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Massive Retaliation

Play trailer Poster for Massive Retaliation 1984 1h 30m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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A survivalist (Peter Donat), his wife (Karlene Crockett) and two other couples react to news of nukes in the Middle East.

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Massive Retaliation

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Three suburban families have set up a ranch to be a place they can survive during a nuclear war. They are forced to use it when conflict in the Middle East leads to the use of tactical nuclear weapons. They all get their safely, but they're kids, who had left the day before them, never arrive. Soon they are in conflict with local rednecks who use their kids as pawns, while the member of their group in charge goes slowly mad. An awkwardly blatant political tract that looks down on the survivalist instinct without clearly offering an alternative. Only about half the cast is recognizable from other films, and the other half are all terrible actors. An unexpected high point of the flick is redneck #2 who is played by Bobcat Goldthwait in full persona, but playing the part dramatically. A mostly dull and uninteresting film that has a few gonzo highlights ... like when the gung ho survivalist dad blithely claims that it's fine if they lose a couple of kids to the rednecks since casualties are expected in any conflict. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Three families flee to their survivalist prepared cottage as WWIII appears imminent. Only one parent seems concerned when their kids fail to arrive. Had promise. Not helped by a human shield of children joining hands scene to stop violence. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Survivalists flee to remote cabin as nuclear tensions escalate between USA-USSR and group of everyday citizens transform into a small military dictatorship in the crisis. A bit of a cop-out ending, with the children teaching us the insanity of war. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Three families flee to their survivalist prepared cottage as WWIII appears imminent. Only one parent seems concerned when their kids fail to arrive. Had promise. Not helped by a human shield of children joining hands scene to stop violence. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Massive Retaliation

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A survivalist (Peter Donat), his wife (Karlene Crockett) and two other couples react to news of nukes in the Middle East.
Director
Thomas Cohen
Producer
Thomas A. Cohen
Screenwriter
Richard Beban
Production Co
One Pass Pictures, Hammermark
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 6, 2017
Runtime
1h 30m
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