Post by Dramatic Look Gopher on Jul 11, 2020 2:00:56 GMT
"There's a faint echo of Deliverance in this ludicrous tale of gunhappy pals who allow the shooting of one hunter to escalate into warfare. Supposedly anti-gun, the film is also apparently anti-entertainment." This was Leonard Maltin's review of Shoot from his movie guide book, and as you can tell he wasn't fond of it at all.
Anyway, the purpose of me bumping this thread is to say that I've read the 1973 source novel by Douglas Fairbairn. I'd say I pretty much like it about as much as the movie, which does follow the novel closely. Similar to the movie, the book drags in spots with boring chit-chat, but we really get inside the head of the main character Rex better (it's written in the first-person narrative from Rex's point-of-view). And it ain't pretty; Rex is more of a nasty bastard, plus a total misogynistic pig. And the conflict between Lou and the other men is a lot more intense and hateful. Then there's a couple of young Vietnam veterans that are completely messed up in head beyond repair, which reinforces the anti-war sentiment.
So all-in-all the book was a good speedy read at 208 pages in paperback. And yes, the ending is the same as in the movie.
Anyway, the purpose of me bumping this thread is to say that I've read the 1973 source novel by Douglas Fairbairn. I'd say I pretty much like it about as much as the movie, which does follow the novel closely. Similar to the movie, the book drags in spots with boring chit-chat, but we really get inside the head of the main character Rex better (it's written in the first-person narrative from Rex's point-of-view). And it ain't pretty; Rex is more of a nasty bastard, plus a total misogynistic pig. And the conflict between Lou and the other men is a lot more intense and hateful. Then there's a couple of young Vietnam veterans that are completely messed up in head beyond repair, which reinforces the anti-war sentiment.
So all-in-all the book was a good speedy read at 208 pages in paperback. And yes, the ending is the same as in the movie.