Mission vers l'enfer

In 1982, Sylvester Stallone and director Ted Kotcheff scored a massive hit with "First Blood" - better known as "Rambo" - about a frustrated Vietnam veteran revolting against the system and going bonkers. Massive hit, you say? Financial success, you say? Leave it to the shameless Italians to immediately cash in on that. Within a year "Tornado" got unleashed, and one of its unsubtle yet hilarious aka titles is: "Last Blood".

And who else than Antonio Margheriti is the best man for the job? Especially during the late 70s/early 80s, he was the uncrowned king of blatant rip-offs! In only a couple of years, he joyously imitated "Piranha" (with "Killer Fish"), "The Deer Hunter" (with "The Last Hunter"), and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" even twice (with "Hunters of the Golden Cobra" and "Ark of the Sun God"). So, this time it's "First Blood", although it must be said that it's primarily just a rip-off of the title and John Rambo persona, because the plot and action sequences of "Tornado" stand on their own rather solidly.

It's the final days of the Vietnam war, and all the American soldiers are longing to leave the rotten jungle behind them and return home. Well, all soldiers except for Captain Harlow who keeps sending his Green Berets squad on dangerous mission beyond enemy lines. Harlow also leaves behind wounded men and doesn't tolerate criticism, so when the fed up but courageous combat machine Sgt. Maggio revolts against him, Harlow labels him as a deserter. After a dared escape, Maggio finds himself pursued by both the Vietcong and his own troops.

You can always count on Margheriti for fast pacing, straightforward action, and an authentically raw atmosphere. The performances of Giancarlo Prete and Antonio Marsina are well above average, and there's also an intriguing role for the experienced cult actor Luciano Pigozzi as a war journalist trying to persuade Cpt. Harlow to stop sacrificing soldiers' lives. There are plenty of impressive stunts involving helicopters, jeeps, and motorcycles, as well as numerous explosives and firefighting. As usual, Margheriti also inserts a few ingenious and ultimately nasty gore-highlights, like a toy-booby trap that explodes in a soldier's face and another who gets shot in the eye through his binoculars. Excellent entertainment for fans of Italian exploitation and Vietnam-action flicks.