The Locusts

R

1997

2 hr. 3 min.

Drama

List

20%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

46%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In American heartland of the 1960s, the aimless and penniless Clay (Vince Vaughn) decides to work on a flourishing farm operated by the enterprising Mrs. Potts (Kate Capshaw). Before long he learns from his coworkers that Mrs. Potts has a habit of demanding sexual favors from her employees, but Clay spurns her in favor of rural belle Kitty (Ashley Judd). Clay and Kitty then befriend Mrs. Potts' troubled son, Flyboy (Jeremy Davies), but soon make a startling revelation about his family's history.

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Eric M

Good ensemble cast, and although the second half is a little weak, a nice little 50's Americana drama.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Discovered this film while searching through MGM's Avant-Garde Cinema list. Definitely an interesting movie based on its premise and tone. John Patrick Kelley's one and only feature is an intriguing directorial debut and it displays his potential as a storyteller. The film has its moments but pacing issues hinders the narrative from ever gaining any momentum. Even with a solid cast, decent character development, and a compelling narrative, The Locusts sputters with novice filmmaking that could have been better served with an experienced director at the helm.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie feels personal. As it's the only film written and directed by John Patrick Kelley, it probably is. The slow development of the plot and simultaneously tragic/glamorous feel of the story isn't for everyone, but fans of films like Suddenly Last Summer and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf will find a lot to love with this film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a low key Southern Gothic flick that I only vaguely recalled liking from the VHS days, so I was pleased to revisit it on a cheaply purchased DVD recently, and I can say that the film holds up well. An interesting character study/battle of wills between Vince Vaughn and Kate Capshaw, with him fighting against her iron will for her son in a small town where she's used to ruling with an iron fist, this film is well worth tracking down. Give it a look.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

camille l

Cette histoire d'un vagabond des 50's qui fuit son passé et qui se retrouve dans une communauté qui cache de lourds secrets familiaux n'a rien d'original. Pendant une heure, cependant, Vince Vaughn, Paul Rudd et Ashley Judd suffisent à rendre le film plus que regardables. Mais au bout des deux longues heures, force est de constater que ni la réalisation, ni les multiples twists éculés, ni les autres acteurs ne parviennent à éléver The Locusts au rang de film recommandables. A la place, ça se regarde sans déplaisir mais sans réel intérêt non plus. La bande-son est remarquable.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a deep movie!!! Loved it when Vince choked the ho though XD

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

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John Patrick Kelley

Director

Kate Capshaw

Mrs. Potts

Jeremy Davies

Flyboy

Vince Vaughn

Clay

Ashley Judd

Kitty

Paul Rudd

Earl

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: D

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The Locusts is not successful. Its material is so overwrought and incredible, so curiously dated, that it undermines the whole enterprise. But it was not made carelessly or cynically, it shows artists trying to do their best, and its makers had ambition.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Andy Seiler

USA Today

It's hot, it's sultry and everybody's smokin' in the rural Kansas of The Locusts. Too bad the movie never catches fire.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Vaughn sports a succession of tight white T-shirts and tank tops of varying dirtiness, and the cast lights up enough cigarettes to have the audience die of second-hand smoke.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 5, 2009

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 24, 2005

Full Review

Caffeinated Clint

Moviehole

A waste of film, and a waste of time.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 18, 2002

Full Review

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Synopsis

In American heartland of the 1960s, the aimless and penniless Clay (Vince Vaughn) decides to work on a flourishing farm operated by the enterprising Mrs. Potts (Kate Capshaw). Before long he learns from his coworkers that Mrs. Potts has a habit of demanding sexual favors from her employees, but Clay spurns her in favor of rural belle Kitty (Ashley Judd). Clay and Kitty then befriend Mrs. Potts' troubled son, Flyboy (Jeremy Davies), but soon make a startling revelation about his family's history.

Director: John Patrick Kelley
Executive Producer: Adam Duritz, Beth Holden, Charles B. Wessler, Cynthia Guidry
Screenwriter: John Patrick Kelley
Production Co: Motion Picture Corporation of America, Renegade Films, Orion Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 6, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.9K
Sound Mix: Surround

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