Rent At Close Range (1986)
3.4 of 5 from 87 ratings
1h 50min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
A teenage farm boy looking for excitement finds himself on a collision course with his smooth-talking gang leader father in this powerfully disturbing tale based on the story of real-life killer Bruce Johnston. Oscar nominee Sean Penn and Oscar winner Christopher Walken star in this "hot, horrifying saga of an American criminal family. Juvenile delinquent Brad Whitewood, Jr. (Penn) knows about petty theft, but he wants big money - enough to blow the lid off his boring life, enough to get out of town and to find his ol' man. He wants to be like his dad, a big-time thief, who knows the business. Seductive and sinister, Brad's father is full of toxic wisdom that makes his illicit life appear eerily sexy. But when Brad witnesses his father deliberately killing someone, he realizes he may not only be in over his head...he may also lose it for good. - Actors:
- Sean Penn, Christopher Walken, Mary Stuart Masterson, Chris Penn, Millie Perkins, Eileen Ryan, Tracey Walter, R.D. Call, David Strathairn, J.C. Quinn, Candy Clark, Jake Dengel, Kiefer Sutherland, Stephen Geoffreys, Crispin Glover, Noelle Parker, Alan Autry, Paul Herman, Gary Gober, Marshall Fallwell Jr.
- Directors:
- James Foley
- Producers:
- Don Guest, Elliott Lewitt
- Writers:
- Elliott Lewitt, Nicholas Kazan
- Studio:
- MGM
- Genres:
- Drama, Thrillers
- Collections:
- People of the Pictures, Remembering - A Special Spring Tribute: Part One, Top 10 Golden Bear Winners, Top Films
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 04/11/2024
- Run Time:
- 115 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 2.0, English LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Brand new audio commentary with film critic Adrian Martin
- Archival audio commentary with director James Foley and film historian Nick Redman
- Sins of the Father: Masculinity, Murder, and Morality in At Close Range, a brand-new appreciation by author and academic Dr. Laura Mayne
- Keeping the Score, a brand-new examination of the film's score by film historian and composer Neil Brand
- Archival interview with director James Foley
- Isolated score track
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery
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Reviews (1) of At Close Range
Fathers, Sons, and Terrible Moustaches - At Close Range review by griggs
Some films simmer; this one just broods. At Close Range takes the true story of a small-town crime family and turns it into a slow, moody clash between fathers, sons, and bad choices. It’s part crime drama, part family tragedy — with tractors, beer, and bad ideas standing in for destiny.
Sean Penn is excellent as the kid trying to break free from his father’s shadow, while Christopher Walken oozes menace as the charming psychopath pulling the strings. His usual rhythm and delivery stick out here more than usual — and not in a good way. It’s all a bit much, and that moustache really isn’t helping. Still, when the two share the screen, the tension’s thick enough to cut with a penknife.
The pacing’s slow, but it fits. James Foley shoots rust, mud, and cloudy skies like they’re part of the story. It’s gritty, tragic, and quietly haunting — a small-town nightmare that stays with you.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.