radiobirdma A friend from Berlin sent me a video copy of this movie in the early nineties when it was available in Germany only (under the title "Satanic - Ausgeburt des Boesen"). Whatever may have become of Robert Martin Carroll, he left his mark with this beautifully shot, amazingly lyrical movie that might be considered a classic in another cultural universe. Imagine Peckinpah, Cocteau, Bunuel and a strung-out Sam Shepard doing a mixture of ultra violent desert town fairy tale and the ultimate poetic love story, including a clever gay Bonnie-&-Clyde-ending. In twenty years from now, "Sonny Boy" will be praised as a work of genius, a unique, surrealist masterpiece in a decade of mid-cult movies.

shark-43 SONNY BOY has to be seen to be believed. A twisted, sick, out there movie - in many ways the Jet Li movie UNLEASHED borrows heavily from this (with a bit of TSOTSI thrown in for good measure)! A slew of character actors signed up for this and instead of sleepwalking thru it, they all pretty much give 110%! Brad Dourif (Deadwood,...Cuckoo's Nest) chews up the scenery as Weasel, a sniffling psycho who works for the small town crimelord Paul L. Smith (the evil prison warden in Midnight Express). Weasel robs a couple one day, murders them and steals the car - not knowing there is a little baby in the back seat. Paul Smith lives out in the middle of the desert with his "wife" Pearl - played by David Carradine (Kill Bill, Kung Fu). Carradine is in full drag the whole movie and gives an entertaining, strange performance (he also sings the theme song). The crazy crime couple raise this baby in their own perverted way - cutting out the tongue of the boy, raising him like a wild animal in an empty silo. Then Paul Smith "sics" his Sonny Boy on anyone who tries to cross him! Wild movie. Like David Lynch doing acid with Ed Wood. Now, if anyone has seen this in the US - you have probably seen a very edited version. A UK version exists on VHS and it supposedly has lots of the gore and violence put back in. For you fans of out there cinema, lovers of cheese, this is the flick for you!

wilbrifar I have to agree with all those who sing this film's praises. If you really think about it, this was the last truly independent film to be released on American screens. (I'm not talking about today's so-called "indie" films that are pushed into theatres by giant corporations like Miramax and Lion's Gate and Fox Searchlight, but movies that were peddled by independent distributors the old fashioned way.) I'm proud to say I saw it twice on the big screen: the first time, I was the only person in the theatre; the second time I brought a friend I knew would appreciate it and it was only the two of us! I also proudly own the ultra-rare laser disc. It really needs a DVD release, which ideally would have commentaries revealing more about this wonderful work.

jollypoldy This is the worst piece of garbage I've ever seen. A total waste of celluloid. What were they thinking? Stay away from this one. This belongs on somebody's "Top ten Worst Movies of All Time" list. Not even funny or cute, like Plan 9 from Outer Space. Abominable.