Super 8 (2011)
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82% of critics liked it
(255 reviews) -
78% of users liked it
(96,188 ratings)
In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to… More In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth - something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined. -- (C) Official Site
- Rating, Runtime
- PG-13, 1 hr. 51 min.
- Directed By
- J.J. Abrams
- Written By
- J.J. Abrams
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
- In Theaters
- Jun 10, 2011 Wide
- On DVD
- Nov 22, 2011
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
Critic Reviews
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David Denby, New Yorker
Spielberg and Abrams are the unwitting targets of their own irony.
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Christopher Orr, The Atlantic
A love letter to a cinematic era, before 'blockbuster' became a synonym for 'franchise' or 'tent pole.'
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Tom Long, Detroit News
Remember the good old days? This is the movie you went to see on a Saturday afternoon in the good old days.
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Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
There's much to like in this story of a group of young movie-makers who stumble upon an event right out of, well, the movies.
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Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
If Abrams had stuck with the kids and cut way back on all the sci-fi hoo-ha, his film might have stood a fighting chance of being charming. Big is not always better, even when it comes to fantasies.
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James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Abrams remembers the simple rule that a majority of his contemporaries have forgotten: action and mayhem have meaning only when an audience cares about the people trapped within the maelstrom.
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Shaun Munro, What Culture
J.J. Abrams demonstrates a real love for cinema - primarily Steven Spielberg's classic sci-fi pics - with this doting homage, which puts a frantic alien invasion plot secondary to an involving, emotionally resonant family narrative.
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R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD
Super 8 works best when it isn't attempting to imitate '80s Spielberg.
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Rob Vaux, Sci-Fi Movie Page
The greatest Steven Spielberg film not actually directed by Steven Spielberg.
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Chris Cabin, Slant Magazine
This Blu-ray allows this striking film a second chance to prove that it actually transcends the Spielberg template that it's been criticized for mimicking.
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Kam Williams, AALBC.com
J.J. Abram's Close Encounter with E.T., Gremlins, Jaws and Jurassic Goonies.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
You almost expect Richard Dreyfuss to show up looking for UFO's. (Blu-ray Combo edition)
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
While it's often tense and exciting, it's also more than a little exaggerated and corny at the end. You take what you get.
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Bruce Bennett, Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
The potty-mouthed script deserves a parental warning and casts the only regretful shadow on an otherwise sterling popcorn adventure...
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Leah Rozen, The Wrap
Super 8 is accomplished commercial filmmaking.
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Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
JJ Abrams and Steven Spielberg team up for this enjoyable alien thriller, which feels exactly how we nostalgically remember Spielberg's late-70s movies. But it's not nearly as earthy or thrilling as they actually were.
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Richard Edwards, SFX Magazine
For big kids, a chance to relive the classic films that forged their love of sci-fi. For the kids of today, it's a film they'll want to show their kids another 30 years down the line.
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Neil Pond, American Profile
Much richer, much deeper and much more moving than its 'monster movie' premise might suggest.
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Alistair Harkness, Scotsman
The most authentic Spielberg film Spielberg never directed.
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Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Vale mais pelo sentimento de nostalgia que inspira do que pela qualidade de sua narrativa.
