The mention of Rambo in the text refers to the famous American action-film franchise, which became a cultural phenomenon of the Cold War era and a symbol of a particular style of gunfire.
The character and his creators
John James Rambo is a fictional character who first appeared in 1972 in a novel by American writer David Morrell, "First Blood." But the character achieved worldwide fame through the 1982 film adaptation, in which he was played by Sylvester Stallone. Stallone became the definitive screen Rambo, playing the role in all five films of the franchise, released between 1982 and 2019.
Rambo is a Vietnam War veteran, an expert in reconnaissance and sabotage operations. In the films, he's repeatedly called a "perfect fighting machine," underscoring his superhuman abilities in combat.
The "Rambo-movie" style of fighting
The phrase in the novel's text precisely captures a defining trait of the franchise's combat scenes. Rambo was often depicted firing an AK-47 or other automatic weapon from the hip, spraying long bursts without aiming. This cinematic device became so recognizable that it entered popular culture as "shooting like Rambo."
While visually striking, this style of shooting runs counter to actual military tactics, where accuracy matters more than volume of fire. But it was precisely this theatricality that made the Rambo action scenes so memorable, spawning countless imitations in cinema.
Cultural influence in 1990s Russia
By the early 1990s, the Rambo films were already well known to Soviet audiences, thanks to video salons and "pirated" cassettes. The image of the invincible American hero had a significant influence on an entire generation's idea of "real combat," growing up as they were in an era of upheaval.
In the context of 1993, when the novel is set, the Rambo reference carries particular symbolic weight. This was a period marked by rising crime, armed conflicts across the post-Soviet space, and a broader militarization of the public mindset. Many participants in the criminal disputes of the time drew their notions of "how to shoot properly" straight from Hollywood action films.
The franchise and its evolution
In total, five films were made in the main series: "First Blood" (1982), "Rambo: First Blood Part II" (1985), "Rambo III" (1988), "Rambo" (2008), and "Rambo: Last Blood" (2019). Every film received an R rating in the US and an 18+ rating in Russia.
Interestingly, the franchise's influence reached well beyond film. Russia even produced a TV series, "Kremen" (2011), clearly inspired by the plot of the first Rambo film, though its creators denied it.