MovieChat Forums > Southern Comfort (1981) Discussion > Special Ops or not : let's list the fact...

Special Ops or not : let's list the facts

posted 16 years ago by Arachno
23 replies | jump to latest

Okay there's a lot of speculation that this is not straight training but really some kind of special ops deal. This is not a debate wether they get killed or rescued in the end. I want to debate : Was the military in on it.

Let's list the facts that points towards ''Military is in on it'' or ''They just got lost''

Clues for Military Operation :

-The faulty map that leads straight to canoes.
-The mysterious transfer from Texas to Baton Rouge of Hardin
-The speech that Hardin makes to Spencer about this looking weird/staged
-List yours !

Clues and small refutals for ''They just got lost''

-The Cajuns would probably have not attacked if that stupid motherfu.. had not shot them blanks. But then again they did already steal the boats and the army could have easily predicted that by leading them to boats they would steal them. Maybe the army predicted that the cajuns of that specific town would attack
-Hardin was transfered to Baton Rouge because of his civilian job and there is nothing mysterious about it. Okay then why was he transferred ? We never know... military orders ??? I don't know if that's possible.
-If it was a military operation, what could possibly the goal ? That is the best clue towards ''they just got lost'' because it's hard to figure out what the military would gain...

Please add arguments !

[–] shanayneigh 12 years ago

It was Obama's fault!

Working in the movie business since -92

[–] jeffzarrella 11 years ago

I have to agree with you on this, I have the movie on blu ray, saw it when I was a kid when it was in the theaters.I have to say that I thought it was spec ops all the way. The Cajuns were defending their land and they were hostel.I t will also explain about the helicopter. I thought it was luring the solders deeper in the swamp, and also it explains why the military truck appears at the end. be well Jeff z

[–] the_la_baker 10 years ago

-The speech that Hardin makes to Spencer about this looking weird/staged

That is the only part that made me suspect. I'm re-watching it now to see if there are any more clues to support your contention, but I seriously doubt it. Most likely, you are just reading into the film too much.

Edit: Nope, nothing else. You are dreaming.

[–] barronsteve80 10 years ago

I know it's a film and I know it's only the Guard but whomever wrote this knew nothing of military operations/TTPs... No unit, of any branch, could devolve THAT quickly to "Lord of the Flies"! Weren't they out there for only a couple days??! And in LA?? For training!? Every 20 year-old I ever patrolled with had 10 times their sense... They keep yelling "This is WAR!!" and Bowden becomes despondent...wtf??
However, it was kinda entertaining if I just shut off my brain. Plus, the Ry Cooder guitar was sweet! ;)

Bird up!

[–] chudddds-775-350714 9 years ago

ignorance or idiocy, both are in order. please quit posting, your parents with be arrested

[–] michael-heathcote3 8 years ago

I think it's a worthy cons theory that the writer/director team at least want to throw into the mix as a suggestion or talking point maybe -

They also didn't have a compass, no rescue flares for the chopper, they have very few live rounds but plenty of blanks, the officer was instantly killed on the water and the resulting capsizing lost them their radio. They have a weak 2nd in command to take over. Bowden has PTSD from Vietnam combat, Hardin is clear leader material smart enough to pose the question, but a newboy private entering a tight nit squad with a psycho as troop leader.

Then the stalking by the hunters and the traps, one very elaborate of the type used in Vietnam, they'd have no need of it there nor the knowledge to make it, unless they weren't simple hunters, plus all the tree cutting must have been done before or very quietly with handsaws. And the unit up against a few rednecks with single shot rifles would make very good special forces exercise in survival and soldiering ready for a Vietnam posting but for one thing - the hunters try to kill every one of them, making it utterly pointless.

[–] stevekaczynski 8 years ago

Other than Hardin's off-the-cuff comment about this looking staged, I don't think there is anything going for the theory.
Hardin is intelligent, indeed along with Spencer the only intelligent member of the unit, but I think someone of his mentality has trouble believing that a colossal SNAFU is just that. There must be a deeper purpose in his view. But no, not necessarily. An incompetently-led unit annoyed backwoods locals and this is the result.

"Chicken soup - with a *beep* straw."