Critics at the time gave it poor reviews, often citing lackluster directing, though some modern retrospective reviews on IMDb and Letterboxd appreciate its unique perspective on Black soldiers.
Allen Payne, Eddie Griffin, Joe Morton, Vonte Sweet, and Bernie Mac . The Walking DeadMovie | 1995
The 1995 film is a Vietnam War drama directed by Preston A. Whitmore II . Unrelated to the famous zombie franchise, it focuses on the "Black experience in Vietnam" by following five Marines assigned to a hazardous POW rescue mission in 1972. Plot and Structure Critics at the time gave it poor reviews,
A squad of four African-American Marines—led by Sgt. Barkley ( Joe Morton ) and including a rebellious stoner ( Eddie Griffin ) and a bookish ideologue ( Allen Payne )—is joined by one AWOL white Marine for a final rescue mission. Whitmore II
Considered an "obscure" or "elusive" film, it is difficult to find on modern streaming services but is sometimes available through specialized retailers like Movie Buffs Forever .
The film relies heavily on individual flashbacks to explore why each soldier joined the Marine Corps, detailing their lives and personal struggles before the war.
It touches on social oppression, racism, and the trauma of war through an "intimate, play-like" storytelling style. Cast and Production