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This movie should have been made 10 years earlier...it's a perfect '80s horror flick. It's a silly romp, which will have you laughing due to it being ridiculous. There's not much violence/gore, but a perfect B-movie. If you're gonna watch a horror movie, make sure it's a B-movie. Simple plot: a sadistic army soldier is shot down in his helicopter by 'friendly fire' by his fellow soldiers. I suppose due to revenge, he goes after anti-americans...flag burners, draft-dodgers, & his ex-wife. Did I mention that he dresses up as Uncle Sam while he does this? Isn't this alone worth watching it?

This show was more comical than horror, I still enjoyed it because it was that way, there are individuals who have excessive behaviors, who finds work in the military, police, or security services to vent their own warped sense of reality. There were some humor involved as well, the compulsions that make people obnoxious on the 4th of July were displayed as well as the "penalty" for such behavior.

Between them William Lustig ('Maniac') and Larry Cohen ('It's Alive!) have been responsible for some of the best exploitation of the last thirty years. Together they had previously collaborated on the classic 'Maniac Cop' series. 'Uncle Sam' is an attempt to recreate the success of that partnership. It may not be as consistent as 'Maniac Cop', but it is a lot of fun, and much more entertaining than most of the b-grade horror mediocrities clogging up the video stores shelves. Lustig and Cohen know their stuff ( the movie is even dedicated to the late Lucio Fulci), and true connoisseurs of trash will eat this one up. A superior b-grade cast, some Lustig and/or Cohen veterans (William Smith, Robert Forster, Frank Pesce), and some who are not - Bo Hopkins ('The Wild Bunch'), Isaac Hayes ('Escape From New York') and P.J. Soles ('Halloween'), make this one worth the rental. 'Uncle Sam' gets my seal of approval!

The art of the bad movie is one which is not given full merit. A friend once told me, a horrible movie is more likely to stick in your mind than a merely mediocre one. What's more, though, is that the horrible movie can be a lot more fun to watch. "Uncle Sam," with its tripe plot and unrealistic dialog, would be incredibly boring to watch on your own, but with a group of friends, the quips go flying. If you've never enjoyed a bad movie for what it is, I strongly suggest that you try it. Rent "Uncle Sam" and get a few friends together. Just be sure to warn them of what they're in for.

The script of a soldier coming back from the dead to wreck havoc on unpatriotic citizens, seems like fertile ground for "black comedy". There are some fine character actors, Bo Hopkins plays a scuzzy Army bereavement officer, and Isaac Hayes is a wounded member of Uncle Sam's combat unit, but they are more or less wasted. The script seems like it didn't move much beyond the initial idea, and is badly underdeveloped. If it's a slasher, there is very little tension. If it's a comedy, where are the laughs? For "black comedy" to succeed, it must be outrageous, which the film is, but it also cannot be mean spirited, and "Uncle Sam" clearly is mean spirited, and somewhat meaningless to boot. Sure, the Uncle Sam on stilts peeper is fun to look at, but a few good scenes cannot save this from being a disappointment. - MERK

I first heard about this from my good friend, who told me to rent it. So I did. Wow! What a waste of a good film. During the Desert Storm, Sam Harper shot down in a helicopter by "Friendly Fire". Sam really believed in and respected the American way. On the fourth of July, Sam rises from the dead, and kills anyone who doesn't respect America. Thats right, anyone from flag burners and people who mock the national Anthem. Uncle Sam effects were fake, and I don't know why they consider this "Horror". My rateing is 4 out of 10.

This film is a good, healthy dose of satire in the wrap of a hilariously funny, gruesome B-flick. All burgeoning protestors and liberal-minded buttkickers will enjoy it for its wealth of tongue-in-cheek humor.

Young Jody (Christopher Ogden) is a pre-teen with military aspirations thanks to Uncle Sam's medal winning service in Kuwait before his death. Sam's coffin is delivered to Jody's home three years after the fact where Sam's widow and his sister-in-law plan to hold funeral services. Three stupid and obnoxious teens burn an American flag on Sam's funeral plot, which somehow makes him return to life as a ghoul (the make-up is actually pretty good) who offs non-patriotic people while dressed as the title character!

