User reviews

'Out Of The Blue' is one of the most haunting and disturbing movies ever made. Dennis Hopper has had mixed results as a director, but this is his masterpiece. While nowhere near as well known as the pop culture landmark 'Easy Rider', this is easily a much more important and accomplished work. Filmed in Canada during the period when Hopper was still persona non grata in Hollywood, he may have been out of control in FRONT of the screen (the movie features one of his legendary unhinged performances), but he certainly was fully in control BEHIND the scenes.

Hopper plays Don Barnes, a trucker released from prison who attempts to piece his life and family together while battling the bottle and the repercussions of a tragedy, which still festers like an open wound. His wife Kathy (Sharon Farrell - 'The Stunt Man') is scraping by as a waitress, and is shooting smack and fooling around with his former "best friend" Charlie (Don Gordon - 'The Mack'), a slimy piece of work. The Barnes teenage daughter Cebe (Linda Manz in an unforgettable and star-making role) is running wild, obsessed with Elvis, punk rock and CB radio. The Barnes are doomed. The viewer may not know exactly what is going to happen to this dysfunctional bunch, but it doesn't take Einstein to figure out it ain't gonna be pretty! However the ending is still unexpected and devastating. You'll never forget it.

A nihilistic movie, but a worthwhile one. Simply stunning.

Actor Dennis Hopper directs this very confronting, symbolic oddball minor art house drama with a very convincing shade peering into the punk rock scene with a raw, but lasting performance by young actress Linda Manz. The film feels rather aimless in a structured sense, centring on the mood swings and angst being drummed out by a wayward teenage girl that uses music (as Elvis is seen as an idol) and the punk scene to getaway from the troubles at home that involve a ditsy, drug-addicted mother (a busy Sharon Farrell) and alcoholic, ex-convict father (a methodically towering Dennis Hopper) that still holds onto a unforgettably tragic wound. It can be a bit of a trek steering more towards interesting than entertaining, as it delves into a well-rounded journey made up of clips involving people, situations and a sense of place. Quite seedy and never did it paint a pretty picture, no matter how hard the characters tried. There's no real choice, but to innocently grow up fast and it becomes a harrowing crash course in destruction, which ends surprisingly to delve out a nastily tearing punch. The script might be blunt, but there's a real natural attitude to the dialogues with an authentic chemistry between the cast in their deliveries. The style is kind of similar to Hopper's benchmark "Easy Riders (1969)", where at times it feels like somebody's home video. Surrounding the air is an excellent old school soundtrack that perfectly complements igniting tones. Hopper does a capable job behind the camera, despite some meandering and forced passages, but even with the minimalist tinge he never loses focused of the story at heart.

Out of the Blue (1980) was a showcase of sorts for two actors. One was an up and coming star (Linda Manz) the other was one who was trying to get back into the limelight (Dennis Hopper). The two have managed to pull off their best performances of their careers. I don't think that either of them could ever top it.

The movie is about a shattered family. A tragic accident has landed Don (Dennis Hopper) is prison for running his Big Rig into a stalled school bus. Several years later, his daughter (Linda Manz) who was also involved in the accident is waiting for her father to come back home. She's a wild kid who has no use for authority and likes to spend her time fantasizing about Elvis Pressely and listening to Punk Rock. Mom (Sharon Farrel) is a mess who lives in a constant state of denial. Linda waits for Pop's to get out of prison because she feels that he'll make everything better. Will he?

A great film. Dennis Hopper's acting shines in this film. He also directs with a stylized flair that was apparent in Easy Rider. This film was made during his "down time". After being ostracized from Hollywood due to the mess of The Last Movie and his off screen actions. This was his last stab at trying to get back into the studio system. Linda Manz is great as C.B. But the real reason to watch this movie is Dennis Hopper, he puts on one hell of a show.

Highly recommended.

Like almost all of Dennis Hopper's films from this period, it's way, way too unhinged to be a really great thing. The difference here is that Hopper directs as well, something he's always done with a supreme lack of restraint. Oh, yeah, there's certainly a lot of things he gets right with this picture. Linda Manz is about as perfect for her character as you could expect. Only problem is that there's no coherent script or editing to hold it all together. Her development throughout the story is incredibly compelling, but each scene feels almost like starting over from the beginning. Nothing really builds up, at least not until the climatic final scenes.

