Rolling Thunder (1977): The Revenge Film that Sent Test Audiences Away Screaming

Why Did Rolling Thunder  Shock 1970s Audiences?Rolling Thunder is a cult classic revenge film with notable fans, including being an all-time favorite of writer/director Quentin Tarantino.Written by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) and rewritten by Heywood Gould (Cocktail), it's about a Vietnam prisoner of war's return home only to find a new conflict in suburbia.When his family is killed, the already-damaged veteran Major Charles Rane gears up for a quest of revenge to kill the men who ruined what was left of his life.Directed by John Flynn and starring William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones, the film is labeled as "vetsploitation" fare but carries tension all beneath the surface.Listen in for a discussion of a new kind of Captain Hook, Tommy Lee Jones as the no-nonsense sidekick, and the merits of old-school shootouts.Directed by John Flynn. Screenplay by Paul Schrader and Heywood Gould. Starring William Devane, Tommy Lee Jones, and Linda Haynes.Connect with us on Bluesky:@not-ni-theaters.bsky.socialAnd to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com