Sometimes They Come Back

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Sometimes They Come Back

R

1991

1h 37m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

High school teacher Jim Norman (Tim Matheson) reluctantly returns to his hometown with his wife (Brooke Adams) to pursue a job. Jim is haunted by the childhood memory of his brother being murdered by a group of teenagers, who were then struck by a train before they could kill him, too. To Jim's horror, he finds that the teenagers have returned to town as they appeared before they died, and are transferring into his class. When his students start dying off, Jim becomes the prime suspect.

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Critics Consensus

Doling out a few eerie moments bolstered by gruesome effects and Tim Matheson's gripping performance, Sometimes They Come Back squanders its chilling premise through drawn-out pacing and uneven tension that ultimately drain its intended dread.

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David Bianculli

Philadelphia Inquirer

Apr 29

And sometimes they don't make much sense.

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John Carman

San Francisco Chronicle

Apr 29

Peters out quickly enough, and the only point really is a few hours of ghostly diversion and shock to the viewer's nervous system.

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Eric Mink

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Apr 29

This is a particularly tasty adaptation.

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Christopher Johnston

Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada)

Jun 9

It's well acted, has an eerie mood and viewers get few clues as to where it's going.

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Eric Kohanik

Ottawa Citizen

Apr 29

It is a so-so thriller.

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Walt Belcher

Tampa Tribune

Apr 29

There's a lot of talk and little action.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Sep 16

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de terror são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Dwayne W

@Dwayneee 06/17/2025

Matheson's performance is truly moving, and the drama of Sometimes They Come Back is stronger stuff than most TV movies.

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life 12/23/2024

One of the greatest Stephen king adaptations ever!!! Tim Matheson gives a stellar performance. Tim Treakle

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Terry C

@RT14744254 12/21/2024

Stephen King book adaptations to screen are tough I’m sure we’ve learned… that’s not the authors fault. Please judge Mr. King on the source material, not what corporations make of it. That said, I loved this movie for what it was. A man with a troubled past is forced to deal with that past in a supernatural way. Great acting by Tim Matheson of Animal House fame, and a good popcorn flick. Give it a shot on a night where you can’t decide what else to watch.

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Garvis W

@RT29061899 12/12/2024

movies like this are the reason I really hate stephen king. it's hard to believe this drivel was written by the same guy who did the Shawshank Redemption and the Green Mile. the boomer punk switchblade bully cliché is strong with this one

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Farah R

@Farah 05/30/2024

It's certainly not the best Stephen King adaptation, but Sometimes They Come Back is one of the better ones. The story is emotional, and the performances give prominence to its depth. Overall, it's enjoyable enough for passing time.

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Tom McLoughlin

Director

Tim Matheson

Jim Norman

Brooke Adams

Sally Norman

William Sanderson

Carl Mueller

Robert Gorman

Scott Norman

Robert Rusler

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Synopsis

High school teacher Jim Norman (Tim Matheson) reluctantly returns to his hometown with his wife (Brooke Adams) to pursue a job. Jim is haunted by the childhood memory of his brother being murdered by a group of teenagers, who were then struck by a train before they could kill him, too. To Jim's horror, he finds that the teenagers have returned to town as they appeared before they died, and are transferring into his class. When his students start dying off, Jim becomes the prime suspect.

Director: Tom McLoughlin
Producer: Michael S. Murphey
Screenwriter: Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal
Production Co: Paradise Films, Dino de Laurentiis Corp.
Rating: R, TV-PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 1h 37m