On July 4th at the Twin Rivers festival is where most of the carnage takes place. Death is caused by hanging, flag pole impalement, BBQ grill and fireworks explosion. After finding numerous dead bodies, the festival (and slaughter) idiotically continue. Why? "We wouldn't want to disappoint the children, now would we?"

Awful performances from a cast who should know better, lame attempts at comedy, a moronic script (by Larry Cohen!), a stupid full-contact potato sack race and unbelievable character actions (two adults leave a little kid alone in a house with the killer!?) are just a few of the problems with this gimmicky, subpar horror film.

Score: 2 out of 10

The 1990's were a truly weak decade for insane and bloody slashers, unless of course if you think "Scream" and all its uninspired clones qualify as good horror films. Luckily enough, there still was the companionship between William Lustig and Larry Cohen, who finished their "Maniac Cop"-trilogy and even pleased us horror fans with the entirely new and delightfully trashy "Uncle Sam". Naturally, this is a pretty insignificant film when it comes to plotting and building up tension, but it does deliver some great gore and splendid social sarcasm. Sam Harper was a loyal yet slightly deranged American soldier who got killed by friendly fire during operation Desert Storm. Some years later, his heavily burned corpse is brought back to the States just in time for the annual Fourth of July celebration in his hometown, where his young and naive nephew Jody still considers him to be a true role model. He comes back to life, obviously, and starts an ingenious killing spree dressed up like "Uncle Sam"; the symbol that used to recruit young men as American soldiers. "Uncle Sam" works well as a satire, criticizing the US Army forces that often don't really know what they're fighting for as well as typical blind patriotism, but foremost it's an exciting horror flick with several violent deaths and a cool, old-fashioned villain. The drama-story lines in Larry Cohen's screenplay (revolving on the aunt and mother trying to convince young Jody that warfare is actually a horrible thing) are surprisingly subtle and well-argumented. The two female leads (Leslie Neale & Anne Tremko) aren't very memorable and the young kid is rather annoying, but – and as usual – Lustig & Cohen could count on the presence of several B-movie veterans to star in supportive roles. Isaac Hayes is great as the retired army commander and Halloween's P.J. Soles appears as some kid's obnoxious mother. Good fun, recommended!

I rented this in the mood for a really bad movie that I could rip to shreds but to my surprise, and despite what everyone else seems to think of it, it was actually quite good!

Yes, there are all kinds of B movie slip-ups (like school being in session in the middle of summer, the crippled and deformed blind kid who somehow has been equipped with a sixth sense after a fireworks accident the previous July 4th, and the casket being dropped off and kept in the sister's living room as if it were a new TV set or piece of furniture) but I found myself ignoring all the flaws because the actors had so much conviction in their roles, and because Lustig's camerawork was so fluid and put me under its spell. The image of that Uncle Sam on enormous stilts first peeping into some bedroom, then hobbling away from some mysterious pursuer is one of the most effective, haunting visuals I've seen in a long while.

I was aware of his reputation for sleazy shlock but the surprise here is how much restraint and sensitivity Lustig shows in so many of the scenes (though admittedly not all). Working with a typically insightful/erratic/cliched/inspired/absorbing/impossible-to-pigeonhole script by the infamous Larry Cohen, you can tell that they really have something on their mind here other than just another slasher film ripoff. There are wonderful, quiet scenes like the one where Isaac Hayes' one-legged veteran takes the impressionable kid aside and explains that killing machines like his Uncle Sam aren't heroes at all, or the one where Timothy Bottoms' grade school teacher is forced to defend his pacifist stance during the Vietnam War to a class of skeptical students. And there are just clever, little tongue-in-cheek details throughout that clue you in (if you're paying attention) to the fact that the filmmakers put real thought and consideration into the exercise.

Whatever external flaws it may have, beneath its goofy premise there's real merit here. This is a movie that possesses something which many of its big budget counterparts wish they had: a pulse.

