Benedict as I was sure he was the guy and I finally found this title. Like I said I remember this one being a bit humorous at times, but like in Rambo it is about a Vietnam vet being treated badly by a small town. Which like I have said before in my review of "First Blood" and "Tank" makes little sense to me. There may have been a hatred of veterans of wars by those on the coasts and such, but usually the small towns embrace those who serve their country. This one though has him more of a drifter and looking rather filthy so I can see it a bit more here as rednecks do tend to act stupid like the ones that started the whole mess at that restaurant. The movie is a bit one note, usually involving the local law and such trying to capture the guy then he ends up busting some heads. Nothing like what is seen in "First Blood" where traps are set and spikes get stuck in a dude's legs. Somewhat good movie, but it needed some work too.
Not at all what I was expecting.
lost-in-limbo25 August 2020
Similarities in structure and story beats to Sylvester Stallone's 'First Blood' are hard to shake. Yet the casual tone seems fall on the humorous side with its Dukes of Hazards/hicksploitation chaos and destruction. Amusing while it lasted, but very little to say. Therefore lacks any real intensity or lasting impact. And a few interesting faces (Linda Blair, Richard Farnsworth, Matt Clark, Ben Johnson etc) show up on the screen with some more prominent within their roles than others. I actually liked the dynamics shared between Benedict and Blair, even though those moments kinda take you out of the situation in favour for character building and understanding.
BEST OF THE "B'S"
gandamack127 December 2003
Should be enshrined in a vault for future generations to enjoy.Best study of small town southern people I have ever watched on the screen.Every character in the movie has at least one counterpart in my home town.Should be watched over and over to really enjoy.
Way better than I thought it would be
BandSAboutMovies12 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Kyle Hanson (Dirk Benedict) spent eight months as a POW and stuck in the jungle, never speaking, which left him a damaged man, unable to adjust to life back at home. When he passes through a small town, local bullies harass him, which he easily handles, but things spiral out of control when local deputies and the townies just can't let him be.
Only one person, Jenny Bellows (Blair) understands. She's the daughter-in-law of Sam Bellows (Ben Johnson, The Town That Dreaded Sundown), the richest man in town. His son was killed in action during the war, but his body hasn't been found yet. Instead of the rich guy being the villain here, he's actually one of the most sympathetic people in the picture.
Jenny brings Hanson out of the darkness, but after being attacked by local bullies and the police time and time again, Hanson claims a small island. Only the intervention of Sam stops the carnage, as they decide that Hanson can keep the land for himself.
Richard Farnsworth plays the only good cop in the film. You'll remember him from a ton of movies, like him playing Buster in Misery, as the lead in David Lynch's The Straight Story and as Red in The Natural.
I was struck by this film's similarities to the first Rambo film, First Blood. That may not be a total coincidence. The original rights the David Morell's novel that First Blood was based on spent a decade making the Hollywood rounds. went through 10 years of passing hands before culminating in the 1982 Sylvester Stallone film, so this movie could have been based upon that script. There are parts that are just too close to believe otherwise.
This movie is a million times better than I thought it was going to be. It's pretty entertaining and I'm surprised that it isn't discussed more. Director Max Kleven would go on to work with Blair again in the film W.B., Blue and the Bean. A stuntman by trade, the supporting cast is filled with his fellow daredevils, all of whom go all out to deliver some great action.
Even better, the soundtrack is packed with a mix of songs by Willie Nelson and Hank Cochran, along with Janie Fricke singing a few of them. It's the perfect music, including the song "Ain't Life Hell."
Ruckus also has some great alternate titles, like The Intruder of Madoc County, Big Ruckus In a Small Town, The Devastator, Eat My Dust, Destructor, The Loner and Ruckus in Madoc Country.
Only one person, Jenny Bellows (Blair) understands. She's the daughter-in-law of Sam Bellows (Ben Johnson, The Town That Dreaded Sundown), the richest man in town. His son was killed in action during the war, but his body hasn't been found yet. Instead of the rich guy being the villain here, he's actually one of the most sympathetic people in the picture.
Jenny brings Hanson out of the darkness, but after being attacked by local bullies and the police time and time again, Hanson claims a small island. Only the intervention of Sam stops the carnage, as they decide that Hanson can keep the land for himself.
Richard Farnsworth plays the only good cop in the film. You'll remember him from a ton of movies, like him playing Buster in Misery, as the lead in David Lynch's The Straight Story and as Red in The Natural.
