Fleshburn (1984) User Reviews

Survival thriller - watchable, competently made fare that never rises above nor falls below its station.

[barnabyrudge · 5/10 · 5 September 2004]

I saw Fleshburn on video. The picture on the video cover suggests that the film is some kind of post-apocalyptic B-movie, but in actual fact it's nothing of the sort. As it happens, Fleshburn is based on a novel by Brian (Death Wish) Garfield, and is an outdoor thriller akin to Deliverance, The Most Dangerous Game and Open Season (1974).

Navajo Indian and ex-Vietnam vet Clavin Duggai (Sonny Landham) has spent several years in a mental institution, having left a bunch of Indians to die in the desert over an argument about witchcraft (!) He escapes from the institution and sets about finding and kidnapping the four psychiatrists who recommended that he be sent there in the first place. First on his list is unhappily married couple Shirley (Karen Carlson) and Jay (Robert Chimento), followed by resourceful Sam (Steve Kanaly) and homosexual Earl (Macon McCalman). Having rounded up his victims, Duggai drives them off into the middle of the desert, where he abandons them. From a safe distance he watches as his four victims weaken physically and mentally in the unforgiving desert environment.

Fleshburn falls between two stools. It isn't quite fully-blown trash, nor yet is it a serious psychological study. Landham as the despicable Duggai isn't much of an actor, though his weak performance is counter-balanced by Kanaly's excellent work as the most gutsy of the victims (wonder why he was never a bigger star?) The film is interesting throughout, if never truly engrossing, and director George Gage manages to tell his story competently. The ending tries to be clever - a compromise rather than a confrontation - but it feels oddly unsatisfactory. All in all, Fleshburn is a passable film, never quite as good as it wants to be yet never so bad that it taxes one's patience.

Boy, this COULD have been a good movie...but it isn't

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 19 November 2009]

Some parts of FLESHBURN are very good and it sure could have been a very good movie. Instead, however, the film is just pretty poorly executed and stupid much of the time. Too bad.

The film begins with a guy breaking out of a hospital for the criminally insane. Obviously bad things will ensue. The maniac is apparently in the mental hospital because years earlier he took a group of folks into the desert and allowed them to die due to exposure--a slow, lingering death. Now, his plan is to find all the people he feels are responsible for putting him in the booby hatch and exacting revenge--and killing him just like that first group of people; So far, all this is a very good setup for a film. However, it has two major strikes against it. Instead of the villain simply being an American-Indian who knows the land and how to survive, he's some sort of American-Indian who dabbles in WITCHCRAFT (whatever the heck that's supposed to mean). He has some goofy psychic or magical power that allows him to occasionally do things like catch and train a hawk to attack on of the four people stranded in the desert!! Gimme a break. And, the more serious problem is that although the people are exposed to the elements in the desert, they seem amazingly healthy even after many days there. With very, very little food and water, they all seem to have miraculously avoided any sunburn!! And, what's worse, a couple of them are running about with no shirt on--and yet their skin isn't even pink!! The inconsistent elements of their dire circumstances and their actual condition makes no sense at all and is just sloppy. Just as sloppy is the gun scene at the end--again and again, the guy who takes on the killer gets the upper hand but never finishes the job. If I were taken into the desert to die, if I ever got a chance to kill my tormentor, I'd not hesitate for a microsecond. duh.

Overall, this is a wonderful example of a decent idea for a movie that was totally botched because the film makers were apparently squirrels.

Decent premise, but the film fails to make much of it.