Even though the end is lame and so typicval for the action horror comedy genre in the 80's and 90's. it seem to me a sequel made today in 2019 would have been perfect

its a story about a disappeared and found fallen soldier, dead from friendly fire. its also a story about a boy that lost his uncle, which were his idol by all means..the soldier is returned to the family, and then havoc starts rumbling the city.

it is a harrasing flick on the stereotypical activities and kutyme at 4th of july, the independece day of USA, with float parades, carnival, lincoln and uncle sam , jumping sack race, waterbombs and other physical activities and the fireworks of course, and the speeches, and the hymn.

its a well filmed and produced movie, with a pretty good 1/3 build up, and the rest 2/3's in an amazing havoc of terror, killings,decapitations, barbeques, living fireworks, and general horror and screaming till the end. the sync and timeline are somewhat delayed here and there, and the editing a bit incoherent, but it still works. the actors are not the finest ''breed'' but some familiar faces do show up

the grumpy old man thinks all newbies might learn some tricks from this joint, so scare me if you can. its not always the horror looking guy whos worst, its the cunning pranks the the dear chosen victims gets hold on that makes me sweaty. recommended

Now here's a movie that's hard to know how to react to. It's more interesting as a drama; there are surprising complexities in Larry Cohen's script, and unexpected poignancy in some of the scenes with Isaac Hayes as a disillusioned war veteran. But as a horror film it's kind of half-hearted, and most of the blame for this failure must go to director Lustig, who has made several cult films over the years, but it's doubtful whether he has made one that can be called, without reservations, "good". (**)

If you like campy horror/comedy flicks along the lines of "Jack Frost", you'll love "Uncle Sam". The story centers around a young boy, Cody, who is very proud of his Uncle Sam who was killed in Kuwait by 'friendly fire' from the US Government. Sam Harper's remains are flown back stateside for a burial. Cody, young and naive, wants to be just like his uncle Sam, but Sam wasn't a hero or good guy after all. Cody unknowingly opens the coffin with the remains of his uncle and then the fireworks start, and just in time for the 4th of July celebration. Tender moments are attempted but fail. Most notable is P.J. Soles of "Halloween" fame as a bitter mother whose son was blinded and burned by a freak fireworks accident. Issac Hayes livens up this film as a veteran and local military historian. There are laughs throughout and some unique deaths. Watch it late at night with a group of friends.

Uncle Sam: Directed by William Lustig and written by Larry Cohen

Oh man I have been waiting for ages to see this movie. I'm a big fan of the great Larry Cohen and the last time these two teamed up was the Maniac Cop series. I love the Maniac Cop films. They are fun, creepy, gory and crazy pants along with beautiful filmmaking all at the same time.

I wanted this movie to be the same. I know, I know. I preach the expectations gospel and I turned around and succumbed to it myself. I wanted this movie to be like Maniac Cop. It does briefly. It has some of the kills that reflect the theme of the uber American. He uses the flag, the uniform and the traditions of 4th of July to his sick advantage over flag burners, crappy politicians and various other un American types. This sadly is but a brief moment in the film's story and runtime.

I really wanted to like this movie. We needed a cheesy fun horror film for the holiday but I can't in good conscience go with this one. Some of the characters show up randomly half way through the movie. I'm scratching my head and wondering what for. Isaac Hayes is delivering a performance way outside of what this movie requires. He brings so much more to it than he might be expected to. He helps make this movie than it's incredibly, awesome poster. I stayed for Chef and he carried the movie even through the BS.

This is an easy watch. It meanders a bit in the beginning to get the story going. It doesn't need to. It could launched right into the crazy American stereotypes killing but it doesn't. It tries to give characters to it's victims but it doesn't work. They are the lambs, let's just lead them to the slaughter already!?!

I give this movie a C. It had good elements and bad. I can't recommend it but I didn't hate it.

I was working for a video store when this movie came out. I remember it well because of its holographic cover. At the time I wasn't very familiar with William Lustig (except his Maniac Cop movies) but I was familiar with Larry Cohen whom is the writer for this movie. So I rented it then. Years later I looked back on this movie with some fond memories. So, I just bought it through "Blue Underground" and this is what I think of the movie now, 9 years later.

The premise is pretty simple as a man named Sam Harper is over seas when he is killed by friendly fire in Kuwait. The army ships his body back to the states for his family to give him his respectful burial. It turns out though, that Sam Harper was not a liked man. He "wanted people to be afraid of him". This doesn't mean anything to an impressionable kid who happens to be Sam's nephew. The kid wants to grow up to be just like Sam. But that's besides the point. Sam, for some unknown reason, is able to return from the dead. Upon his return, he decides to kill any who is anti-patriotic, which includes loser teenagers, crooked politicians, people who cheat on their taxes, etc.