I was struck by this film's similarities to the first Rambo film, First Blood. That may not be a total coincidence. The original rights the David Morell's novel that First Blood was based on spent a decade making the Hollywood rounds. went through 10 years of passing hands before culminating in the 1982 Sylvester Stallone film, so this movie could have been based upon that script. There are parts that are just too close to believe otherwise.
This movie is a million times better than I thought it was going to be. It's pretty entertaining and I'm surprised that it isn't discussed more. Director Max Kleven would go on to work with Blair again in the film W.B., Blue and the Bean. A stuntman by trade, the supporting cast is filled with his fellow daredevils, all of whom go all out to deliver some great action.
Even better, the soundtrack is packed with a mix of songs by Willie Nelson and Hank Cochran, along with Janie Fricke singing a few of them. It's the perfect music, including the song "Ain't Life Hell."
Ruckus also has some great alternate titles, like The Intruder of Madoc County, Big Ruckus In a Small Town, The Devastator, Eat My Dust, Destructor, The Loner and Ruckus in Madoc Country.
Dirk Benedict is Rambo!
pjphtheunissen28 August 2023
Ruckus is movie about An sorry and troubled vietnam veteran that stumbles into A small town with even smaller thinking population. Everything and Everyone that looks or seems different is weird and rejected. Although hé doesnt do anyone any harm, they want him out by any means. Formiliar ? Yep... it Rambo. Sadly someone ( the
Director) thought the story Should be a funny comedy/love story/ thriller including "funny" eh annoying banjo music on every single chase scène (just like the tv show of that age) . An director that could not see what he had. That in Essent is why first blood was a box Office hit and Ruckus wasn't. Stallone knew he had... A thriller. Like the book was an thriller. Too bad this director didnt realise which way hé should film this story, but i wonder of this director had the neccesairy experience to do what Stallone did? Lets imagine hé did and could... and Dirk benedict would have starred in Ruckus the thiller later to be named 'Rambo'. I bet he would be great! And since there arent that many movies to admire the one of A kind Dirk benedict Ruckus deserves much more admiration. You need to see this movie! Maybe not as great as Stallone but still... 'fun'
Low-budget drama with curious, unsuccessful comedic asides
moonspinner5517 March 2007
Dirk Benedict is fairly colorless playing a disturbed Vietnam vet who causes chaos in a backwater town. Odd but not especially interesting B-movie does features fetching Linda Blair as a single mother and love-interest--and a hilariously sincere romantic montage wherein Benedict and Blair bond over some off-roading. Casual comparisons to Sylvester Stallone's "First Blood" are inevitable, however this one surely could've used more of John Rambo's inner-torment; Benedict is such a sad sack, he acts like a homeless puppy in an Army jacket. Forgettable trifle has a good supporting cast but needed a bigger budget and more action to enliven this scenario. *1/2 from ****
Really overrated ...... really overpriced ...... really not very good ......
merklekranz7 October 2013
"Ruckus" is not "Rambo". Ruckus is a trivial Southern nonsense cartoon. The car chases are all there. The boat chases are all there. The explosions are all there. What's missing is a believable script. The lack of substance in this film is appalling. Well liked actors Richard Farnsworth and Ben Johnson are totally wasted in meaningless roles. Linda Blair is just sort of there, with no effect on the outcome. As the VHS box states "Thanks to the U.S. Army, he can kill a man in 6 seconds with his bare hands". However, in this Southern fried drivel, no "Rednecks" were harmed by bullets, arrows, or dynamite. The only thing missing is Wylie Coyote. - MERK
He has a problem. No one else can help. Nobody can even find him. Maybe he could join ... The A-Team!
Coventry18 March 2021
The copy of "Ruckus" that I own (an old-fashioned VHS tape ... still the best collectible) features something I've never seen before, not even in all my many years as a cult-movie fanatic. Before the opening credits, there's a message on the screen stating: "Ruckus has a similar theme as the well-known Sylvester Stallone movie, but got released more than a year before First Blood". Ha! Seems to me the distributors were sick and tired of hearing their film was nothing but a lame imitation of Rambo. It's definitely true that "Ruckus" and "First Blood" have the same basic plot, namely that of a bewildered and traumatized Vietnam veteran who isn't welcome in a sleepy little town, and where the local rednecks attempt to chase him away.
