At Close Range

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At Close Range

R

Released Apr 18, 1986

1h 51m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Based on a true story, "At Close Range" follows the lives of the Whitewood family in rural Pennsylvania. Brothers Brad Jr. (Sean Penn) and Tommy (Chris Penn) are the sons of organized crime leader Brad Sr. (Christopher Walken), who draws his sons into his life of crime. After starting their own gang, Brad Jr. and Tommy are arrested in a failed robbery attempt, and are forced to face the truth: that their father will do anything to avoid being arrested for his crimes.

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Empire Magazine

Engaging performances by Penn and Walken can't quite turn this brutal curio into something more substantial.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 29, 2012

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Variety Staff

Variety

General audiences will respond to the very strong performances of the two leads, especially Walken in one of his best roles.

Aug 13, 2008

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Less than intoxicating.

Jun 24, 2006

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Foley’s making a Greek tragedy, and he’s enlisted some acting gods.

Jul 26, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Director James Foley and screenwriter Nicholas Kazan expertly recreate that part of America that feels like it should exist under a rock with the clammy mud and scurrying insects, and their efforts are supported by an intense performance from Walken.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 9, 2023

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A grim true story thriller that never relents in its violence.

Rated: B

Mar 21, 2015

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William B. D

When people describe as movie as "haunting," this is where they get that from. Great cast, phenomal soundtrack, and it's dark and disturbing movie that always sticks with me a day or two after seeing it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

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Audience Member

Not sure what all the hype’s about this movie is boring and a waste of time.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

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chris h

Powerful,sad and tragically a true story.This is one of those 80s gems that ppl need to see.Holds up and a great cast.Must see

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

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Mike P

Absolutely searing, stunning, devastating crime docudrama, based on the Whitewood crime family of rural Pennsylvania; whose gang ruled over that whole provence of the state with an iron fist throughout the 1970s...(And "The Whitewoods" are based on the very real Johnson crime family of Rural Pennsylvania of the 1970s; who did the same...). And Sean Penn and Christopher Walken are at the height of their powers here; creating Brad Junior and Senior; two explosive Raging Bulls who go at it for the duration; fighting at every chance they get. And Walken creates one of the most terrifying villains in film history here; Brad Senior; as the leader of this syndicate; and a man who has the face of the devil himself. And director James Foley creates an unforgettably intense fever dream of sound and fury for the duration; with memorable images and moments captured in almost every frame...And it all winds up being one of the best movies ever made; a seriously under-rated masterpiece that has been unfairly overlooked by history... My only complaints...1) this is CLEARLY not 1978; doesn't even come close...And 2) the title is a tease. Otherwise, this is pretty much perfect filmmaking.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/25

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Miles O

Not a bad story, but it's delivered terribly......topped off with a crappy 80s soundtrack 😂

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

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Mike P

Devastating true-crime drama about the Whitewood family; based on Bruce Johnston Senior; who decimated his own family in the 60s and 70s, and who terrorized the rural Pennsylvania area for many years... Until his own son fingered him in court, to end his reign of terror...Brilliant performances from Sean Penn and Christopher Walken; and the direction is just searingly intense. Recommended

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/24/24

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James Foley

Director

Sean Penn

Brad Whitewood Jr.

Christopher Walken

Brad Whitewood Sr.

Mary Stuart Masterson

Terry

Chris Penn

Tommy Whitewood

Millie Perkins

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Synopsis

Based on a true story, "At Close Range" follows the lives of the Whitewood family in rural Pennsylvania. Brothers Brad Jr. (Sean Penn) and Tommy (Chris Penn) are the sons of organized crime leader Brad Sr. (Christopher Walken), who draws his sons into his life of crime. After starting their own gang, Brad Jr. and Tommy are arrested in a failed robbery attempt, and are forced to face the truth: that their father will do anything to avoid being arrested for his crimes.

Director: James Foley
Producer: Don Guest, Elliott Lewitt
Screenwriter: Elliott Lewitt, Nicholas Kazan, Nicholas Kazan
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Vestron Video, Orion Pictures
Production Co: Hemdale Film Corporation [us]
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 18, 1986, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $560.7K
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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