White Lightning

Southern Gothic with Burt Reynolds and action

A moonshiner on a prison farm in Arkansas, Gator McKlusky (Burt Reynolds), gets released early under the condition that he helps the Feds break a moonshining ring backed by a corrupt Sheriff (Ned Beatty), who also happens to be the murderer of Gators little brother.

White Lightning (1973) is a Deep South crime drama/thriller that mixes Deliverance (1972) with Pecks I Walk the Line (1970), adding elements of Bullitt (1968) and the early Dirty Harry flicks. Smokey and the Bandit (1977) took the basic idea and satirized it.

The creators really captured the early 70s Deep South with loads of sweat and believable characters played by Beatty, Bo Hopkins, Jennifer Billingsley, Matt C...

Has some okay car chases/stunt work and Burt Reynolds is charming as usual, but the story never really clicked for me and I found my mind lingering. Personally I prefer spending that time watching Smokey and the Bandit again. Next I'll be checking out the sequel, Gator. 3.0/5