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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John M
Amazing fun right out of the 70's. An excellent cast with top quality young and old creating one of the best movies ive seen in a long time. Like most reviews have said this is a loving homage to the Goonies, Stand By Me, ET all of the above. Just a wonderful movie with a few… More
Amazing fun right out of the 70's. An excellent cast with top quality young and old creating one of the best movies ive seen in a long time. Like most reviews have said this is a loving homage to the Goonies, Stand By Me, ET all of the above. Just a wonderful movie with a few jumps, a few laughs and ton of good old fashion summer movie fun! -
Sam r
I had heard about this film for almost a year, and wasn't very convinced from what I've seen from the trailers. However, I felt a little less confident after hearing the main cast was full of children. However, my view of the film went in the other direction after watching… More
I had heard about this film for almost a year, and wasn't very convinced from what I've seen from the trailers. However, I felt a little less confident after hearing the main cast was full of children. However, my view of the film went in the other direction after watching this complete work of genius. The film is based around children making a film for a competition who then witness some sort of attack on a train, only to learn that it was containing some unknown creature that causes destruction within the town. Some of the key strengths about this film are its visual effects and tension building. The effects on the train wreck and the creature make them seem so realistic, along with the sound effects can make the audience feel like their having the same experience as the film actors. At the same time, the method of building up tension is one if the films greatest achievements, as everyone in the cinema kept jumping at very scare moment. However, the shock scenes may not get to movie goers who are used to moments like this. There are some flaws to this film that can make it quite disappointing. The first is that the train attack was quite exaggerated, I don't expect the destruction of a train cargo to be OTT. The second flaw that there is a lack of imagination with the creature, as it looks like a mutated spider with scales. The biggest problem with this film was its ending, it felt short and unsatisfying. There could've been better ways, but it all ends with the ship taking off and slowly fading out. Overall, Super 8 is a fantastic sci-fi with some unnoticable flaws. However, the film was too extreme for a 12A and definately isn't for young children. This film has some laughs, emotional moments and truly intense scenes that will satisfy many and possibly all science-fiction movie lovers. Positives: Fantastic visuals Superb tension building Brilliant storyline Funny B movie during credits Negatives: Disappointing ending Little imagination Not for young children -
Letitia L
Elle Fanning put on a captivating performance. The dialogue was pretty funny, and most of all Spielberg / Abrams kept me on my toes by interspersing a tight pace of progressing events with the sudden action 'shock' scenes. Thoroughly entertaining. -
Wildaly M
Interesting sci-fi installment. Thought it would be more epic though. -
Michael M
Super 8 has good emotional depth and dazzling effects and alien design, however I found myself laughing at the film and not too bothered about these dull kids. It's a standard Spielberg set up with an over-used story of childhood love, nothing new from him. I also found myself… More
Super 8 has good emotional depth and dazzling effects and alien design, however I found myself laughing at the film and not too bothered about these dull kids. It's a standard Spielberg set up with an over-used story of childhood love, nothing new from him. I also found myself hating the lead characters including the typical blonde female who hangs around with these movie geeks and the surpisingly good looking nerd. I would have prefered it to be a sequel to Cloverfield as planned. Hated all the characters but the film addict. -
Sophie B
Not as brilliant as I expected from Abrams, however the story was decent with some great performances. A huge annoyance, however was the many many lens flares. Give it up Abrams. -
paul o
Having the childish spirit of E.T, Super 8 delivers on the nostalgia that so many of us fondly remember in Spielberg films. Director J.J Abrams uses modern day CGI to create a remarkable environment that make many of us want to go back to the classic 80's. -
Daniel M
There's a very fine line between paying homage to a director and shamelessly ripping them off. This becomes even finer when said director happens to be closely involved. Super 8 has Steven Spielberg embedded in its DNA, and J. J. Abrams has made a conscious effort to express his… More
