Normally, when an author’s work gets turned into a major, global franchise that spawns numerous sequels released over decades, that writer is incredibly pleased with results. Who wouldn’t want to see their creation beloved by millions of people over generations? Well, if your name is David Morrell and you’re the writer that created John Rambo, seeing your character turned into the man shown in “Rambo: Last Blood” is enough to disgust you.
Morrell, the author behind “First Blood,” which was subsequently made into the film of the same name and kicked off the ‘Rambo’ franchise, recently took to social media and the press to share his displeasure with the latest film in the Sylvester Stallone-led series. Needless to say, Morrell is not a fan.
He tweeted, “I agree with these RAMBO: LAST BLOOD reviews. The film is a mess. Embarrassed to have my name associated with it.”
Speaking to Newsweek, he elaborated on his thoughts. And let’s just say, his expanded opinion was even more damning.
“I felt degraded and dehumanized after I left the theater,” Morrell said. “Instead of being soulful, this new movie lacks one. I felt I was less a human being for having seen it, and today that’s an unfortunate message.”
Ouch.
Of course, no matter what Morrell thinks of ‘Last Blood,’ there will be plenty of defenders of the film. And as social media comments indicate, after I published my review of the film, it would appear that many people didn’t take offense to the film as Morrell or myself did. Most people chalk ‘Last Blood’ up to good, mindless fun.
READ MORE: ‘Rambo: Last Blood’ Trailer: Sylvester Stallone’s Action Hero Has His Final Mission
However, as mentioned, when you compare the latest (and supposedly final) ‘Rambo’ film to its origins in “First Blood,” it’s clear that the franchise has gone far astray of the original book/film’s intentions. What started as a story of a man struggling to overcome his mental issues as a result of fighting in Vietnam has turned into a gratuitous bloodbath of a film that celebrates the deaths of foreign enemies based on painting them as terrible, racist stereotypes.
And no, that isn’t to say that the Mexican villains in ‘Last Blood’ are good people that don’t deserve to die. In fact, they’re truly despicable. However, it’s the laziness of the storytelling and the reliance (and spreading) of ugly, offensive stereotypes that turned this new film into the shitshow it is.
But no matter what the man who created the character has to say, you’re allowed to enjoy “Rambo: Last Blood” if you want. Just know that this isn’t the John Rambo that David Morrell created.
https://twitter.com/_DavidMorrell/status/1175060258399481857
