Why Does Nick Play Russian Roulette in Deer Hunter?

As the movie Deer Hunter opens, Nick (Chris Walken) is playing Russian roulette by himself in a room. His friends, Mike (Robert De Niro) and Steven (John Savage), come in and try to get him to stop, but he doesn’t.

He eventually does stop, but only after Mike has taken the gun away from him.

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So why does Nick play Russian roulette?

There are a few possible explanations. One is that he’s simply addicted to the thrill of the game and the danger it poses.

PRO TIP:Nick’s participation in Russian Roulette in The Deer Hunter is symbolic of his inability to cope with the psychological trauma of the Vietnam War. The game is an outlet for his pain and a way to take control of something that he knows will ultimately end with his own death.

Another is that he’s trying to numb himself to the pain he’s feeling after recently returning from the Vietnam War. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that Nick is not in a good place mentally and that playing Russian roulette is his way of coping with his demons.

In the end, Mike manages to talk some sense into Nick and gets him to stop playing the game. But it’s a close call and it’s clear that Nick is not out of the woods yet.

He will need help to deal with whatever it is that is causing him so much pain.