Synopsis:
Before enlisting in the army, a pair of brothers — Chris (Alan Vint) and Wayne (Jesse Vint) — pick up a hitchhiker (Cheryl Waters) and meet a sheriff (Max Baer, Jr.) who accidentally involves them in a vendetta with two dangerous drifters.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Mistaken or Hidden Identities
• Road Trip
• Sheriffs and Marshalls

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, Max Baer, Jr. — primarily known as “gentle but stupid Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies” — “wrote, produced, and played a key role in this strange, violent, low-budget film that became a surprise box-office smash and cult favorite.”

Peary asserts that this is “not a bad film,” adding that the “acting is convincing, and the script presents an original view of the militarist (fascist) mentality (as represented by Baer) and takes a strong stance against it.” Without giving away too much of the plot (which unfolds with reasonable suspense), I would agree with Peary that the “ending is like something from a horror movie.”

The majority of the film is spent following the Vints on their aborted road trip:

… which includes meeting up with an odd, suspicious gas station owner (Geoffrey Lewis) along the way:

… and, of course, some romance (along with plenty of violence). The film’s primary interest, however, is showing what happens when worlds collide, identities are mistaken, and guns (introduced early on) continue to play an outsized role.

Note: This film is known for being one of a spate of pictures at the time purportedly based on a real story, but actually purely fictional.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• Daniel Lacambre’s cinematography
  

Must See?
No, unless you’re curious, given its cult status and popularity.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• Spinning Image Review
• TCM Article