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Distant Thunder (1988)

 -  Drama  -  11 November 1988 (USA)
5.5
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Ratings: 5.5/10 from 406 users  
Reviews: 10 user | 4 critic

A troubled Vietnam war vet deserts his wife and child shortly after he returns from the war. He returns after 10 years, where he's been living like an animal in the forest. He finds himself... See full summary »

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Writers:

(story), (story), 1 more credit »
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Title: Distant Thunder (1988)

Distant Thunder (1988) on IMDb 5.5/10

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Videos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Jack Lambert
...
Mark Lambert
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Char
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Harvey Nitz
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Barbara Lambert
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Larry
...
Moss
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Louis
John Kelly ...
Andy
Michael Currie ...
Coach Swabey
...
Jane
Robyn Stevan ...
Holly
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Sheriff
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Billy Watson
Walter Marsh ...
Principal
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Storyline

A troubled Vietnam war vet deserts his wife and child shortly after he returns from the war. He returns after 10 years, where he's been living like an animal in the forest. He finds himself unprepared for the changes that he will have to cope with, and when the vet tries to contact his son, he realizes that he has caused more damage than he had imagined. Written by Brennan Storr

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

A hero of war. A casualty of peace, With only one hope for survival...his son. See more »

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

11 November 1988 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Distant Thunder - kaukainen jyrinÀ  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Gross:

$156,188 (USA)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)
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Did You Know?

Goofs

The 1966 Pontiac used in the film is not a real GTO. The taillights are single pod lenses making this either a Tempest or LeMans - a real GTO has segmented taillights which spans the rear header panel with a 12 inch blank center section. Also, a real GTO has the grille emblem in the driver side grille opening (same with the final 2004-06 generation) - the emblem is on the passenger side grille (the final muscle-era GTO produced for the 1974 model year has a vinyl graphic GTO logo placed on the passenger-side header panel). See more »

Quotes

Mark Lambert: I wrote a letter, didn't I?
Jack Lambert: 15 years and one god damn letter? Fuck you!
See more »

Soundtracks

"Once We Get Started"
By Michael Watson & Johnny Elkins
Performed by Nadirah Ali
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Misfire?
1 April 2002 | by (Tacoma, WA) – See all my reviews

I can't believe that IMDb considers this film to be one of actor John Lithgow's "misfires" (how they can lump it into the same category as SANTA CLAUS: THE MOVIE is just plain baffling). Sure, this isn't a great movie, but it is a good one with many heartfelt moments between the father/son characters played by Lithgow and Ralph Macchio (who proved that he could have been more than just the Karate Kid if the Hollywood System had just given him the chance). This is not a Hollywood movie; rather, it is an independent film that was made in Canada in 1988. Rather than be as overlooked as it was, it should have netted a Best Actor Oscar nomination for John Lithgow, who plays completely against type here. He plays a grizzled Vietnam vet, and speaks with a masculine growl throughout the film; he doesn't sound anything like himself here. It's worth seeing for John Lithgow's performance alone!


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