I read an article published in the New York Times in 1972 as a response to the release of the movie. Nowhere in the article is the stereotypes of Appalachians addressed, it mostly focuses in on the brilliance of the director. The article also discusses how well the actors portrayed their roles, especially Jon Voight, they say that, “Ed loses his awkwardness and squeamishness and discovers a new self-confidence.” But to get that new confidence he had to kill the man up on the bluff and they can’t be sure if that man was actually hunting them and if he actually did shoot Drew. The Appalachians in the movie are portrayed as some of the lowest scum on Earth and it’s a relief that the first one dies when Lewis shoots him. The Appalachians are scapegoats for the plot of the movie and are the villains and portrayed relatively differently then how they actually are. This article really shows the prevailing sentiments of some people and how they viewed Appalachians as beneath them during the time this movie came out. Unfortunately that view has not evolved near as much as it should have over these last 45 years.