VFW (2020) is a violent, action-packed horror film directed by Joe Begos that brings together a group of older, tough-as-nails war veterans battling a gang of mutant drug addicts in a high-stakes, blood-soaked showdown. With a strong retro 80s action vibe, VFW delivers a no-holds-barred experience, mixing nostalgia with gory, over-the-top violence.
The story takes place in a small-town VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) post, where a group of aging military veterans—played by a cast of veteran actors, including Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Martin Kove, Fred Williamson, and David Patrick Kelly—are enjoying a quiet evening. However, their night takes a deadly turn when a young woman named Lizard (Sierra McCormick) stumbles into the bar, running from a ruthless gang of drug-addicted mutants led by the violent Boz (George Wendt). She has stolen a stash of a dangerous new drug that turns people into homicidal maniacs, and the gang will stop at nothing to get it back.
What follows is a brutal, fast-paced fight for survival, with the group of veterans turning their war-honed skills into an all-out defense of their VFW post. The veterans face wave after wave of attackers, using whatever they can find to survive—guns, knives, and even their bare hands. The movie is unapologetically bloody and intense, with an escalating body count as the veterans face off against increasingly deranged adversaries.
VFW has a clear homage to 80s action and exploitation films, especially those that mixed gory violence with a sense of dark humor. The style and tone echo classics like Assault on Precinct 13 and The Warriors, while also invoking the essence of John Carpenter’s work with its gritty, small-town setting and a sense of claustrophobic tension. The film revels in its B-movie sensibility, providing an exhilarating sense of nostalgia for fans of grindhouse cinema.
The performances of the ensemble cast, especially the veteran actors, give the film an interesting charm. They lean into the roles of grizzled, seasoned veterans, delivering dialogue with a mix of tough-guy bravado and a touch of humor. Stephen Lang’s portrayal of the leader, Fred, is particularly compelling, as he brings a quiet intensity to the role of a man who’s been through too much but still has the will to fight.
VFW doesn’t aim to be deep or thought-provoking. Instead, it embraces its grindhouse roots and focuses on providing visceral, adrenaline-pumping action and gore. The film is full of creative kills and fight sequences, with a hyper-violent edge that will appeal to fans of extreme action and horror.
If you’re looking for a film that combines old-school action with gory horror and a sense of fun, VFW is a solid choice. It’s an over-the-top, unapologetically violent ride that doesn’t take itself too seriously, offering a high-energy, nostalgic throwback to the genre’s glory days.
