Courage

Raw Courage is good. Actually, when you compare it to the kind of dusty old VHS tapes slowly making their way into the trash bins in the dawn of the DVD era, it's REALLY good.

It's from that "fight for your life" subgenra of horror film, where everyday guys find themselves trapped somewhere away from civilizaion while being hunted by some kind of maniacs.

In this film, the victims are three cross country runners who have planned a trek through the desert. Eventually, they run across a squad of militia men who end up hunting them down after some taunting goes bad. As is the case with most films of this ilk, the hunted are used to symbolize different sides of Man's psychie. Ronny Cox is the slightly nebbish husband who dosent know what to do. While the other guy is an aggressive alpha mail, and the other other guy is a whiny brat who just wants to hide.

I suppose what I liked best about the film was that it always seemed probable. The protagonists never do anything outlandish like rig up a brilliant death trap out of rocks and sand. Their ways of fighting back are the same kind of simple things that you or I would probably think of if we were in the situation. And because of this, many of the scenes are quite thrilling since some of their plans don't always work (their attempt at stealing a horse).

The villians are pretty silly, and never really rise above the level of stock; While the film's literal "finish line" pushed my good will to the breaking point. But overall, I was happy I saw this one.

As for that opening scene: Fade in to a close up of Cox's waxy, brown foot, as his fingers dip into a creamy vat of Petroleum Jelly with a disgusting squish. Followed by about a good twenty seconds or so of him lovingly smearing and caressing the goop inbetween his stubby toes.

It's probably the most disgusting minutes of film I've ever seen.

For sure I have watched countless movies that made me sleepy, but "Raw Courage" is the first one that made me feel tired. Three long distance runners running and running and running through the New Mexico desert. Their flight was initiated by M. Emmet Walsh and his ruthless brigade of weekend mercenaries playing war games. After one of the runners is killed, it's a battle of wits (the runners) vs. the nitwits (the brigade). While I enjoy these variants on "The Most Dangerous Game", I would have preferred more character development and less running. This is certainly watchable, but expect nothing more than a relentless desert chase. - MERK

About long distance runners who are kidnapped by some vigilantes in the desert in New Mexico. This movie was one of those late night finds..it is a very suspenseful film that you will not change the channel from.. A very worthwhile rental that will keep you engaged from start to the bitter end..on a scale of one to ten..8

I saw this for the first time on a vhs in the early 90s.

Revisited it recently.

It is one of the finest survival thriller where three marathon runners are tormented in the desert by a hoard of vengeful wannabe soldiers.

This movie has amazing settings, scorching sun, white dunes, barren landscape/desert, steep rocks, dusty terrain n deadly snakes.

The rock climbing scenes are tension filled n there is a wonderful aerial photography from the rock.

There is good amount of chase sequences n as viewers we all rejoice whenever any of the demented soldier gets killed.

This movie has lots of flaws, none of the soldiers had any guns or explosives, who organized the marathon, the soldiers background story is nada, there were no checkpoints throughout the trail, how will one come to know if the marathon runners cheated or not, etc.

But all these are forgiven by me cos i enjoyed the movie as it has plenty of tension, amazing sun soaked settings, heart pounding rock climbing scenes, etc.

Comparisons with Deliverance, Rituals n Southern Comfort will crop up but that's ok cos this movie succeeded in maintaining tension throughout.

There is another underrated survival thriller from the 90s known as Judgement Night and luckily i own a dvd of Judgement Night.

The simplicity of this film has stayed with me since I first saw it on cable back in the 80's, that being said the best way for me too describe this film is "Southern Comfort meets Deliverance", Ronny Cox bridges the two films together. The survival instincts of the two protagonists seemed natural too me no fancy special training just common sense & the will too stay alive, now the antagonist of this film I gotta say played there parts as well you got overzealous militia men who play follow the leader like kids. I enjoyed this film then & I enjoy it now I can't find a DVD release of this film that with in self is criminal .