A dangerously disturbed Vietnam veteran struggles with life 15 years after his return home, and slowly falls into insanity from his gritty urban lifestyle.
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Rick Giovinazzo | ... | Frankie Dunlan (as Ricky Giovinazzo) | |
 |
Veronica Stork | ... | Cathy Dunlan |
| Mitch Maglio | ... | Paco - Gang Leader | |
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Asaph Livni | ... | Labo - Gang Member |
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Nick Nasta | ... | Morbe - Gang Member |
| Michael Tierno | ... | Mike - Junkie | |
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Arthur Saunders | ... | Pimp |
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Lori Labar | ... | Lead Prostitute / Vietnamese Woman |
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Jim Cooney | ... | Interogating GI |
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Ray Pinero | ... | Welfare Worker |
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Leo Lunney | ... | Frankie's Father |
| Eddie Pepitone | ... | Terry - Strung-Out Junkie (as Ed Pepitone) | |
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Martin Blank | ... | Doctor |
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Bob Mireau | ... | Security Guard |
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Tom Desantis | ... | Man Behind Frankie |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Frankie is a war vet whose life sucks. He has no money, a nagging wife, junkie friends, and a deformed baby. This is the story of one day in his pathetic post-war life. Written by Josh Pasnak <chainsaw@intouch.bc.ca>
Taglines:
Fighting, killing, maiming. Agent Orange and the torture cages were the easy part!...Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 May 1986 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
American Nightmare See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$40,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (director's cut)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
Did You Know?
Trivia
A police officer was present on the set for the sequence in which Frankie shoots the three thugs. See more »Goofs
When Frankie inspects the revolver drum magazine after loading it, some of the cartridges have a dent in the primer made by a firing pin, meaning that they've already been fired. See more »
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where "Requiem for a Dream" was the best movie in the category "drug movies", i think that this one certainly can competitor with other movies for best "post-war drama".
not that this is a perfect movie. it is still a low budget movie, a very low budget movie in fact, but that gives this movie just that specific feel and gritty look. really nothing is uplifting here. it's a story about a man who has experienced Vietnam, where he was tortured and went berserk. now, back home, where he lives with his wife and his deformed son, thanks to the fact that he has been in touch with Agent Orange, he just cannot get his life back on the rails and this movie portrays one day where everything seems to get as worse as it can be. we follow him from the morning, where he has again a terrible nightmare about Vietnam (he has hallucinations and flashbacks throughout the day) until the evening, where the film ends in a shocking way.
the acting is maybe not always top notch, but every character in this movie feels totally believable. the special effects and gore are low budget, but again believable and effective. maybe that's why the Troma people decided to pick this movie up and started to sell this movie as a Troma movie. or maybe they were looking for at least 1 movie so that they could say "hey, we are also producing serious flicks!!" you can say what you want, but i think it was great to give this movie a chance, it deserves it.
not a commercial movie, no, a very dark, convincing story about a man who lives a life we all want to avoid. this is not going to appeal to every person, but please, give it a shot. when you do so, you're in for a movie experience you will remember.