Adriana Barraza and Sylvester Stallone star in a scene from the movie "Rambo: Last Blood." The Catholic News Service classification is O -- morally offensive. (CNS/Lionsgate)

By Catholic News Service

Bleak, absurdly brutal swan song for the character of the title, first played by Sylvester Stallone in 1982.

Working from a script by Stallone and Matthew Cirulnick, director Adrian Grunberg relies on the old trick of setting up easy-to-hate villains, then doling out their presumably just desserts. In this case, it’s the Mexican white slavers (led by Sergio Peris-Mencheta and Oscar Jaenada) who have drugged and kidnapped the Vietnam veteran’s adoptive niece (Yvette Monreal). The sadistic revenge he exacts via booby traps and butchery is so over-the-top that it ceases to shock and becomes laughable.

Hideous bloody violence, including gruesome torture, drug use, a prostitution theme, much rough and crude language, sexual references. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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