The resembling plot is where the comparison stops, though. "First Blood" is an intense and gripping action/drama, with complex characters and underlying messages, whereas "Ruckus" aims straight for slapstick and pretty much gets ruined by its combination of excessively dumb yokel characters and endless car chases to the tunes of banjo music. Dirk Benedict, in between his TV-successes "Battlestar Galactica" and "The A-Team" doesn't has to do much acting, as he's the strong silent type - mentally scarred by his experience as a POW - who likes to climb in trees and manufacture his own bow and arrows. The gorgeous Linda Blair is utterly wasted, unfortunately. The film doesn't have a few remarkable and unexpected strong points, I must admit. The two characters of which you assume they are the slimiest villains actually turn out to be completely anti-stereotypical. Richard Farnsworth (as the intelligent Sheriff) and Ben Johnson (as the town's rich industrialist) are guaranteed to surprise you.
The resembling plot is where the comparison stops, though. "First Blood" is an intense and gripping action/drama, with complex characters and underlying messages, whereas "Ruckus" aims straight for slapstick and pretty much gets ruined by its combination of excessively dumb yokel characters and endless car chases to the tunes of banjo music. Dirk Benedict, in between his TV-successes "Battlestar Galactica" and "The A-Team" doesn't has to do much acting, as he's the strong silent type - mentally scarred by his experience as a POW - who likes to climb in trees and manufacture his own bow and arrows. The gorgeous Linda Blair is utterly wasted, unfortunately. The film doesn't have a few remarkable and unexpected strong points, I must admit. The two characters of which you assume they are the slimiest villains actually turn out to be completely anti-stereotypical. Richard Farnsworth (as the intelligent Sheriff) and Ben Johnson (as the town's rich industrialist) are guaranteed to surprise you.
The REAL first Rambo movie
rkdoidge7 June 2005
Having read "First Blood" I told everyone what a tremendous movie it would make. Imagine my surprise when I watched this movie. The hero's name was different but there was no doubt that this was the same story. Linda Blair had been added as a love interest but the battle against the small town sheriff by a disturbed Vietnam vet was definitely the story of John Rambo later made famous by Sylvester Stallone. I have spent years trying to convince others that this movie existed. It didn't help that I forgot its name. Fortunately I did remember it starred Dirk Benedict. Although not a great movie, it does satisfy the "machismo" ethos. In a way, Stallone's version was a let down. The book has a much grimmer ending than either movie. If Stallone-Rambo had suffered the fate portrayed in the book there could have been no sequels.
A Really Cool Movie
none-8529 July 2007
The lead, Dirk Benedict, is really cool. There is a lot of comedy in the way he makes monkeys of all of the country rednecks that try to take him out. There is nothing he doesn't know about how to defend and take care of himself. His relationship with the young and delectable Linda Blair is tender and cute.
The country songs, especially "One Day at a Time," complement the hokey, but cool and entertaining story perfectly. The supporting actors, including Ben Johnson and Richard Farsnworth, are great. I've watched the film dozens of time, first when it came out on cable in 1982, and then after 2000, when I bought the VHS tape. You'll really enjoy this film.
The country songs, especially "One Day at a Time," complement the hokey, but cool and entertaining story perfectly. The supporting actors, including Ben Johnson and Richard Farsnworth, are great. I've watched the film dozens of time, first when it came out on cable in 1982, and then after 2000, when I bought the VHS tape. You'll really enjoy this film.
Not a movie review....
susanagquirarte15 May 2011
I watched this movie for the first time when I was in elementary school. They showed it only because it was filmed in the town that I live in. I never remembered the name of it, and always wondered about it. A friend of mine just gave me a copy of it to show my children what our town used to look like. I had no clue it was the same movie, and was ecstatic when I realized it was the same one. It was filmed in the towns of Knights Landing, and Woodlnad California. Its great to see and recognize where everything is filmed. We still live in the same area, and ride our bikes along the same paths as were filmed in the movie. The kids love knowing that something exciting once happened in the small town they live in. I would love to find more movies that were made in this area, but have had a hard time finding any leads. The movie is comical, more than anything else, in my opinion but all the while entertaining. We all loved it, and it is definitely one we can watch more than once. I gave this movie a "10" only because of where it was filmed, and my personal attachment to the area.
* * out of 4.
brandonsites198125 May 2002
Dick Bendict is a loner who still has trouble getting over the horrors he faced in the Vietnam war. All he wants to do is be by himself and try to move on, but a group of hoodlums take it upon themselves to terrorize him after a beautiful widow (Linda Blair) takes an interest to him.
Well, you can give this credit as being the film that First Blood ripped off. It is entertaining and Richard Fransworth is excellent as always and Linda Blair turns in a rather appealing performance capturing the right balance between being lonely yet madly in love. This is one of her better vechiles, but other then Fransworth's and Blair's good turns there really isn't anything special or praticully distinguishable about this film.