[capkronos · 4/10 · 31 July 2006]

In 1975, Navajo Indian Calvin Duggai (Sonny Landham) deliberately abandoned five men to die in the desert because of an argument involving tribal rivalry and the powers of Indian witchcraft. Four psychiatrists testified that Duggai was not capable of distinguishing right from wrong and recommended he be institutionalized. Years later at the "State Hospital For the Mentally Insane," Calvin suffers from 'Nam flashbacks, escapes through the air shafts and kills a friendly hunter who picks him up hitchhiking. He then decides to get back at the four shrinks who helped put him away. One by one, he kidnaps them, ties them up, throws them into the back of a truck and drives miles out into the middle of the desert and drops them off. There they must face the extreme heat, dehydration, starvation, snakes, scorpions, birds, etc… and Calvin, who is off in the shadows with a high-powered scope rifle watching their every move AND using his powers of witchcraft to strike out at them. Thankfully, one of the victims (Steve Kanaly, from the TV show "Dallas") gave up head-shrinking years ago for a job as a park ranger and helps everyone survive by digging holes to sleep in, hunting rabbits and using cacti for food and water. He also has to make peace with the jealous husband (Robert Chimento) of his former lover (Karen Carlson). Macon McCalman (who had a small role in DEAD & BURIED) is the fourth doctor, an overweight, bald, homosexual with a broken leg who reacts to the stress by becoming a born-again Christian! (Not quite as funny as the "I'm a lesbian but I guess I'll stop it" line from EVIL COME, EVIL GO, but still...) Though watchable for the most part, it's by no means a great film and the annoying non-ending will leave a bad taste in your mouth. It was based on the novel 'Fear is a Handful of Dust' by Brian Garfield.

Not much ado about anything.

[EyeAskance · 16 April 2004]

Sonny Landham portrays a confrontational Vietnam veteran who is wrongfully sent to an institution. He eventually escapes, Hell bent on revenge against those responsible for having him locked away. These folks are rounded up like cattle, bound and gagged, and left in the middle of the desert with no shoes or provisions. In the face of their quandary, they quarrel ceaselessly with one another, growing ever weaker in the elements as the crazed madman watches from the distance.

Nothing to sing high praises about, but it manages to remain variably suspenseful and resourcefully appointed on an obviously skimpy per-diem. For such a picayune effort, it's not a complete toss-out, but it definitely could have benefited from a stronger denouement.

Despite being a somewhat neutered thriller, FLESHBURN is still one of the more professional offerings from the bozos at Crown International Pictures...which, of course, isn't saying much. 4/10

Completely unconvincing; a nothing of a movie.

[gridoon · 1/10 · 24 August 2003]

The title and cover try to promote this as some sort of horror thriller, but don't be fooled; it's really a revenge/survival story. It's meant to be about man's primal instincts, which surface under extreme circumstances, but it's so unconvincingly done that the four protagonists never seem to be more than an hour's walk away from civilization. Completely boring, filled with scenes of people just walking or driving around, it also resorts to all the usual stereotypes about paranoid Vietnam vets and evil, witchcraft-practicing Indians, having as a villain a man who is both of the above! In short, I'd rather be stranded in the middle of the desert than having to see this film again. 0 out 4.

Rancid Bastard SOB!

[JohnSeal · 5/10 · 17 September 2008]

Though it's far from a classic, Fleshburn is also far from being a complete failure--in fact, it's a good example of what can be achieved by filmmakers with limited resources. Sonny Landham stars as Vietnam vet Calvin Duggai, a PTSD sufferer sent to a mental institution on the advice of four psychiatrists. Calvin escapes, kidnaps the four responsible for his confinement, and dumps them in the desert, where he hopes they will swiftly expire from exposure to the elements. He hasn't figured on the resourceful of Sam McKenzie (Dallas regular Steve Kanaly), who takes charge of the group and attempts to lead them to safety. Fleshburn benefits from a lean screenplay which catapults us immediately into the action as well as a surprisingly good score by Arthur Kempel, which avoids most of the clichéd cues rampant in films of the time and utilizes REAL instruments instead of drum machines and Casiotone rhythms. Landham, usually cast as either a heavy or a stud, is effectively malevolent as Duggai (check out his evil grin towards the end of the picture), Kanaly is quite good as the hero, and the film even has time for two gay characters who are neither aberrant nor evil. Overall, Fleshburn is a surprisingly good film that exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations.

