Watch Born American

Born American, released in 1986, is a thrilling action-adventure film directed by Renny Harlin. The story revolves around three young American men who travel to Finland for a hunting expedition. However, things take a dangerous turn when they accidentally cross into the Soviet Union’s restricted border zone and are captured by the Soviet military.

The lead characters of the movie are played by Mike Norris, Steve Durham, and David Coburn, who play the roles of Kyle, Bracken, and Michael, respectively. The trio is shown as adventurous, free-spirited individuals who are in love with guns and hunting. They are shown as typical American teenagers who have a passion for adventure and are always seeking ways to get an adrenaline rush.

The movie starts with the three of them arriving in Finland for a hunting trip. They are excited and cannot wait to start their journey. However, their enthusiasm is not shared by the Finnish border guard, who warns them about the dangerous Soviet border zone nearby. The group laughs off the warning and continues with their plan, but things take an unexpected turn when they accidentally cross into the Soviet Union’s restricted border zone.

Their entry into the restricted border zone triggers a chain reaction of events, which leads to their capture and subsequent torture by the Soviet military. The group is subjected to brutal torture, ruthlessly interrogated, and their captors try to extract information from them about their intentions.

The film does not shy away from highlighting the stark differences between the American and Soviet way of life. It portrays the American way of life as one of freedom, individualism and democracy, whereas the Soviet way of life is shown to be oppressive and totalitarian.

The lead actors of the movie deliver impressive performances, especially given that they were relatively unknown at the time of the movie’s release. Mike Norris, son of the legendary action star Chuck Norris, delivers a noteworthy performance, especially in the torture scenes. David Coburn is also impressive as Michael, who puts up a brave front despite being subjected to extreme torture.

One of the notable aspects of the movie is its high-octane action scenes. The trio is shown as expert marksmen, and they use their skills to take on the Soviet military during their escape attempt. The action scenes are intense and engaging and keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Another aspect of the movie that stands out is its portrayal of the Soviets as the villains. While this was not uncommon in the 80s, the movie pulls no punches in depicting the Soviet military as ruthless and sadistic. The action scenes are also a reflection of the time when the US and the Soviet Union were at the height of the Cold War.

The movie also offers a glimpse into the political landscape of the time. The lead characters are portrayed as loyal Americans who love their country and are willing to fight for it. The movie depicts their capture as a tragedy that could have been avoided if the US had better control over its borders.

Overall, Born American is an enjoyable, action-packed movie that offers a glimpse into the political and cultural landscape of the time. The movie's thrilling action scenes, coupled with the impressive performances by the lead cast, make it an entertaining watch. While the movie does have its flaws, particularly in its stereotypical portrayal of the Soviets, it still holds up as an enjoyable action-adventure movie.

Born American is a 1986 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.2 and a MetaScore of 35.