Well, you can give this credit as being the film that First Blood ripped off. It is entertaining and Richard Fransworth is excellent as always and Linda Blair turns in a rather appealing performance capturing the right balance between being lonely yet madly in love. This is one of her better vechiles, but other then Fransworth's and Blair's good turns there really isn't anything special or praticully distinguishable about this film.
Same story as First Blood
merlin-164 March 2002
It is the same story as in First blood with Sylvester Stallone, but this film is much better and the storyline has been a lot better. I like this film a lot and it is one of the best actionfilms I ever have seen. If you like it too send me a comment.
A tamed version of "First Blood".
GOWBTW23 April 2020
Two years before "First Blood", there's "Ruckus". A Vietnam veteran(Dirk Benedict who was fresh off from "Battlestar Galactica") arrives at a small town. He is trying to get back to civilization when the local rowdies decided to harass him. He uses his techniques from his military days to even the score.
Dirk Benedict would years later play a lieutenant in the army TV show "The A-Team" where he is more of a slick than a soldier.
Linda Blair plays a mother and widow of a Vietnam veteran who asked the veteran if he had known her husband.
This movie is more of the comedic version of "First Blood". Not a satire. Just comedic. Yes, there's a lot of action, and a lot of slapstick. This movie is just plain funny. It has opened up a door to future entertainment.
It was great fun.
3 out of 5 stars
Enjoy It As A Different & More Lighthearted Telling of First Blood
crowes-1886526 February 2020
I was too young when I first saw this movie to connect it to First Blood, knew they were similar but didn't realize until way later that this was likely born of the circulating First Blood script. Don't hold that against it though. While it does get much sillier and the repetition of the same song over and over is quite noticeable this movie is very much a product of its time and a great, fun flick from 1980. It's very much flawed but Dirk Benedict makes Kyle Hanson a very likeable protagonist. The villains are terrible, like rejects from a Smokey & The Bandit movie and the violence is more of the A-Team type with no one being injured beyond the likes of a schoolyard brawl but it is still a good time and I will always remember it as a childhood favorite. Check it out at least once and try to judge it on its own merit!
a taste of freedom
J_J_Gittes6 December 2014
Kyle is a traumatized ex-special forces soldier recently back from Vietnam. Jenny has been waiting for years if her missing husband might return from the war. When they meet they experience a common ground and try to come back to life in the here and now as their friendship develops. Meanwhie Kyle has caused the small town's redneck population to go crazy on him and the title's ruckus ensues. This is a really charming and deceptively simple, straightforward and honest comedic take on a lot of issues concerning appearances, communities, gender and other stereotypes, as well as a quietly contemplative film on healing and the relentless passage of time. Farnsworth and Johnson serve as elder-statesman-like counterparts to balance the reckless hillbillies whose (blood)thirst for adventure will get quenched by a taste of war-like madness and disorientation. Ruckus possesses a light and sometimes fleetingly subtle touch that is very unusual for this type of material, especially considering its broad comedy and the openly articulated themes, which makes it a true one-of-a-kind experience, a film that tries to poke fun at the absurdities of life during the specific time it was made, and a perfect example of low-key independent filmmaking which can blend diverse and contradictory ideas and emotions to create a grab bag of bewildering moments and cinematic miniatures that enrich each other and rekindle the lust for life of our two protagonists as well as the viewers' belief in the magic of cinema. Cause in movies, everything is possible.
Classic early 80's action
Krimar31623 March 2023
Imagine if Face from The A-Team had come back from Vietnam a broken man before regrouping with the other members of his platoon and forming the now legendary four man group that we know today and that's what you have here. It's a great old school action movie from a time when low budget films like Eye Of The Tiger and Savage Dawn were all the rage and always enjoyable. I myself only came across this a couple of days ago but I've found myself watching it twice already.
Sadly movies like this will never be seen again because of CGI and in all honesty no one can write or make these types of movies anymore. It's gets a 10/10 A+ 5* rating from me as it takes me back to a time when you didn't need a lot to make something entertaining just great actors, fantastic stuntmen and a raw passion.
Sadly movies like this will never be seen again because of CGI and in all honesty no one can write or make these types of movies anymore. It's gets a 10/10 A+ 5* rating from me as it takes me back to a time when you didn't need a lot to make something entertaining just great actors, fantastic stuntmen and a raw passion.
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