Going Back (1984)

Director:

Ron Teachworth

Writer:

Ron Teachworth (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

In 1964 two high school friends, Brice and Cleveland leave their suburban neighborhood in Michigan to...

Plot Keywords:

Father Figure | Michigan | Coming Of Age | Hitchhiking | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Bruce Campbell	...	Brice Chapman
Christopher Howe	...	Cleveland 'Clee' Neal
Perry Mallette	...	Jack Bodell
Susan Waderlow Yamasaki	...	Cindy
Vern Teachworth	...	Father
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Greg Holmes	...	Newton

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Cass City, Michigan, USA

Company:

R S T Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: Brice's hair part when he is sitting against a tree.

Quotes:

Cleveland 'Clee' Neal: What's the movie about?
Brice Chapman: I don't know, about an hour, hour and a half.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Stryker's War (1985)

A Quiet, Simple, and Endearingly Honest Film

At first glance, Going Back, doesn't seem like a very prominent entry in the Bruce Campbell library. But in truth, it's really the first film to showcase his genuine ability to act beyond the "bravado filled egotist" stereotype he's so often associated with.

For an independent film shot in the early 80's on a next to nothing budget, it's very well made. It goes without saying that it doesn't posses the sheen of a big budget feature. Whether intentional or not though, I feel like it only adds an appropriate atmosphere for it's simple small town story of two friends trying to recapture a time in their life that will never come again.

The acting is also well done and delivered with genuine sincerity. The many stories told by the characters within the film, especially Perry Mallette's Jack, instantly brought to memory many personal experiences of getting to listen in on family members reminisce of their younger days. One thing that seemed out of place (at least at first) is the way in which the characters tend to discuss all their thoughts and feelings outright leaving nothing unsaid. Yet without those moments and reflective pauses they bring, it would be a much more somber film. The mood it sets instead is one of an evening spent being gently given advice and life lessons by someone who's 'been there.' It's this slice of real life honesty that makes the film, though low in profile and budget, so worth viewing.

Bruce Campbell's hilarious audio commentary really makes the DVD! The man has a gift for making a commentary track worth the price of the film alone. Required viewing for every Bruce fan.