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      Lightning Bug

      2004 1 hr. 37 min. Drama List
      38% 8 Reviews Tomatometer 65% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score A romantic relationship may prevent a young man (Bret Harrison) from realizing his dream of working with makeup effects for horror films. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

      View All (59) audience reviews
      Audience Member Solid coming-of-age drama. Really feels authentic. I suspect this is how growing up was like for many an FX artist... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Originally thought this was a horror, but it's a drama. Original storyline and great cast. I liked that it was set in a small town in the 80's. I loved that they still had an actual video store and the main character was a horror nut who made figures. Laura Prepon was excellent and the actress who played her mother - wow, whacked out, but so convincing! The ending was a bit of a letdown, but overall I really enjoyed this. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Not all monsters hide under your bed or in your closet--A real-time, mellowed-out, honest movie!! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Green Graves only dreams of becoming a special make-up effects artist for the movies, but his dreams are shattered by an abusive stepfather and the disenchanting denizens of his small Southern town. Renown special effects artist Robert Hall delivers this powerful fictionalization of his own childhood experiences in the 2004 drama, LIGHTNING BUG. Hall speaks with raw emotion through his heartfelt characters, painting a tragic true-to-life tale that is equally inspiring. This could not be achieved without the help of his incredible cast, led by Bret Harrison and Kevin Gage. Harrison loses himself in his character, bringing his full range to the role of Green. He could only be overshadowed by Kevin Gage as the monstrous Earl Knight, who presses his terrifying strength and oppressive control over Green and his family. Gage is more frightening in all of his drunken rage than any man or monster in the genre. Laura Prepon, Ashley Laurence, Hal Sparks, and Lucas Till provide stunning support as well, and help to sell the realism of the desperate small town condition. A great debt is also owed to Brandon Trost, Joshua Charson, Rob Prior, and the rest of the talented crew, who make Green's reality our own. LIGHTNING BUG has a reach that expands well beyond the genre, but Horror fans in particular will empathize intimately with Green's personal struggle in an unaccepting society. This is Robert Hall's love letter to movie making, and his own personal masterpiece beyond the realm of make-up and special effects. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Great film that not alot of ppl saw. i can really relate to it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member great movie LAURA was a total blast to watch in something dramatic out of her element Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (8) Critics Reviews
      Film Threat Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 1.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Though Lightning Bug does feature a number of positive aspects - particularly Harrison's subtle, effective performance - the film never quite achieves lift-off. Rated: 2/4 Aug 7, 2005 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3.5/5 Oct 6, 2004 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 1.5/5 May 18, 2004 Full Review David Thomas Filmcritic.com like a low-budget remake of 8 Mile Rated: 3/5 Apr 13, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A romantic relationship may prevent a young man (Bret Harrison) from realizing his dream of working with makeup effects for horror films.
      Director
      Robert Hall
      Screenwriter
      Robert Hall
      Production Co
      Dry County Films
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 18, 2016