There's a very fine line between paying homage to a director and shamelessly ripping them off. This becomes even finer when said director happens to be closely involved. Super 8 has Steven Spielberg embedded in its DNA, and J. J. Abrams has made a conscious effort to express his admiration. But while the result is solidly entertaining, it lacks originality where it's most needed, and settles for just invoking Spielberg rather than explaining his appeal. You don't have to be an expert on Spielberg's back catalogue to spot all the little references to his work. The plot is essentially a reworking of E. T. and Close Encounters: a community is disrupted by the arrival of an extra-terrestrial, whose presence appears threatening at first but who gradually emerges as something more benevolent. The children are all classic Spielberg children, looking for a source of affection to replace or restore that of their parents. Like Spielberg's monster movies, the threat in Super 8 is ultimately a device for bringing the different family members closer together. In Jaws it is the death of the shark, in Jurassic Park the escape from the island, in War of the Worlds the defeat of the aliens - and in Super 8, the strange goings-on which allow the alien to leave. The alien's departure symbolises the lifting of all the grief the main character was carrying; as he lets go of the locket, his burden finally disappears. Super 8 is also a film which has affection for the origins of cinema, and in particular how the likes of Spielberg cut their teeth. Spielberg, George Lucas and many others from the 1970s and 1980s first pursued their interest in film by making shorts on Super 8mm. This was preferential to standard 8mm because of the wider amount of frame space and how simple it was to load and develop. The chaos of shooting a film is very well-evoked, celebrating the boundless enthusiasm of amateurs. More than this, however, Super 8 has affection for the cinema of Spielberg's peak. It harks back to a time when mainstream films, including the first genuine 'blockbusters', were created to appeal to the widest possible audience and have something for all the family. There is nothing about the premise of Super 8 which smacks of demographic profiling or obsession with opening weekends, and in an age where both are present in extremis, that is to be celebrated. But there's only so far that affection and celebration can go before Abrams has to bring something new to the party. And while he succeeds in knitting all the different threads of Spielberg into a decent premise, he is ultimately unable to add his own directorial stamp in many ways other than the improved effects. What you end up with is an early-1980s film with a 21st-century sheen, providing welcome and familiar thrills but not explaining why such a throwback is necessary. The moment which first raises alarm bells about Abrams is the lengthy train crash which occurs while the children are filming. Spielberg fans will recognise this as a nod to The Greatest Show on Earth, which Spielberg credits as the film which convinced him to become a director. But rather than just give us a decent crash and move on, Abrams sees his chance to play with his laptop and create the mother of all train crashes. The result is a crash which looks great in a trailer but goes on far too long and crucially loses sight of the emotions in the presence of all the effects. Throughout his career Abrams has been the master of hype. He knows how to edit a trailer, he knows how to assemble special effects, and he knows how to manage viral marketing campaigns to get fan-boys into a frenzy. What he hasn't yet mastered is integrating the human drama around these effects and sustaining the thrill that comes from the premise. In the end he seems more interested in how big the train crash can be than how we should feel about the people coming out of it. To be fair to Abrams, you could argue that this is indicative of what we have lost in filmmaking, both from Spielberg developing as a director and from the numerous changes in Hollywood since the late-1970s. The advance of CG effects since Jurassic Park, the relentless emphasis on marketing and the convention of opening a film everywhere at once have created a culture of homogenised, overly conservative filmmaking which has to look a certain way in order to sell. That's all very well, but the irony remains that Super 8 has less emotional depth than you might expect from a film with Spielberg as both executive producer and creative force. Because the story and execution is so familiar, scenes are often played with the assumption of emotional involvement rather than actually doing the legwork to create it. We have become so used to Spielberg's trademarks that we are almost obliged to well up or be engrossed when they turn up on screen - something which works in Super 8's favour but which ultimately feels dishonest. The central problem with Super 8 is this. If Spielberg were directing, giving us all the familiar awkward emotional moments, this would be regarded as an