What if Rhodes had executed Steele

[CaldoTheKid]

After the count to five Steele doesn't pull out his gun and is executed. How does the rest of the movie pan out?

[JDP]

After the count to five Steele doesn't pull out his gun and is executed. How does the rest of the movie pan out?

The other soldiers get their guns ready when Rhodes threatens to shoot Steel. It is quite likely that a shootout among them (some more loyal to Rhodes, others, especially Rickles, more on Steel's side) would have been the follow-up of such an action. The civilians definitely would have directed their gunfire at Rhodes & those taking his side had the shootout ensued.

[shootemindehead]

After the count to five Steele doesn't pull out his gun and is executed. How does the rest of the movie pan out?

If he didn't get fragged immediately, it would have happened shortly after. Rhodes has only just been made the lead officer in the bunker after Major Cooper* died. He's clearly incapable and also a complete psychopath into the bargain. He's someone who deserves to never be in a command situation because he's a danger to everybody in the room. In the circumstances depicted in 'Day of the Dead', it really would just be a matter of time before one of the men (or indeed all of them) under his dubious command would have off'd him. It's clear the enlisted men are afraid of Rhodes, including Steele who basically becomes his lapdog. But that type of so called "leadership" will only go so far before someone cracks. It's worth remembering, too, that the soldiers in the bunker are weekend warriors. They're reservists and not regulars. They are completely unsuited to the scenario that they have found themselves in.






* We never hear how Major Cooper actually died. So maybe he was off'd by someone who'd had enough of him.