Pretty lacking revenge thriller

[Red-Barracuda · 4/10 · 22 July 2015]

A Native American Vietnam veteran with war traumas is institutionalised. He escapes and kidnaps the four psychiatrists responsible for putting him there. He maroons them in the middle of the desert and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.

Despite the promise in its set-up, Fleshburn doesn't make the most of these potentially suspenseful ideas. I've seen other films where characters are isolated in a wild environment they are unaccustomed to while being terrorised by a villain perfectly at home there and it's obvious that the basic concept is quite a good one. But for this to work it helps to have characters you can empathise with and a real sense of danger; an interesting villain is also a bonus. This film really fails on all these counts, with a story that moves along tediously with very little overall dynamism. It is, however, notable I guess for featuring the actor Steve Kanaly of 'Dallas' fame in the role as the central hero.

Decent attempt but misses the mark.

[cerealmon · 5/10 · 8 July 2019]

Another selection from the 200 drive inn cult cinema box set from Mill Creek.

Reading the plot synopsis I was excited to watch this one.

Vietnam vet is sentenced by 4 psychiatrists to send the rest of his life in an asylum, for the crime he committed. He breaks out to get his revenge.

Great idea but doesn't quite pull through. He kidnaps them and makes them try to survive the harsh desert.

Lead is pretty great in this one but that is all. I found myself not cheering for anyone. As this one plods along.

Still I didn't feel like I wasted my time on this one. But probably will never watch or think about it again.

Arid desolate watch

[videorama-759-859391 · 3/10 · 9 May 2018]

Here's a great premise for a film, that sadly wastes a bunch of bloody good actors in what is one hell of a disappointing and short changed result. I had seen this movie on the video shelves in the 80's and pictured a different story and made Kanaly as the star lead, another disappointment, as I really wanted to see this good actor strut more of his stuff. On the flipside, in what must be his first and only lead, is the underrated Indian actor, Sonny Landham, and I was quite taken aback by this cast placement. Who's, Sonny Landham, may you ask? You'll know if you watched a lot of Walter Hill, or Arnie movies, etc, in the 80's. He really turns in a good, if fine performance, but also he's a character we kind of sympathize with, someone unfairly institutionalized kind of his religious beliefs, marking him as a looney. Taking revenge, he escapes, the first scene, heralding a much exciting show to follow. But like the arid, hot bitch of a desert, he dumps these four psychiatrists off, responsible, for his incarceration, the movie becomes an arid watch and adventure, a game of wits to overthrow their nemesis, who seems to be one step ahead, and not far out of reach, the suspense factor takes an actual dump, like other things. There is a beautiful panoramic, if quite mesmerizing, bewitching, five second shot, just as the four are dropped and the camera does one of those now, childish slow zooms in. The story does work to a very realistic, 'What you would do scenario?", but the movie is just one long arid bore, with little violence,and a little of anything else in it. The ending sucks, and you'll see why, relieved, nut unfulfilled. Film's only worth is in it's honest and good performances. Karen Carlson is good in anything too. Your might feel your flesh burn in this movie, but your anger and anger and patience may boil. The writer of this film. deserves to be dropped off in the hot stinking desert.

Now you live the Indian way

[nogodnomasters · 1/10 · 25 September 2017]

Calvin Duggai (Sonny Landham) a PTSD Vietnam vet and Native American decided to settle a tribal dispute by leaving 5 people in the desert. For some strange reason a bunch of white folk judged him mentally insane and locked him up. Calvin gets out and guess what? He goes after those that put him in the asylum and makes them live in the desert...to prove he is not crazy no doubt. The film has some flashbacks and internal conflicts plus that final expected conflict. The dialogue was as dry as the desert. A waste of my time.

Guide: No sex or nudity. Available on Multi-packs.

