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The Sunchaser

  • 1996
  • R
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
Woody Harrelson and Jon Seda in The Sunchaser (1996)
Dark ComedyPsychological DramaRoad TripCrimeDrama

A prestigious oncologist learns a valuable lesson in humility and is forced to reexamine his relationship with medicine and his life in general when Brandon, a young patient and convicted fo... Read allA prestigious oncologist learns a valuable lesson in humility and is forced to reexamine his relationship with medicine and his life in general when Brandon, a young patient and convicted for murder, kidnaps him at gunpoint.A prestigious oncologist learns a valuable lesson in humility and is forced to reexamine his relationship with medicine and his life in general when Brandon, a young patient and convicted for murder, kidnaps him at gunpoint.

  • Director
    • Michael Cimino
  • Writer
    • Charles Leavitt
  • Stars
    • Woody Harrelson
    • Jon Seda
    • Anne Bancroft
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    5.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Cimino
    • Writer
      • Charles Leavitt
    • Stars
      • Woody Harrelson
      • Jon Seda
      • Anne Bancroft
    • 31User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Sunchaser
    Trailer 1:52
    Sunchaser

    Photos38

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    + 32
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    Top cast49

    Edit
    Woody Harrelson
    Woody Harrelson
    • Dr. Michael Reynolds
    Jon Seda
    Jon Seda
    • Brandon 'Blue' Monroe
    Anne Bancroft
    Anne Bancroft
    • Dr. Renata Baumbauer
    Alexandra Tydings
    Alexandra Tydings
    • Victoria Reynolds
    Matt Mulhern
    • Dr. Chip Byrnes
    Talisa Soto
    Talisa Soto
    • Navajo Woman
    Richard Bauer
    • Dr. Bradford
    Victor Aaron
    • Webster Skyhorse
    Lawrence Pressman
    Lawrence Pressman
    • Agent in Charge Collier
    Michael O'Neill
    Michael O'Neill
    • Agent Moreland
    Harry Carey Jr.
    Harry Carey Jr.
    • Cashier
    Carmen Dell'Orefice
    Carmen Dell'Orefice
    • Arabella
    Brooke Ashley
    • Calantha Reynolds
    Andrea Roth
    Andrea Roth
    • Head Nurse
    Bob Minor
    Bob Minor
    • Deputy Lynch
    Sal Landi
    Sal Landi
    • Deputy #2
    Harper Roisman
    • Mr. Vogel
    Kelly Perine
    Kelly Perine
    • Fellow in Oncology
    • Director
      • Michael Cimino
    • Writer
      • Charles Leavitt
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews31

    6.15.5K
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    Featured reviews

    youngblood_16

    OK movie

    The movie was ok, it wasnt boring. i saw it with my friend and she thought the movies was good too. The ending was the big disappointment for me though, it was really confusing. Jon Seda did a really good job in this movie. I recommend this movie to every one:) I give it a ***out of *****
    5smoothstrat

    Great acting, decent plot, worst sound track ever!

    We just viewed this on Netflix.... the plot is credible and interesting. The acting is very good. But we couldn't help but get distracted by a soundtrack that was nothing less that ridiculous. Who in the heck did this?? The backing music was sometimes out of a spaghetti western, then street rap, the gospel and just never really worked with the plot and acting.

    Though the plot was interesting and kept us engaged, the ending was most definitely "lackluster" - what a bummer.. It made little sense, it is like they ran out of film and just threw something together for the last 5-mins. Too bad, we liked it until the end, despite the soundtrack.
    showson2002

    Road Trip From The Brutal Hood To The Mythic Mountain

    I just caught this on my TV. It is a slice of classic road trip perfection. Woody Harrleson and Anne Bancroft add weight as big names and the script and classy camera work does the rest. the script is top shelf realism with grit and it doesn;t shy away from ripping out the brutality and venom of urban society. The young man playing 'blue' the 17 year old put away for killing his father is professional and it's a shame I haven't seen him in further films, maybe someone should offer him some work. The road trip element is great and the freeways and highways are breath taking in beauty and well used for cinematography and as a tool to push along the dialogue throughout. The urban-dust plains contrast is well thought out and the story darts form one tense setting to another. The biggest surprise with this excellent 'gem that got away' is the humour in the most unbelieve-able circumstances. I personally loved the banter between Harrleson's doc and the young guy's tough insider. Casting is credible and the addition of a heart warming, touching and spiritual story line adds visual and though-provoking undertones. The magic side story increases interest and plays with the audiences take on if this roomer is truth or a legend. The under dog 'on-the-run' plot is gripping and apart from the use of the f word and graphic scenes of shootings this could have been a successful family film. I wonder if this movie gained any awards or acclaim as it definitely deserves some (if there is any justice). This is a buried treasure in the dust of forgotten film. Nice work by all creates a thought-provoking drama with some excellent landscapes of rock formations and dusty plains. Catch it if you get a chance.
    8MOscarbradley

    The work of a maverick director

    Michael Cimino's final film "The Sunchaser" bombed but I suppose after "Heaven's Gate" Cimino was lucky to get any kind of gig. Consequently, the film virtually disappeared without trace and is, of course, now ripe for rediscovery. It's no masterpiece, (unlike "Heaven's Gate" which I firmly believe is a masterpiece), but it's no turkey either and is sufficiently 'strange' to be of more than passing interest.

    It's a kind of road movie/buddy movie in which a 16 year old prisoner, (26 year old Jon Seda, excellent), who happens to be dying of cancer, escapes taking his doctor, (a miscast Woody Harrelson), hostage. It veers wildly between black comedy and some high flautin' philosophizing, bypassing the conventions of the thriller on the way. It's an ambitious picture that makes you wonder what audience Cimino had in mind, (did we really need the dotty Anne Bancroft episode), and you could say it's certainly the work of a maverick director, being closer in tone to the American films of the seventies than what was being turned out in the nineties and for all its faults you can tell it's the work of a major filmmaker, one whose real potential was never fully realized. Seek this one out.
    davidsgutierrez

    Good movie

    It's not the greatest movie, but it's entertaining. So many people hating on here, just relax and enjoy a movie, stop being so critical of everything, especially all you wanna be Hollywood critic's! Just shut up!

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    Related interests

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    Dark Comedy
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    Sasha Lane in American Honey (2016)
    Road Trip
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    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is Michael Cimino's biggest box-office flop. The film grossed less than thirty thousand dollars domestically on a thirty-one million dollar budget (and while this made the least money, Heaven's Gate, on the other hand, lost the most money).
    • Goofs
      The bullet hole in the windshield of the car is clearly visible a few seconds before the bullet is fired.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Brandon 'Blue' Monroe: May beauty be before me. May beauty be behind me. May beauty be above me. May beauty be below me. May beauty be all around me.

    • Crazy credits
      For Hal
    • Connections
      Referenced in Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      What a Difference a Day Makes
      Written by María Grever (as Maria Grever) and Stanley Adams

      Performed by Little Esther Phillips (as Esther Phillips)

      Courtesy of Columbia Records

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 25, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Navajo
    • Also known as
      • Güneşin Peşinde
    • Filming locations
      • Ouray, Colorado, USA(Road trip scenes.)
    • Production companies
      • Appledown Films Inc.
      • Joseph S. Vecchio Entertainment
      • Monarchy Enterprises B.V.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,508
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,845
      • Oct 27, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $21,508
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 2m(122 min)
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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