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IMDbPro

Sonny Boy

  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
852
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
28,259
2,573
Sonny Boy (1989)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:24
1 Video
31 Photos
ActionDramaThriller
A small-town crime boss accepts delivery of a stolen car, only to find there's a baby in the back-seat. He and his transgender wife cut out the boy's tongue and raise him as a mute accomplic... Read allA small-town crime boss accepts delivery of a stolen car, only to find there's a baby in the back-seat. He and his transgender wife cut out the boy's tongue and raise him as a mute accomplice in their crimes. When the grown "Sonny Boy" escapes and tries to make contact with the o... Read allA small-town crime boss accepts delivery of a stolen car, only to find there's a baby in the back-seat. He and his transgender wife cut out the boy's tongue and raise him as a mute accomplice in their crimes. When the grown "Sonny Boy" escapes and tries to make contact with the outside world, the attention he draws to his warped family results in darkly-humored mayhem... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
852
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
28,259
2,573
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Robert Martin Carroll
    • Writers
      • Graeme Whifler(original screenplay)
      • Peter Desberg(additional dialogue)
    • Stars
      • David Carradine
      • Paul L. Smith
      • Brad Dourif
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Robert Martin Carroll
    • Writers
      • Graeme Whifler(original screenplay)
      • Peter Desberg(additional dialogue)
    • Stars
      • David Carradine
      • Paul L. Smith
      • Brad Dourif
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 30User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews

    Videos1

    Sonny Boy
    Trailer 2:24
    Sonny Boy

    Photos31

    Sonny Boy (1989)
    Michael Boston and Paul L. Smith in Sonny Boy (1989)
    David Carradine in Sonny Boy (1989)
    Sonny Boy (1989)
    Paul L. Smith in Sonny Boy (1989)
    Brad Dourif, David Carradine, and Paul L. Smith in Sonny Boy (1989)
    David Carradine in Sonny Boy (1989)
    Paul L. Smith in Sonny Boy (1989)
    David Carradine in Sonny Boy (1989)
    Sonny Boy (1989)
    Paul L. Smith in Sonny Boy (1989)
    David Carradine in Sonny Boy (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Carradine
    David Carradine
    • Pearl
    Paul L. Smith
    Paul L. Smith
    • Slue
    Brad Dourif
    Brad Dourif
    • Weasel
    Conrad Janis
    Conrad Janis
    • Doc Bender
    Sydney Lassick
    Sydney Lassick
    • Charlie P.
    Savina Gersak
    • Sandy
    Alexandra Powers
    Alexandra Powers
    • Rose
    Michael Boston
    Michael Boston
    • Sonny Boy
    • (as Michael Griffin)
    Steve Carlisle
    Steve Carlisle
    • Sheriff
    Steve Ingrassia
    Steve Ingrassia
    • Deputy
    Stephen Lee Davis
    • Bart
    Robert Broyles
    • Mayor
    Jeff Bergquist
    Jeff Bergquist
    • Father Owen
    Dalene Young
    • Doc Wallace
    Christopher Bradley
    Christopher Bradley
    • Husband
    Samantha Phillips
    Samantha Phillips
    • Wife
    Ivan Naranjo
    • Sam
    Joseph Semprevivo
      • Director
        • Robert Martin Carroll
      • Writers
        • Graeme Whifler(original screenplay)
        • Peter Desberg(additional dialogue)
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        In an interview director Robert Martin Carroll explained that there were three moral lessons behind the film. First, "someone doesn't deserve your love just because they say they love you." Second, "if there is good in a person it will eventually come out." Third, "once you've messed up, unlike most movies, there is no real happy ending. You'll always be a bit off."
      • Alternate versions
        The UK Entertainment in Video VHS runs 6 minutes longer than the U.S. VHS from Media/CBS FOX.
      • Connections
        Featured in TCM Underground: Sonny Boy (1989) (2009)
      • Soundtracks
        Maybe It Ain't
        Written and Performed by David Carradine

      User reviews30

      Review
      Top review
      A MASTERPIECE!
      I just lucked into seeing this in the 'something different' section of the video store and took it home, hoping it would live up to that promise. It did. You adventurous soul who is reading this, I envy you because as much as I intend on finding this movie and watching it until the tape wears through, you are going to be seeing it for the first time. If you have an open mind, this movie will blow it away. If you don't, stick with the mall movies, you'll hate this. This film has no category and plays by no rules, which explains the low rating here and the fact that it's practically unheard of. To put this in the category of David Lynch is an insult to this film because this is no 'I went to film school' art film. It has no pretensions and plays homage to no one, although I personally tasted a slight flavor of "Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia" in some of its humor. That too was a masterpiece that most audiences hissed at and called tasteless and offensive way back when. There's no doubt that there's something here to offend anyone who is jaded but I personally found the Christ/Frankenstein analogies extremely moving, and David Carradine is thus far the best Virgin Mary I've ever seen (I'm serious). One can read all sorts of stuff like that into this movie if they so desire. I liked the "Father, Son and Holy Ghost' quote in the middle of the film, and Paul L Smith's cartoonishly cruel yet fatherly image comfortably fits with my personal conceptions of God so I was happy to chose that route at times (anyone else see the sheriff as Pontius Pilate?). [Mel Gibson, eat your polyester heart out!!] This director, Robert Martin Carroll, has the most amazing gift for creating visuals to describe feelings. A red, ripe balloon lifting up into a turquoise sky for example, describes a first kiss as well as the shock that succeeds it, with dizzying precision [kudos to DP Roberto Pizzoli for capturing that balloon's ripeness - there's no other way to describe it!] The performances, as others here have mentioned, are superb. And the score is so pure and sincere that it took me nearly an hour before I realized that this film wasn't made thirty years ago. I don't use the word 'masterpiece' very often, and after seeing over 5,600 movies in my lifetime, the 'great' movies are becoming fewer and further between, so please excuse my unabashed need to scream from the rooftops, HALLELUJAH!

      Let us now bow our heads and pray for a DVD release.
      helpful•11
      6
      • Zen Bones
      • May 16, 2004

      FAQ1

      • What are the differences between the R-Rated and Unrated Version?

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • October 26, 1990 (United States)
      • Countries of origin
        • United States
        • Italy
      • Language
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Satanic - Ausgeburt der Hölle
      • Filming locations
        • Deming, New Mexico, USA
      • Production companies
        • Trans World Entertainment (TWE)
        • Brouwersgracht Investments
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 36 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Aspect ratio
        • 2.35 : 1

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