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Search and Destroy

  • 1995
  • R
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Rosanna Arquette, Christopher Walken, Griffin Dunne, and John Turturro in Search and Destroy (1995)
SatireActionComedyDrama

A satire about desperate hustling, pop philosophy and big money.A satire about desperate hustling, pop philosophy and big money.A satire about desperate hustling, pop philosophy and big money.

  • Director
    • David Salle
  • Writers
    • Howard Korder
    • Michael Almereyda
  • Stars
    • Griffin Dunne
    • Dennis Hopper
    • Jason Ferraro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Salle
    • Writers
      • Howard Korder
      • Michael Almereyda
    • Stars
      • Griffin Dunne
      • Dennis Hopper
      • Jason Ferraro
    • 25User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos10

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    Top cast25

    Edit
    Griffin Dunne
    Griffin Dunne
    • Martin Mirkheim
    Dennis Hopper
    Dennis Hopper
    • Dr. Luther Waxling
    Jason Ferraro
    • Young Daniel Strong
    Robert Knepper
    Robert Knepper
    • Daniel Strong
    Martin Scorsese
    Martin Scorsese
    • The Accountant
    Rosanna Arquette
    Rosanna Arquette
    • Lauren Mirkheim
    David Thornton
    David Thornton
    • Rob
    Linda Wahl
    • Party guest
    Christopher Walken
    Christopher Walken
    • Kim Ulander
    Illeana Douglas
    Illeana Douglas
    • Marie Davenport
    Ethan Hawke
    Ethan Hawke
    • Roger
    Laurie Godet
    • Model
    Randy Pearlstein
    • Desk clerk
    Vincent Angell
    Vincent Angell
    • Security guard
    Nicole Burdette
    • Dorothy
    Tanya Pohlkotte
    • Kim's secretary
    Karole Armitage
    Karole Armitage
    • Red River Valley dancer
    Dan Hedaya
    Dan Hedaya
    • Tailor
    • Director
      • David Salle
    • Writers
      • Howard Korder
      • Michael Almereyda
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews25

    5.31.4K
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    Featured reviews

    8vincent-27

    offbeat, funny, quirky gem

    Great movie, probably one my favorites, although I'm not sure why. Technically, it's pretty sloppy but I just love the cast, the crazy rapid-fire delivery of Turturo, the eerie deadpan Walken, the manic Dunne. Griffin Dunne performs a souped reprise of his role in "After Hours", although he overacts at times, he has the desperate loser role down pat. The movie title, to me, is about searching for what you love and then destroying it, something most of us seem to do over and over again. I like this movie more and more each time I see it, although the sloppiness bugs me increasingly as well. There is a message here about the dangers of pop psychology and new age mantras, but muddled among the nonsense sayings there are some meaningful comments. My favorite is the observation that "We are afraid of change, we are lazy and we are addicted to our pain". How true....
    10kodak007

    A great movie that somehow slipped under everyones radar.

    Greetings to the rare few who have sought out this title on IMDb, and the rarer few who have chosen to read my little rant. Hope it sits well with you....

    I have to say that this movie is one of the rare pieces of film that shows what can be accomplished with no money at all, or little money.

    Scene to scene, moment to moment, it is the essence of what a "low budget movie" can accomplish, it does not wallow in what it cant do, and focuses on what it needs to do, to tell a story. There are moments in it, where you totally don't realize how little it took to create the scene, and its because your lost in the story, and thats what gives the film so much strength.

    True enough, if you have the cast this film has, you can do little wrong. But its great to see that each member does their part, and keeps up with the story, and makes it all seamless.

    The travel scene to NYC with Douglas and Dunn is a perfect example of what can be accomplished with creative thinking and attention to character. without a airport being shut down to accommodate a production schedule that is based more on ego than need.

    There are moments of sheer perfection in this film that i, as a avid lover of film and movies have rarely seen. for over ten years now i have proudly listed this film in my top favorites, as its eccentricities grow more and more lovely upon each watching.

    The arc is there, and so is the commitment to the ideas that it presents almost immediately as its thesis. Waxling is the truth sayer in this piece of fiction, and he lets you know right away what to expect.

    i remember being up late, watching HBO, High, Bored, and finding this film. It was a huge factor in my interest in film school. The tone is unmatched in my opinion. As it is a complete work, not quirky for the sake of it, as so many other movies rely on... but quirky due to the fact that life is quirky, off, odd.

    You can be what you want, you can do what you want, this movie sums that up in a rare way that i have not often seen, and i appreciate upon each watching...

    Dr Waxlings comments are gold. All and all i am proud to be in the small group of people that promote this film to no advantage of self, as it addresses many of the same issues that other films like Fight Club go in to in a more serious, bigger budget way.

    Check it out. Break out your VHS player, and be ready to want to rewind and see it again.

    Really a gem in the wild.

    Boo Ya!
    9joelmeggs

    An Amazing Surprise!

    This movie is incredible. It's got fantastic dialog and terrific performances from Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper. That it was originally for the stage is pretty obvious; it just has that feel to it. But so did Glengarry Glen Ross, and that too was a terrific movie.

    I don't know if the film is really any sort of meaningful commentary on modern life. I think maybe it tries. The whole thing centers around an infomercial for an adventure story that's a metaphor for self-improvement/self-discovery a la Celestine Prophecy. Mostly it's just about weird characters in weird situations and excellent dialog.

    I can't say enough good things about this movie. Anyone who has a taste for weird, black-comedy is going adore this film. 8.5 out of 10.
    louiex

    christopher walken

    christopher walkens best preformance ever!!! if you are a fan of walken or dennis hopper you must see this movie.

    it's weird but never boring. also it's unpredictable. and you can read into it endlessly if you want to know what it's trying to say,or you cad just sit back for the ride. How Fu*&ing good is Cristopher Walken. great! Funny! Entertaining! origanal!
    9CandyR

    A quirky, dark satire

    This movie seemed to be a snowballing sequence of mishaps - similar to what happens in "After Hours" from 1985. Things keep getting worse for the main character, but it kept me intrigued. Dennis Hopper is an interesting character in this one. As usual, Chris Walken steals the show as a business man and somewhat "off-kilter" character who enjoys an evening of Karaoke. I would recommend it to people who enjoy strange movies. Personally, I enjoyed it.

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    Related interests

    Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
    Satire
    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Martin Scorsese plays The Accountant. Scorsese directed Griffin Dune in After Hours (1986)
    • Quotes

      Ron: You ever been laid, Kim?

      Kim: No, never; what's it like?

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Awesome Christopher Walken Dance Moments (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Nocturne in E Flat Major, Opus 9, No 2
      Composed by Frédéric Chopin

      Performed by Gloria Cheng

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 5, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sökaren
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Autumn Pictures
      • Millennium Films
      • October Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $389,503
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $26,522
      • Apr 30, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $389,503
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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