Violent, but somehow effective

[Elbow · 10/10 · 18 April 2001]

Fleshburn is a violent revenge story starring minor action hero Sonny Landham. The story really doesn't really break any new ground in terms of its structure, but it does incorporate a strange, spiritual element in its central conflict, and uses a Native American villain in a non-typical, not-so-stereotyped way.

The action in the film is intense, as it emphasises the psychological trauma of those involved in the peril of being stranded out in the desert by the Landham character, as opposed to a lot of gunplay or explosions. Fleshburn is something a bit off the beaten track, for those who want a look at a different action-type film.

After a good start the film stall out

[dbborroughs · 3/10 · 30 August 2009]

Sonny Landham plays a man who is locked up in an asylum after he leaves five people in the desert to die as his way of winning an argument. He escapes only to capture the people who he feels wrongly sent him to the asylum and leaves them out in the desert while he watch over them making sure they don't leave.

After a good start where Landham escapes and picks up his targets the film stalls for over an hour as the group is stranded in the desert and begin to talk. Its dull and boring and you can;t wait for something to happen. A few things do, but not enough to fill out a 90 minute movie. If you'll like me you'll scream at the TV et hoping that something happens. By the time it finally does in the last fifteen or 20 minutes its too little too late.

A waste of your time

Pretty much a waste of time

[Wizard-8 · 24 July 2012]

From the description of "Fleshburn" - a crazed person dumping several people in the desert, and the victims have to struggle to survive not only from the elements but the person who put them there - you might think that this is yet another rehash of "The Most Dangerous Game". Actually, only parts of the movie suggest that earlier movie. Most of the movie has the victims struggle to survive under the heat of the desert while arguing with each other. As you can probably guess, all that stuff is not a lot of fun. It gets tiresome quickly. Former porn star Sonny Landham does show some creepiness, but he doesn't get enough scenes to make him a prominent menace. If you are still wanting to watch this movie, a word of warning - the DVD uses a television print, meaning the movie's "R" rated elements like language are censored. Also, there are several video glitches. If the DVD company didn't care enough to give this movie a good presentation, that should give you a clue of its general quality.

Strong Cast Buoys Survival Tale

[jery-tillotson-1 · 8/10 · 1 March 2020]

"Fleshburn" is an independent, low-budget movie made in 1984 and probably played the drive-in circuit before heading to the VHS universe. Despite the economic restraints, a strong cast does what it can with this tale of a demented American Indian hell-bent on punishing the four psychiatrists who placed him in a mental hospital for nine years. Steve Kanaly heads the cast of victims and he is the major force in combatting the wily Indian, played by Sonny Landham. Steve's three other cohorts are forced to combat being thrown into a wilderness setting with neither food nor drink. Unusually strong as the survivalists are Robert Chimento and Karen Carson. How they all end up is something I'll leave for future viewers but my DVD must be the one censored for television viewing because of several abrupt changes in scenes with no explanatory bridge. For beefcake admirers, three of the men offer admirable naked chest scenes, in particular Robert Chimento with a torso that would look great in a body-building pageant, in addition to Sonny Landham who, unfortunately, doesn't get a chance to prominently display his heroic build. Main star, Steve Kanaly, looks quite fit as a mature man who proves to be a hero of them all. This is a fun movie to watch and to witness some strong actors working hard to make us believe this tale of terror could really happen.

Poor

[Michael_Elliott · 14 March 2008]

Fleshburn (1984)

* 1/2 (out of 4)

In 1975 Calvin Duggoi (Sonny Landham) deserted his troops in Vietnam due to spiritual beliefs held by the Native Americans. When he returned home four psychiatrists deemed him mentally unstable so the court systems threw him into a mental hospital where he remained for the next nine years. When the nine year mark hit, Calvin decides to break out and track down the four responsible for having him locked up. After stealing a truck Calvin kidnaps all four people and drives out in the desert where he drops the four off and demands that they live like Indians. Meaning, the four city folks will have to find their own food and water and perhaps, die under the heat of the sun.

