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Lightning Bug

  • 2004
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Bret Harrison and Laura Prepon in Lightning Bug (2004)
Trailer for Lightning Bug
Play trailer2:36
3 Videos
8 Photos
Drama

A drama/thriller, set in the South, about a young boy who longs to escape the misery of his childhood and the misunderstanding of his hometown. A gifted, self-taught, special effects make-up... Read allA drama/thriller, set in the South, about a young boy who longs to escape the misery of his childhood and the misunderstanding of his hometown. A gifted, self-taught, special effects make-up artist, Green dreams of going to Hollywood to make his own monsters. But the real demons ... Read allA drama/thriller, set in the South, about a young boy who longs to escape the misery of his childhood and the misunderstanding of his hometown. A gifted, self-taught, special effects make-up artist, Green dreams of going to Hollywood to make his own monsters. But the real demons of Green's life threaten to hold him back: a drunken stepfather who terrorizes his mother,... Read all

  • Director
    • Robert Hall
  • Writer
    • Robert Hall
  • Stars
    • Bret Harrison
    • Laura Prepon
    • Kevin Gage
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Hall
    • Writer
      • Robert Hall
    • Stars
      • Bret Harrison
      • Laura Prepon
      • Kevin Gage
    • 28User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    Lightning Bug
    Trailer 2:36
    Lightning Bug
    Lightning Bug
    Trailer 1:12
    Lightning Bug
    Lightning Bug
    Trailer 1:12
    Lightning Bug
    Lightning Bug
    Trailer 1:11
    Lightning Bug

    Photos7

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    Top cast22

    Edit
    Bret Harrison
    Bret Harrison
    • Green Graves
    Laura Prepon
    Laura Prepon
    • Angevin Duvet
    Kevin Gage
    Kevin Gage
    • Earl Knight
    Ashley Laurence
    Ashley Laurence
    • Jenny Graves
    Shannon Eubanks
    Shannon Eubanks
    • Ms. Duvet
    Lucas Till
    Lucas Till
    • Jay Graves
    Hal Sparks
    Hal Sparks
    • Deputy Dale
    Josh Todd
    Josh Todd
    • Rusty Knight
    Bob Penny
    Bob Penny
    • Mr. Tightwiler
    George Faughnan
    • Billy Martin
    Jonathan Spencer
    Jonathan Spencer
    • Tony Bennett
    Austin Westfall
    • Young Green
    Kate Clemons
    • Cashier
    Jamie Avera
    • Deputy Hollis
    Donald Gibb
    Donald Gibb
    • Uncle Marvin
    • (as Don Gibb)
    Jon Everry
    • Student
    • (uncredited)
    Audrey Fafard
    Audrey Fafard
    • Punk Rocker
    • (uncredited)
    Kevin Christopher Kline
    • Jerry Spunkmeyer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Hall
    • Writer
      • Robert Hall
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    6.41.4K
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    Featured reviews

    7claudio_carvalho

    Powerful Coming-to-Age Suspenseful Drama

    I bought this imported DVD misguided in its genre. I was expecting a horror movie, based on the cover of the DVD, and the sentence: "The Most Frightening Monsters Are All Around Us" highlighted in the back. However, "Lightning Bug" is a powerful coming-to-age suspenseful drama, with an excellent direction and acting. It is difficult to highlight individual performances, since I would be unfair with this stunning cast. However, the sick and disgusting devoted character of Ms. Duvet, magnificently played by Shannon Eubanks, irritated me with her hypocrite life and behavior. The Region 1 DVD has a beautiful package and many features, but unfortunately it does not have English subtitles or closed caption. The accent of some characters of this small Alabama town where the story takes place is quite difficult to be understood by a foreigner, and I lost some words along the story. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "Not Released"
    7ratblast-1

    it's not that good

    the movie starts off with Jenny Graves driving to a new small town with her 2 kids. she talks like a normal smart person but the very next scene she looks and acts like a dumb backwoods hick. i feel the movie moved along to quickly for the first quarter , all the actors except for Green Graves and his brother acted WAY over the top as dumb as a post hicks. i was almost going to turn it off.... but it improved greatly once Angevin duvet (Laura Prepon)character appeared. the story being told is OK but nothing special and in no way shape or form is this a horror movie. why is IMDb listing so many movies as horror lately? it is a drama with a small bit of thriller. 7 out of 10
    diamond_inrough

    must see

    Lightning Bug is an amazingly honest movie that touched me in more ways than one and I hope everyone gets a chance to see it. The cast is phenomenal and includes talents such as Bret Harrison, Laura Prepon, Kevin Gage, Ashley Laurence, and Hal Sparks just to name a few. Robert Hall brings to life the very real issues of domestic violence and chasing your dreams no matter what people say. It immediately captures the audience's attention and holds it until the end. The music fits in perfectly with each scene and actually adds an extra element. The film allows you to laugh, cry, and cheer throughout pulling from the audience a whole spectrum of emotions. I definitely recommend this movie.
    10sozment1

    Awesome Movie

    I had the honor of seeing Lightning Bug a couple of months ago. It is a movie that has it all. It is beautifully written and directed by the very talented, Mr. Robert Hall. It is wonderfully acted by such stars as Bret Harrison, Laura Prepon and Hal Sparks, to just name a few.

    A must see for any person who has ever had a dream and strived to achieve that dream. Green (Bret Harrison) has a dream. To leave this small rural town and make it big in Hollywood. Designing and building monsters for television/movies. This story is about his hard work, dedication and loyalty to his dream, regardless of the "monsters" in that small town trying to stop him. Will he make it? Will he and his newfound love, Angevin, leave the town and all the monsters behind?

    Excellent movie!
    7gavin6942

    Robert Hall Tells His Story

    A drama/thriller, set in the South, about a young boy who longs to escape the misery of his childhood and the misunderstanding of his hometown...

    I have known about this film for many years, being a serious horror fan and thus a fan of both Robert Hall and Ashley Laurence (both very nice people, by the way). Not until now, with the Blu-Ray release, did I finally get around to checking it out.

    Robert Hall impresses. How much of this is autobiographical and how much is not is hard to say -- I suspect it is much more dramatic than the real story. But it works here, and is legitimately frightening in a way that horror films are not -- abuse is a serious fear for many people. Spousal abuse and child abuse are sadly all too real.

    The religious aspect I am uncertain about. There are obviously religious people in the South, and I think the film did a good job by showing that not everyone in town thinks Halloween is Satanic (the line for the haunted house is pretty long). I wish they had explained more about how the church was or was not Bible-based...

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At one point in the film, Ashley Laurence picks up a copy of Fangoria magazine with a picture of Pinhead from Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) on the cover. Ashley Laurence starred in the first two Hellraisers and made an appearance in the third and sixth in the series.
    • Goofs
      Although this film takes place in the late 80s, a posters for a few movies made in the 90s can be seen both in Green's bedroom and on display at the video rental store.
    • Quotes

      Angevin Duvet: [about the "new" Friday the 13th] Excellent body count.

    • Connections
      Features The Dead Next Door (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Sun Tangled Angel Revival
      Written by Kevn Kinney

      Performed by Kevn Kinney's Sun Tangled Angel Revival

      Kevn Kinney Music (BMI)

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Lightning Bug?Powered by Alexa
    • How much of the film is based on Robert Hall's life?
    • Where was the film shot? Was it the actual locations from Robert Hall's Youth?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 9, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Светлячок
    • Filming locations
      • Alabama, USA
    • Production company
      • Dry County Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 37m(97 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.77 : 1

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