enjoyable but unremarkable example of the genuine article. Instead it feels like Spielberg is using Abrams as a proxy, getting him to make the kind of films which, if Terry Gilliam is to be believed, he has forgotten how to make himself. Given the choice between the real thing and a self-conscious, foul-mouthed imitation, I know which one I'd take. If we put these concerns to the back of our minds, Super 8 does pass the time very nicely as a piece of popcorn entertainment. The material may be familiar but Abrams plays it with a straight face, resisting the urge to slip into knowing pastiche. The various plot strands involving broken families, arguments between father and son and small town chaos are handled competently, and the effects in and of themselves are pretty spectacular, as you might expect from the man who produced Cloverfield. One aspect of Super 8 which does work well is the monsters. Joel Courtney's character does the zombie make-up and props for the short film, and speaks lovingly about building stuff to blow up or freak people out. This is where the affection for Spielberg's craft comes through, since his monsters have always had a tactility and personality. The alien when we finally see it may be CGI rather than something physical, but it still feels like it has had emotion poured into its creation. The other coup of Super 8 is being a big, romping blockbuster without many recognisable names in the cast list. Out of the leading child players only Elle Fanning has any kind of prior career, and both she and those surrounding her acquit themselves very well. Joel Courtney is very convincing as Joe, and we believe in his relationship with Alice (Fanning) as much as his quarrelling with the director Charles (Riley Griffiths). Most of the adult performers are confined to playing ciphers or conforming to clichés, but Kyle Chandler in particular makes the best of what he has. Super 8 is an enjoyable but far from brilliant film which will satisfy blockbuster audiences without offering them much that is new. The child cast is very convincing, and those in a nostalgic mood will find a lot to enjoy in the various nods to Spielberg. But while its familiarity is comforting, it is also the thing which works against the film, settling for convention and assumption instead of moving things on a little further. As a two-hour diversion it does its job, but one is left with the feeling that this could have been a lot more super. -
Thomas J
I feel this is an alien, scify, movie made and targeted to kids and young adults maybe. I just felt I was too old for this movie, But I do enjoy scify enough that I overlooked this aspect and enjoyed it anyway. -
Michael E
Speilberg was collabing with several people lately, Michael Bay, Peter Jackson, and now J.J. Abrams. And though I liked Tintin and Transformers is awesome, I think this is one of the best of his collabs. It's not nearly as good as Transformers but it is good and it does have a… More
Speilberg was collabing with several people lately, Michael Bay, Peter Jackson, and now J.J. Abrams. And though I liked Tintin and Transformers is awesome, I think this is one of the best of his collabs. It's not nearly as good as Transformers but it is good and it does have a very interesting and creative plot for a sci-fi film. Its interesting to make it kids being the protagonists unlike most action and sci-fi films nowadays and the acting is actually pretty decent for such young kids. -
Candy R
It''s the Goonies meets sci-fi. A group of kids are making a movie, when they witness a train crash. Afterwards there are manu disappearances. They discover that an alien has captured them underground. -
Anthony L
J.J. Abrams knows how to start a story and get you hooked - it's just shame he's not as good at ending them. Super 8 works as a tribute to the 80's film of Steven Spielberg but it adds nothing new to the 'Summer blockbuster' genres and it isn't as good. I… More
J.J. Abrams knows how to start a story and get you hooked - it's just shame he's not as good at ending them. Super 8 works as a tribute to the 80's film of Steven Spielberg but it adds nothing new to the 'Summer blockbuster' genres and it isn't as good. I give better reviews to films that have more original stories, even if the films don't end up as good. Super 8 is pleasant but does not live up to the hype - in fact the ending is just so disappointing, I felt stupid in getting so excited. I thought the original concept was that the whole thing was caught on camera by a group of kids on their Super 8 camera? In the end, the Super 8 film they were making was so unimportant that you wonder why it got its name. They should have got Frank Darabont in for a re-write and directional duties, then it would have been great instead of just good. PS. No more lens flare!!!! -
Summer W
JJ Abrams' homage to hero (and producer) Steven Spielberg's more fantastic films of the 70's and 80's really plays as a faithful tribute. It's E.T. meets Cloverfield, and so much fun. -
