John Peterson lives with his partner Eric and their adopted daughter in Southern California. When he is visited by his aging father Willis from Los Angeles who is searching for a place to retire, their two very different worlds collide.
Acting
Lance Henriksen delivers career-capping volcanic rage — terrifying, pathetic, unforgettable.
Direction
Mortensen's debut shows remarkable restraint, letting silence blister and burn.
Writing
Dialogue so authentically cruel you'll check if your own father wrote it.
Director
Viggo Mortensen
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mortensen wrote the role specifically for Henriksen after they bonded on 'Appaloosa' — the two were so close that Viggo gifted Lance his own father's actual pocket watch to use in the film.
The film rejects the typical redemption arc Hollywood demands of dementia narratives; Willis doesn't become 'cute' or wise, he just deteriorates while staying awful — which is statistically more honest.
US
