VFW – Veterans of Foreign Wars (2019)

Directed by: Joe Begos | 92 minutes | action, crime | Actors: Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Fred Williamson, Martin Kove, David Patrick Kelly, George Wendt, Tom Williamson, Sierra McCormick, Travis Hammer, Dora Madison, Josh Ethier, Graham Skipper, Linnea Wilson, Jesse Kove, Brandon Potter

If you like ‘The Expendables’ then ‘VFW Veterans of Foreign Wars’ might be your thing too. Although, they are not immediately the most famous action heroes that you think of, because director Joe Begos rounded up other veterans for his horror/action film.

What about Stephen Lang (‘Avatar’ and ‘Don’t Breathe’), William Sadler (‘The Shawshank Redemption’), George Wendt (Norm from “Cheers”), David Patrick Kelly (“Twin Peaks” and ‘Last Man Standing’) and ‘Hammer’ Fred Williamson (‘From Dusk Till Dawn’)? Tight knuckles, veterans of foreign wars (Korea, Vietnam), who suddenly get a visit from a teenage girl named Lizard (Elizabeth, Sierra McCormick) in their favorite bar. She has stolen the drug stash of Boz (Travis Hammer of “Godless” and “Ray Donovan”), a deranged drug dealer, and it won’t rest until he gets this “gold” back in his hands.

The older youths are forced to protect their fortress against a horde of soulless punk mutants, all influenced by the new drug hype. The seniors are joined by Afghanistan veteran Shaun (Tom Williamson). With whatever is available, they manufacture new arsenal of weapons. From hockey stick to flagpole and from homemade grenades to machetes.

‘VFW’ is a nod to the grindhouse and B-movies from the 80s. Only neon-lit scenes, grainy images and the standard one-liners between veterans. Platoon leader/bar owner Fred (Lang) and his war buddies Walter (Sadler), Lou (Martin Kove), Abe (Willamson), Doug (Kelley) and Zee (Wendt) engage in a final battle filled with blood, gore, flying limbs and camaraderie .

The veterans refuse to surrender, even when there are deaths. This means that the real celebration of Fred’s birthday, a visit to a ‘titty bar’ was planned, is in danger of falling into the water…

In ‘VFW’ the best lyrics are for David Patrick Kelley and William Sadler. Lang also does his job very well. It’s a straightforward story, of course, yet charming enough not to get boring. Some of the actions don’t quite match the ‘gore’ aspect of the film and a grouch will wonder more things, but that’s not what it’s all about. It’s old boys raisin bread, rivalry, assertiveness and honour. Last Man Standing serves a last round of alcohol. It’s a shame that Begos cut back on light, because in many scenes the action is hard to follow. Still an almost sufficient score for ‘VFW’ because of the John Carpenter style (‘Assault on Precinct 13’ and ‘Escape from New York/LA’).