There's a whole lot to get from this film, but it's so deeply buried under a complete lack of focus behind the camera that you can't help but be disappointed. I'd easily recommend this to any young punk rocker, though. It's the kind of film that fits the attitude perfectly.

Very depressing and tragic movie. But is definitely a modernized version of Rebel Without A Cause - in the darkest way possible. Dennis Hopper plays the alcoholic so well, it's hard to tell if he's acting or really drunk (or both?) But Linda Manz as CeBe steals the show, in hopes to regain the youthful fun she had with her father before he went to prison 5 years prior. But in her maturity, she realizes how dysfunctional and depraved her surroundings have become. Siding with 'punk rock and Elvis' as a way to rebel and have someone to look up to during her fathers absence. But on his release, he immediately goes back to his drunken ways and making empty promises to Cebe that things will get better. And it's her painful realization that things never will. A fairly good depiction of the Vancouver area and era of the late 70's. Yet the movie has some drawn out scenes which run a bit too long. Soundtrack wise is fitting and not. Neil Young's anthem tune fits it like a loose glove. Disembodied snippets and recitations of Elvis songs seems to throw it off course. And brief exposures of true punk bands like The Pointed Sticks juxtaposed with C&W acts in local bars can almost cause whiplash. Yet, that was the realism back in the day. So possible a more focused and/or coordinated soundtrack may have made the movie more dramatic - but lose the realism...? All in all, it's not an easy watch. But is honest and realistic well before Gasper Noe or Bong Joon Ho. Should something as depressing and depraved as Out Of The Blue exist? I think so, as it's an experience that no doubt exists somewhere to this day for someone - and it's NOT pretty!

Don't be fooled by the negative reviews. This is definitely worth watching. Linda Manz is INCREDIBLE! Come on! She was in Gummo!!! (She was also in The Wanderers and played a similar tomboy-Jackie Earle in drag (sorta) character). She gets the job done and well is all I'm trying to say. But Dennis Hopper gives an amazing performance as usual in all his psycho glory and the dude who plays Charlie is slimy as hell (good thing){note: I didn't remember it was Don Gordon who also played a sleazy dude in The Mack}. Plus Neil Young songs. What else do you need? My videotape copy has the worst quality of a commercially released video that I've ever been witness to, but I see that the great folks at Anchor Bay have released this on DVD. I'll be buying it soon. You should too.

The version currently on Prime opens with a text saying Chloe Sevigny had something to do with its reissue. Seems to fit, because this movie looks, almost as much as Herzog's stuff from around then, especially Stroszek, like inspiration for Sevigny's ex, Harmony Korine. See especially the scene with a mentally handicapped man singing an Elvis song on a city street, which could be in either Herzog or Korine. Both literally and figuratively, Sevigny and Korine's generation of hipsters was wearing these clothes twenty years later, so much so that it's weird to see actual working class alcoholics and drug addicts in the mirror shades and wide-lapelled jackets. And then, of course, Manz had a last hurrah in Korine's Gummo, in which Sevigny appeared, so perhaps the reissue is the latter's tribute to the former.

Story is a dilatory mess and quite boring, but the profound darkness of the subject matter, touched on in almost no other film I can think of except Taxi Driver, warrants our attention, and it's beautifully shot with great performances - especially from the young Manz - and standout scenes all the way through.

According to the IMDb trivia on Out of the Blue, a character study of an alienated 15 year old girl who loves Elvis and punk rock (especially Sid Vicious) and has an ex-convict father just released from prison after slamming his truck by accident into a school-bus full of kids, Dennis Hopper wasn't originally slated to direct the picture, but took over some time after production was going. What seemed interesting to me about this is that looking at his performance in the film, if not quite how his character acts around his daughter (certainly not with the real reveal late in the film), is that it reflects how Hopper was at that time: drunk, abrasive, lashing out or closed off or on a tear. It was a crazy time for him, and for all of the drugs that he took it would be alcohol that drove him to rehabilitation later on in the 1980's.

Perhaps considering this autobiography isn't always necessary to look into in connection with a film, but knowing about the late Hopper's history of addiction is hard to ignore in watching this specific tale and character. Seeing him on screen is electrifying, even when he's more relaxed and joyful. It's a sad story and his mood at the time might seem to reflect that. At the same time it's also an unexpected feat of artistry on Hopper's end, at least in part. It's not too hard to wonder why this movie would attract him as director; along with a juicy role for himself, it's a movie about teenage alienation (first film Rebel without a Cause, his idol James Dean), and it goes darker, truer, more disturbing and into the darker corridors of the American experience than other filmmakers would venture to.

