Though it's far from a classic, Fleshburn is also far from being a complete failure--in fact, it's a good example of what can be achieved by filmmakers with limited resources. Sonny Landham stars as Vietnam vet Calvin Duggai, a PTSD sufferer sent to a mental institution on the advice of four psychiatrists. Calvin escapes, kidnaps the four responsible for his confinement, and dumps them in the desert, where he hopes they will swiftly expire from exposure to the elements. He hasn't figured on the resourceful of Sam McKenzie (Dallas regular Steve Kanaly), who takes charge of the group and attempts to lead them to safety. Fleshburn benefits from a lean screenplay which catapults us immediately into the action as well as a surprisingly good score by Arthur Kempel, which avoids most of the clichéd cues rampant in films of the time and utilizes REAL instruments instead of drum machines and Casiotone rhythms. Landham, usually cast as either a heavy or a stud, is effectively malevolent as Duggai (check out his evil grin towards the end of the picture), Kanaly is quite good as the hero, and the film even has time for two gay characters who are neither aberrant nor evil. Overall, Fleshburn is a surprisingly good film that exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations.
