Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Down Came a Blackbird

Play trailer Poster for Down Came a Blackbird R 1995 1h 53m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 0 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When reporter Helen McNulty (Laura Dern) visits a South American country to write about a political revolutionary, she is kidnapped and forced to endure months of physical abuse. Luckily, Helen manages to survive this life-threatening experience and return to the United States, where she joins a support group for victims of torture. There, she bonds with fellow group member Tomas Ramirez (Raul Julia) -- but before long, Helen begins to suspect that Tomas is not who he claims to be.

Audience Reviews

View All (1) audience reviews
Audience Member I stumbled along this movie on Flix. I wasn't going to watch it but I saw laura dern in that cute outfit from the 90s, and vanessa redgrave looking wise and charming as usual, and i just had to have a peek. In return I was assaulted with grief and sadness for these characters and the thoughts of real life experiences obtained by millions having to do with the same subject matter. I wasn't going looking for a depressing, torture filled movie, but no one ever goes looking for something like that. If they do, they are masochistic. Movies like Saw and Hostle have taken real life situations of torture and made them into crazy amusement for others. This is not amusing, it is sick and sad. This movie turned those experiences into surviver stories, stories of strength and the overcoming power of love. Not love, as in sex. Love, as in, the love any human can feel for another. The love it takes to raise someone's spirits and have yours raised in return. The power in human relation and understanding. It was about a clinic of political torture survivors and how their different experiences have damaged them and left them handicapped. All the characters were trying to overcome this sadness, this road block in their normally technicolor lives. In the end they become stronger because of their communication with one another. It was heartstirring and emotional, without being preachy or falling into stereotypes. I felt like i was in the clinic with these survivors and I wanted so much to end the torture for them and all of those around the world still experiencing these acts. The fact that this exists is intollerable. The fact that men torture women, and kill who they please, is overly repulsive to me and it should be to everyone. Our world is wrong in a way that still isn't fixed. For that I am saddened and millions are broken and hurting. This movie reminds you of this, because you should be reminded. Never turn a blind eye to another innocent person's pain. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Down Came a Blackbird

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis When reporter Helen McNulty (Laura Dern) visits a South American country to write about a political revolutionary, she is kidnapped and forced to endure months of physical abuse. Luckily, Helen manages to survive this life-threatening experience and return to the United States, where she joins a support group for victims of torture. There, she bonds with fellow group member Tomas Ramirez (Raul Julia) -- but before long, Helen begins to suspect that Tomas is not who he claims to be.
Director
Jonathan Sanger
Producer
Patrick Whitley
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 53m
Sound Mix
Stereo