When VHS took off Fleshburn tried to hide itself as a horror title but that's certainly not the case. This film is part drama, part action film and it really doesn't do either genre any justice. The low-budget nature of the film doesn't help matters either nor does the childish acting, which grows very tiresome very quickly. The film could be seen as a forerunner to the hit show Survivor but even that show features better acting.

The film has a very interesting idea to work with, although it's certainly not anything original. The idea of an Indian seeking revenge by forcing the white man to live as an Indian should have made for a more entertaining movie but instead of anything smart, the director has the viewer out in the desert just watching people sit around and wine. Really, not much happens in this film, which is a shame. We see them learn how to catch food, find water and finally try to walk out of the desert but all of this takes a total of three minutes so the other 80+ minutes we're just watching them sit around. The only saving grace the film has is in the first twenty-minutes when Calvin is tracking down his victims. He does this by breaking into their houses and the director actually does a nice job getting a few jump scares as I like to call them.

Promising Premise, Disappointing Results

[dougdoepke · 29 July 2014]

Cheapo film that manages some suspense. However, it's too uneven to fulfill the premise. Three men and a woman are left to die in the searing Arizona desert. Their crime is having institutionalized a crazed Navajo Vietnam vet. Now he wants revenge, and just as importantly, show that his "medicine" is stronger than the white man's.

Though the acting is better than expected, the survival element comes and goes. The early part, where Sam shows how to get food, water, and keep cool by digging holes, amounts to an interesting survival manual. The trouble is many other logical precautions are implausibly lacking, like covering bare skin in the sun or seeking shade while talking. Then too, Sam seems to get stronger as the movie progresses, which makes little sense given the draining heat. That, plus a meandering narrative, doesn't help. Frankly, events appear to have been made up on the fly, maybe as the budget or conditions permitted. As a result, a finely adapted musical score is also largely wasted.

Too bad, because at times the film shows genuine promise. But a basic lack of coherent narrative and thematic development undercuts that promise. For a more riveting tale of desert survival, catch Robert Ryan in Inferno (1953).

Dull survival pic

[lor_ · 9 February 2023]

My review was written in May 1984 after a Times Square screening.

"Fleshburn", lensed last year in the Tucson area under the title of Brian Garfield's novel, "Fear in a Handful of Dust", is a tedious, uneventful low-budget survival drama. Wearying rather than entertaining, B-picture has no perceptible audience in mind.

Filmmakers Beth and George Gage have a modest B-picture storyline to work with. Navajo Indian Calvin Duggal (pronounced "Do-Gay", played by Sonny Landham) has escaped from a mental hospital to wreak vengeance upon the people whose court testimony sent him there as a nutcase, after leaving several men to die in the desert in 1975 as a result of a tribal argument. He speedily captures Shirley (Karen Carlson), her husband Jay (Robert Chimento), a psychiatrist turned forest ranger Sam (Steve Kanaly) and another shrink Earl (Macon McCalman) and strands the foursome in the desert while he hovers around to make sure they don't escape and to prove his "medicine" is stronger than that of the white man.

That's all she wrote, over 90 grueling minutes of running time. At first, Sam's ingenuity in using cacti, rabbits and other materials at hand to prolong their lifespan is intriguing, but the orange-filtered visuals and static, low-on-action dramaturgy heads nowhere. Sam's unbelievable outwitting of Dubba at a nearby springs and non-ending are very disappointing payoffs for the wait.

Cast is capable in very sketchy roles, and Landham, effective as a heavy in Walter Hill's "48 HRS.", has the strong face and physique to qualify for a "Conan"-style assignment. Background musical score is spare but promising in a Jerry Goldsmith-vein, and other tech credits are modest. Director George Gage's earlier feature assignment was the stillborn trend pic "Skateboard", barely released by Universal in 1978.