Paulo G
Action packed, thrilling, and visually satisfying. Accompanied with a stellar new generation of stars and a quick-paced plot, Super 8 delivers a very groundbreaking action adventure film. Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney were just perfect for the role for having perfect chemistry.… More
Action packed, thrilling, and visually satisfying. Accompanied with a stellar new generation of stars and a quick-paced plot, Super 8 delivers a very groundbreaking action adventure film. Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney were just perfect for the role for having perfect chemistry. Despite the rigorous events of some scenes, the directors were still able to create a subtle tale of romance between the two lead stars. -
Brad W
Super 8 has a greatness and beauty in this is too hard to explain. Super 8 is about a boy named Joe who mother has just died and his dad is a police officer who is having trouble being an single father. Joe has a group of friends who are young filmmakers and are making a zombie… More
Super 8 has a greatness and beauty in this is too hard to explain. Super 8 is about a boy named Joe who mother has just died and his dad is a police officer who is having trouble being an single father. Joe has a group of friends who are young filmmakers and are making a zombie movie for a film festival, and witness a teacher of there's drive head on into a train and a creature is aboard and escapes. After the crash weird things start happening in the town and after things start progressing, we understand this is not of our world. Super 8 has a group of talented young actors including Joel Courtney as Joe Lamb, Elle Fanning as Joes love interest Alice Dainard, Kyle Chandler as Joe's Dad Jackson Lamb, but for me I found the strongest performance from new young actor Riley Griffiths as Joe's best friend Charles, for me Griffiths was doing such an amazing part espically for being so young and this being his first film. The plot is one of the most genius and captivating plots of the 21st century, it has no moments where you are bored because there is always something going on or something new we are learning, and for that I think this is this years best plot. The music in this film does wonders I mean I would be entertained just sitting in that theatre and listening to the music, such beauty in the composers work. The ffects in the film could only have been done by two geniuses like JJ Abrams and Steven Spielberg, two men who have done there homework on genius visual effects and amazing use of there budgets. The camerawork should also be mentioned because it was very well done, not shaky, and I noticed some amazing angles when watching. I am also gonna give credit to the dialogue also because J.J. Abrams has really written some amazing dialogue here and it was like everything these people said was interesting, or funny, or just plain important for to get the full impact of this movie. People have stated this as Spielberg's movie, that is ignorant, this all the genius of J.J. Abrams and the help of Spielberg, J.J. wrote it, he directed it, and he proved it, Spielberg doesn't desreve any credit for this film except producing it, and even i'm a Spielberg fan but i'm not gonna just sit here while J.J. Abrams is making masterpieces and people give Spielberg all the glory. One of the years best film so far and hopefully will keep that record for a few months to come. -
♥˩ƳИИ &
Cast: Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka, Jessica Tuck, Joel McKinnon Miller, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Gabriel Basso Director: J.J. Abrams Summary: With a nod toward producer Steven Spielberg's landmark sci-fi films of the 1970s and '80s,… More
Cast: Joel Courtney, Kyle Chandler, Elle Fanning, Amanda Michalka, Jessica Tuck, Joel McKinnon Miller, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Gabriel Basso Director: J.J. Abrams Summary: With a nod toward producer Steven Spielberg's landmark sci-fi films of the 1970s and '80s, writer-director J.J. Abrams crafts a supernatural tale about six kids who witness something incredible while shooting a movie with their Super 8 camera. My Thoughts: "I throughly enjoyed this movie. It was such a great kid's flick. My niece said this movie is to her what Goonies is for me. Goonies is one of my all time favorite films from when I was younger. This movie does have an essence of the Goonies, Stand By Me, a bit of E.T. and the mystery of Cloverfield mixed in. But the movie is definitely original and it's own film. The movie screamed that Spielberg had a hand in it. Great job by him and J.J. Abrams. I loved the script. It had a great young cast who worked really well with each other. They were very believable in their roles and felt like they were all great friends. It's a great movie for older kids. I'm not too sure if I would recommend this for kids who aren't mature enough to handle some of it's context. But still a great family flick." -