The plot to the movie is somewhat funny. Obviously written by Cohen because it has his trademark style. The problem with the movie is the first half of the film is rather slow. I understand the need for character development but other then the Issac Hayes character, I could have cared less for the rest of the cast. Issac Hayes was cool because he seems to be the voice of reason for this bloodthirsty little nephew of Sam's. There were some characters that I couldn't wait to see get killed, though. The flag burning teenagers was quite a pleasure to see get theirs. Or the stupid, crooked politician was good also.

All in all, this wasn't bad. I feel that after watching it, it was missing something. Maybe more gore, maybe more story, or maybe both. Look for the ending of the movie as it was made in respect to Lucio Fulci's "The Gates of Hell". 6/10

Good movie now I know I was a little confuse why there was school in July, but I figured could be summer school maybe summer school was in the middle between June and July. Between the 4 weeks so now it made better since to me now I enjoy thins movie wasn't too bad.. to mention school probably started late august to early September. Good film.

Rewatching this film recently, I've realized that the film didn't really age well and it's definitely a product of its time. Screenwriter Cohen did many such contemporary (for the time) films across many subjects at that time and this one seemed the most inspired despite being directed by Lustig, who has crafted some truly interesting films across his career. This is not one of the filmmaker's better films despite having a great supporting cast of character actors. It would be interesting for someone to remake this film under current political times.

If you're a Lustig fan then this is a curiosity at best.

This is one of those movies that for years and years I've seen in video stores and online but never actually got around to watching it but finally I found it on youtube and I've been on a 90's horror movie exploration considering I always focused on the 80's so thought it was time to look at the 1990's.

When I started watching this it was kind of annoying mostly the kid Jody who was so over the top patriotic and obsessive about his uncle Sam that was killed in action in Kuwait and this attention on this character went on for about a half hour which at this point I was like this is so stupid but at about the 40 minute point things switch gears and the uncle Sam character emerges and starts killing the residents of the town many of which are unpatriotic and crap on the veterans and American anthem and so fourth,the killings are very creative its not your typical quick cliche stabbing or anything like that very elaborate which is exciting and while this is happening the killer is among the residents but they don't have a clue of what is happening except for a blind kid and a war veteran that knew the Sam character these these three including Jody team up to stop the evil Sam.

All in all this is worth seeing just to say you've seen it some people would appreciate it more than others but for me its just passable I would say that another horror flick from the same era called night of the scarecrow (1995) is better than this.

If you are the type of movie lover, who appreciates a film for what it is, and not what you expect it to be. Or, just love stupid horror movies where within three minutes you know who is going to die, then "Uncle Sam" is your movie.

"Uncle Sam" is first and for most a campy horror-slasher flick. For some unknown reason Sam Harper, who died in Kuwait, rises from the dead when his body was returned home after being MIA for three years. He goes on to cause all sorts of murder and mayhem. Now really, how could you not like that. "Uncle Sam" makes absolutely no attempt to be anything more then that. It has all the classic elements: nudity, axes to the head, and best of all a really freaky looking slasher who looks surprisingly like the guy from "Tales From the Crypt." It is the perfect dumb horror movie, and if you are the type of person who likes stupid, bad, b-movies, then this is a great one.

Let's get the bad out of the way first. It makes almost no sense. The main villain, the "Uncle Sam," is undead for basically no clear reason. My biggest complaints are that the acting is quite poor (ok, the main kid a decent job, but everyone else is a cardboard puppet), and that there are too many disappointing scenes/kills.

This isn't much of a spoiler at all, but the first kill is extremely disappointing. It starts off great, with a great premise, stilts and all. But nothing is shown, it's boring, the very epitome of what NOT to do in a horror movie: Show nothing, when everything is promised. Granted, the first kill was the MOST disappointing, but it set a tone for the rest, and shame on the filmmakers for that.

Overall, it's a cheap thrill, nothing fantastic, other than one little piece of movie trivia, and that has to do with the movie's ending, explosions, and upset residents of the film's location. Look it up, it's quite interesting.

I do love the patriotic theme though. GO AMERICA, and it was quite satisfying to see anti-Americans and those who disrespect the flag "get it." And Isaac Hayes (RIP) did a great job in this film and was a pleasant cameo for this South Park fan.

Worth checking out once, but no more than once, I promise.