First Blood (also known as Rambo: First Blood) is a 1982 American action film directed by Ted Kotcheff and based on David Morrell’s 1972 novel of the same name. The film stars Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran and former Green Beret who struggles to adjust to civilian life. As the first installment in the Rambo franchise, it sets the stage for a series that would become iconic in the action genre.

The story begins when Rambo, a drifter traveling to find an old war buddy, arrives in the small town of Hope, Washington. He’s met with hostility by the local sheriff, Will Teasle (played by Brian Dennehy), who views Rambo as an outsider. Teasle arrests Rambo for vagrancy, and while in custody, Rambo experiences flashbacks of his time as a POW in Vietnam due to mistreatment from the deputies.

Pushed beyond his breaking point, Rambo escapes custody, leading to a massive manhunt through the rugged forests of the Pacific Northwest. Using his military training, Rambo single-handedly evades and neutralizes the local police and National Guard units sent after him. The film explores themes of alienation, the trauma of war, and the mistreatment of veterans, highlighting Rambo’s internal struggle with the demons of his past.

In the climactic scene, Rambo confronts Sheriff Teasle in a tense showdown, only to be stopped by his former commanding officer, Colonel Sam Trautman (played by Richard Crenna). Trautman, who understands Rambo’s pain, persuades him to surrender peacefully, bringing the film to an emotional conclusion.

Unlike the later films in the series, which are more focused on explosive action, First Blood offers a more psychological and character-driven narrative, examining the effects of war on a soldier’s psyche. It became a major box office success and solidified Stallone’s place as an action star, leading to the creation of the Rambo series that followed.

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