Director, writer and star of “Rambo,” the fourth movie in the film franchise based on David Morrell’s character, Sylvester Stallone takes another shot at reviving one of his signature roles.

“First Blood” (1982) introduced John Rambo, a Vietnam vet with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder who freaks out after a run-in with the law and leads the authorities on a wild goose chase through some back woods. Although this film had some decidedly remarkable action sequences, it successfully blends in a satisfying character drama.

Drafted, Rambo went through hell and back for his country, and now that he’s home, he can’t cope with the sting of America’s rejection and the haunting memories of war time atrocities. “Rambo II” and “Rambo III” saw John return to the jungle to retrieve prisoners of war.

This latest installment emphasizes the idea that Rambo can’t escape his warlike nature no matter how hard he tries to lose himself in the jungles of Asia. This time he’s in Thailand just south of Burma working for a riverside show that boast snake wranglers. Naturally, it’s Rambo’s job to catch cobras and pythons.

Without further ado, a troop of missionaries looking for passage into Burma on Rambo’s boat show up. Sarah, played by Julia Benz (Darla of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), manages to convince him to take them up the river.

The idealistic, peace-touting missionaries grate on the nerves to the point of being suspicious. Wait as long as you want for them to reveal otherwise, but they’re just a bunch a missionaries in over their heads, which is perhaps a saving grace for the movie, no pun intended. Spies in disguise are just the kind of gimmick that would have tilted this movie into the realm of the cliche.

Once the missionaries are good and trapped in a military camp and awaiting torture, Rambo is finally able to answer his true calling: dealing death. He joins up with a troop of jaded, church-employed mercenaries and infultrates the enemy camp.

Bloodshed is a central presence in Rambo, and the movie takes a different approach to the mounting body count than past movies have. Although many perish in this movie, the viewer shouldn’t become desensitized too quickly. Limbs fly, heads explode and there is nothing funny about it. Expect realism and expect to feel rather disgusted and grim throughout.

Sly’s impressive physique and brooding scowl — hidden beneath a mopish head of uncut hair — haven’t lost their impact as Stallone has aged. Recently he reprised his role as the title character in  “Rocky Balboa” (2006) with moderate success, part of what is becoming an epidemic of sequel and remakes of movies long-retired to the ranks of “classic” film. There’s money in such an enterprise as film buffs are nostalgic for the good, old-fashioned, pecs-flexing heroes among whom Sly and Schwarzenegger are kings.

Rambo is rated R for graphic, bloody violence, sexual assaults, grisly images and language with a running time of 91 minutes. You can see this movie at Oswego Cinema 7, 138 W. Second St. Oswego, at 5:30, 7:40 and 9:50 p.m.