The fact this film is a Vietnam War metaphor writ small is well established, (as shown by the previous comments), but there is more to this film than just "Vietnam." The setting is Louisiana, 1973 (a year after the Vietnam War ended for the US) where nine National Guardsmen on maneuvers in the swamps end up on the bad side of the local Cajun hunters. A bloody debacle results, in which the survival instincts of the Guardsmen are subordinated to their training (example: Cpl. Casper is taking them in the wrong direction, yet they continue to follow.) Again and again the voices of reason among the guardsmen are ignored, yet they follow to their destruction. Carradine's character comes to the fore as the leader only too late to save the squad.
The squad's leader, and first casualty is Sgt. Poole (Coyote), a decorated Vietnam Veteran. Noticeable, but not mentioned overtly, is the fact that Fred Ward's psychotic character, Reese, is wearing a 4th US Infantry Division "combat" patch on his right sleeve, suggesting his character was also a Vietnam Veteran (Poole wears the combat service patch of the 1st Infantry Division on his right sleeve). (Notice too the unspoken understanding between Reese and Poole at the critical point when they determine to take the hunters' boats.)
The remainder are all "weekend warriors," having presumably joined the guard during the war to avoid the draft, and possible Vietnam service. There is reference to their experiences battling rioting civil rights protesters and college students. Boothe's character, Hardin, is especially interesting, having served in the Texas Guard, but now transferred to the Louisiana Natl. Gd. to finish out his service. He doesn't want any trouble; with the NCOs (Poole/Casper), or with the "rednecks" of his new squad. Complete with his emotional baggage against the "rednecks" with whom he grew up and had to tolerate all his life, Hardin stands by idly as the events unfold which lead to disaster, but steadily comes to grips with his desire to survive at any cost. Reenter Fred Ward's violent Reese character; his will to survive transcends his duty to the squad, and while this plays out that he is a loose cannon notice that only he is unafraid of the Cajuns and is prepared for survival (perhaps from Vietnam service as noted above). Notice too that in most of his conflicts with the other guardsmen Reese is eventually vindicated. Examples: He carries live ammo in defiance of orders. He does not want to share it, and when he does the others waste it. He tries to get the CAjun Prisoner to talk by drowning him (and later we see he does indeed speak English).
Hardin and Reese finally come to grips and it is personal for Hardin, who discards his rifle and goes for it knife to knife against this embodiment of his bane: the "redneck." From that point on we see Hardin become in the Louisiana swamps what Reese had already become, perhaps in Vietnam ; a paranoid, a soldier willing to do whatever it took to survive, no matter what the cost. (we see the others reactions to this ordeal as well: Casper quotes manuals, Simms is in denial to the last, Bowdin, unable to come to grips with the situation and his emotions flips out totally, unable to act even to defend himself).
What does all this rambling mean? I'm not sure, but I can see here the brilliance of this film. the Cajuns may be pulling the triggers on them because their in the swamp, but what is getting these guardsmen in hot water is the minds they brought from the city! Here is an ugly glimpse of what it takes to survive in mortal combat against other humans: those trying to kill you, by association and outright.
As an aside, The film reiterates several times that these men "are the guard" and not Army regulars like those who served in Vietnam. Perhaps in Poole and Reese we see what their experiences in Vietnam create... the callousness of professional soldiers. Then we see the same in Boothe and Carradine who take their places here as the survivor and the leader. In "Southern Comfort" we see the south at war with itself...race riots of the 60's and the "new south" of the seventies are both referenced in this film, and it depicts the period in the middle. In the midst of the Vietnam metaphor of this movie is the battle between the college educated new south-type and the unthinking and reactionary redneck: between the home town high school football coach and the drug pusher (Cribbs); and between all of them of the old and new south and the Cajuns of the "lost" south. All that and Ry Cooder's music too!
The squad's leader, and first casualty is Sgt. Poole (Coyote), a decorated Vietnam Veteran. Noticeable, but not mentioned overtly, is the fact that Fred Ward's psychotic character, Reese, is wearing a 4th US Infantry Division "combat" patch on his right sleeve, suggesting his character was also a Vietnam Veteran (Poole wears the combat service patch of the 1st Infantry Division on his right sleeve). (Notice too the unspoken understanding between Reese and Poole at the critical point when they determine to take the hunters' boats.)
The remainder are all "weekend warriors," having presumably joined the guard during the war to avoid the draft, and possible Vietnam service. There is reference to their experiences battling rioting civil rights protesters and college students. Boothe's character, Hardin, is especially interesting, having served in the Texas Guard, but now transferred to the Louisiana Natl. Gd. to finish out his service. He doesn't want any trouble; with the NCOs (Poole/Casper), or with the "rednecks" of his new squad. Complete with his emotional baggage against the "rednecks" with whom he grew up and had to tolerate all his life, Hardin stands by idly as the events unfold which lead to disaster, but steadily comes to grips with his desire to survive at any cost. Reenter Fred Ward's violent Reese character; his will to survive transcends his duty to the squad, and while this plays out that he is a loose cannon notice that only he is unafraid of the Cajuns and is prepared for survival (perhaps from Vietnam service as noted above). Notice too that in most of his conflicts with the other guardsmen Reese is eventually vindicated. Examples: He carries live ammo in defiance of orders. He does not want to share it, and when he does the others waste it. He tries to get the CAjun Prisoner to talk by drowning him (and later we see he does indeed speak English).
Hardin and Reese finally come to grips and it is personal for Hardin, who discards his rifle and goes for it knife to knife against this embodiment of his bane: the "redneck." From that point on we see Hardin become in the Louisiana swamps what Reese had already become, perhaps in Vietnam ; a paranoid, a soldier willing to do whatever it took to survive, no matter what the cost. (we see the others reactions to this ordeal as well: Casper quotes manuals, Simms is in denial to the last, Bowdin, unable to come to grips with the situation and his emotions flips out totally, unable to act even to defend himself).
What does all this rambling mean? I'm not sure, but I can see here the brilliance of this film. the Cajuns may be pulling the triggers on them because their in the swamp, but what is getting these guardsmen in hot water is the minds they brought from the city! Here is an ugly glimpse of what it takes to survive in mortal combat against other humans: those trying to kill you, by association and outright.
As an aside, The film reiterates several times that these men "are the guard" and not Army regulars like those who served in Vietnam. Perhaps in Poole and Reese we see what their experiences in Vietnam create... the callousness of professional soldiers. Then we see the same in Boothe and Carradine who take their places here as the survivor and the leader. In "Southern Comfort" we see the south at war with itself...race riots of the 60's and the "new south" of the seventies are both referenced in this film, and it depicts the period in the middle. In the midst of the Vietnam metaphor of this movie is the battle between the college educated new south-type and the unthinking and reactionary redneck: between the home town high school football coach and the drug pusher (Cribbs); and between all of them of the old and new south and the Cajuns of the "lost" south. All that and Ry Cooder's music too!