Raymond W
It's plot is kind of familiar, but J.J. Abrams's Super 8 has awesome Special Effects, and incredible performances from the young cast (especially Elle Fanning) which make up for the plot in the end. Super 8 is a great movie for the family (although not for kids); its got… More
It's plot is kind of familiar, but J.J. Abrams's Super 8 has awesome Special Effects, and incredible performances from the young cast (especially Elle Fanning) which make up for the plot in the end. Super 8 is a great movie for the family (although not for kids); its got lots of thrills, adventure, mystery, and unexpected emotional depth. -
Derek A
Stand By Me/Goonies meets Cloverfield. A very touching film under the disguise of a monster flick. Emotionally driven combined with strong performances and wonderful directing make Super 8 one of the surprise hits of 2011. -
Albert K
J.J. Abrams. He's got the skill. I loved the 3rd installment of the Mission: Impossible series and though I was one of the few that disliked his adaptation of "Star Trek", I couldn't help but find that J.J. Abrams directed it, superbly. Most blockbuster movies… More
J.J. Abrams. He's got the skill. I loved the 3rd installment of the Mission: Impossible series and though I was one of the few that disliked his adaptation of "Star Trek", I couldn't help but find that J.J. Abrams directed it, superbly. Most blockbuster movies nowadays are always lacking in some aspect. With "Super 8", I pleasantly entertained and impressed with the entire package. The direction, editing, special effects, acting (especially the acting), cinematography, and screenplay -- all done great. "Super 8" unfortunately, begins to fall apart near the end. It's simply pacing issues. The movie can't hold itself up till the last moments. That's not to say that this is a bad movie. It was very entertaining. You're sure to have a good time. -
Steve K
Starts off decently enough, with a likeable (if foul mouthed) group of kids, a fun premise, and a nice of sense of mystery. Sadly, as more and more is revealed the film becomes less and less interesting. By the time you get to the big blockbuster ending, you've lost all… More
Starts off decently enough, with a likeable (if foul mouthed) group of kids, a fun premise, and a nice of sense of mystery. Sadly, as more and more is revealed the film becomes less and less interesting. By the time you get to the big blockbuster ending, you've lost all interest. It's also worth noting that the film doesn't even have its own identity, existing instead as an homage (or a ripoff?) to better films from a different decade. Which is fine, I guess - the kids were the appealing point after all. It still would have been nice if it had some ideas of its own.
Cast
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Kyle Chandleras Jackson Lamb -
Elle Fanningas Alice Dainard -
Noah Emmerichas Nelec
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Ron Eldardas Louis Dainard -
Gabriel Bassoas Martin -
Joel Courtneyas Joe Lamb
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Amanda Michalkaas Jen Kaznyk -
Katie Lowesas Tina -
Jessica Tuckas Mrs. Kaznyk
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Joel McKinnon Milleras Mr. Kaznyk -
Andrew Milleras Kaznyk Twin -
Jakob Milleras Kaznyk Twin
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Jade Griffithsas Benji Kaznyk -
Britt Flatmoas Peg Kaznyk -
Glynn E. Turmanas Dr. Woodward
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David Gallagheras Donny -
Richard T. Jonesas Overmyer -
Amanda Foremanas Lydia Connors - Ch 14 News Anchor
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Michael Giacchinoas Deputy Crawford -
Bruce Greenwoodas Cooper -
Dale Dickeyas Edie
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Jack Axelrodas Mr. Blakely -
Dan Castellanetaas Izzy -
Ben Gavinas Deputy Milner
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Jay Scullyas Deputy Skadden -
Michael Hitchcockas Deputy Rosko -
James Hebertas Deputy Tally
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Thomas F. Duffyas Rooney -
Teri Clark Lindenas Mrs. Babbit -
Tom Quinnas Mr. McCandless
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Katherine Yervesas Woman in Office -
Caitriona Balfeas Elizabeth Lamb -
Koa Melvinas Baby Joe
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Bingo O'Malleyas Mr. Harkin -
Brett Riceas Sheriff Pruitt -
Beau Knappas Breen
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Tony Gumaas Sergeant Walters -
Marco Sanchezas Hernandez -
Jonathan Dixonas Airman Nevil
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Tim Griffinas Commando -
Patrick St. Espritas Weapons Commander -
Tom Williamsas Flame Thrower
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Emerson Brooksas Military Bus Driver -
Robert B. Quirozas Boy in EVAC -
Greg Grunbergas Sitcom Actor
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Zach Millsas Preston -
Riley Griffithsas Charles -
Ryan Leeas Cary








