Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Opposing Force, Stripped, Hosed Down, and Violated

Ah, the 80s.  In the 80s, when you want to look nostalgically back at the 70s you hire Anthony Zerbe and Richard Roundtree for your film. Two great actors, but not the reason why we watch today's film. Lisa Eichhorn!  A real babe!  Many today do not recognize the name. Today's feature is her magnum opus where she will be an Air Force babe, dressed like a stewardess (love those old female military uniforms), stripped, hosed down, humiliated, and yes...violated...ouch! By the enemy?  Nope!  Our feature today is 1986's "Opposing Force," directed by Eric Karson.

Lt. Casey (Eichhorn) arrives in The Philippines, Clark AFB, to begin Escape and Evasion training. Her, and several other Air Force guys will be dropped into a jungle and hunted down, captured, and will go through a realistic simulation of a Vietnamese prison camp. Major Logan (Tom Skerritt) and her team up, but this will do no good.  Soon, everyone is captured and brought in. The camp is run by Colonel Becker (Zerbe) and his main sergeant, Stafford (Roundtree).  Becker's men take glee in beating up and humiliating the students.  This is, of course, what these training schools do. Then Casey catches the eye of Becker and let's just say the evil colonel may go a little off curriculum.  Casey will be made to strip.  She'll be hosed down.  In fairness, so will everyone else.  It will get worse for her.  Becker does bring up a good point when he asks her if she has any idea what the Vietcong would do to her.  We know.

Inadvertently, this film makes a great case for getting women out of combat.  Though this is not the film's intention, we as viewers are all thinking the same thing. We also know what is coming.  The ultimate violation.  Becker will be brutal and torture her as he does the dirty deed.  Logan, who was sort of watching out for Casey is pushed too far when he sees Casey after the brutality.  Now Logan goes bananas and rebels.  He also tries to get his brainwashed men to rebel along with him.  This won't be easy.  Even Casey has been broken down.

Was Becker doing Casey a favor in showing her what would be in store for her if she were ever captured by the enemy?  Could this point been driven home by on-line training followed by a 10 question multiple choice exam?  Will people watch this film and see a message about how the military needs to change, or do they just want to see Lisa Eichhorn naked and wet? This film works as an exploitation film, but not as social commentary.  For brutality, grenades, machineguns, jungle warfare, and torture, see "Opposing Force."     

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