The story of Cebe is tragic in its dimensions because her personality and outlook and way about herself and others was shaped by nothing of her own doing. She's a good person really, and even in her more reckless moments there's some kind of innocence there in her. We see some of this innocence when she tries to connect with her father when she's back (the aborted picnic scene for example, as she keeps singing her Elvis 'Teddy' song to Don as he's distracted). But she's also a punk rock chick, or an aspiring one, and looks for trouble anywhere she can. This isn't just acting out, though there is a good deal of that. It's a state of mind; escape the minutia and the drug addiction her mother has by wandering off with punk rockers and dirty cab drivers, and into her world of 'f*** the world'.

Hopper alludes ever so carefully, with just enough for the audience to keep wondering 'what is it entirely', to what the real deep-rooted horror there is for CeBe, why she acts the way she does around her flawed father. All I can really say without spoiling everything is that Hopper's Don is on the verge of tears when we first see him behind prison screen talking to Cebe and her mother, near tears the whole time he speaks. This is the most sincere we see him, certainly without the booze. There is the genuine emotion of this, but there's also something else: abuse runs deep in this family. Ultimately, Out of the Blue is so believable and harrowing with its tale of dysfunction and doomed rebellion because of the circumstances and truth in the characters. Teenage girls should see the film, not simply because of how high its quality is as a tale of alienation, but because of how true it rings to the experience of being disconnected from authority and anyone else who can relate to. It triumphs over so many like it in recent years; it makes Ghost World look like a Nick show.

One more note here about this film, or, no, a couple. As a punk rock movie, or just a rock and roll movie, Hopper really gets as close to his first film Easy Rider for iconic status. Music is used so wisely and intuitively in this film, and in a couple of instances with music in the background and someone strumming guitar on screen (such as when CeBe goes to smoke grass with the cab driver). And for such a quintessential hippie he gets a punk rock scene with Canadian pogo fresh and invigorating, not to mention on the flip-side Neil Young's moving theme song. Another note: Linda Manz. The young actress who was affected in speech to very good effect in Days of Heaven gets to shine here in her one real leading role. It's a performance that is brimming with energy and conflict, just what the character needs. And no disrespect to Hopper's own idol, but she would make the Rebel without a Cause quiver in his pants - or look on in bewilderment that someone could really have it worse than him. Much worse.

One of the most underrated films of the 1980's. Go see it if you can find it, though it's not for all tastes: a cult melodrama.

Dennis Hopper's career was in a strange spot in 1980. Despite his infamous appearance in Apocalypse Now and the occasional indie film like The American Friend, his late '70s career was iffy. He co-wrote this film apparently after listening to the Neil Young album Rust Never Sleeps. The title of the movie is taken from the lyrics of that album's best known song, Hey Hey My My. And the film's story, especially the finale, seems directly lifted from the lyrics of the song.

Linda Manz had a bit of a winning streak in the late '70s. Days of Heaven, The Wanderers, a small part in the underrated Boardwalk, and then Out of the Blue. Her tough-as-nails street urchin-like characterizations were a cross between young Tatum O'Neal and Jodie Foster, with a lot of swearing thrown in for good measure. She didn't make many movies after Out of the Blue and sort of faded "into the black," eventually passing away in 2020.

In this movie, she plays Cindy/CeBe, the 15-year old punk musician wannabe who still worships Elvis. She's a 15-year old in age only; she acts more like a 20-year old. Her mom is a heroin addict and her dad (played by Hopper) spends the first half of the film in jail, for a drunken driving incident when CeBe was about 9 years old involving a school bus full of children. When Don (Hopper) is released, he's not quite rehabilitated and goes right back into his old ways: Drinking, fighting with his wife, fighting with his boss, and not-too-veiled sexual advances towards CeBe.

Admittedly this is a not a fun watch. It gets to be a little too raw, even compared to the films of indie pioneer John Cassavetes. And there are meandering scenes of Don just pushing garbage around in a bulldozer at his post-prison job. Inevitable confrontations between angry parents of the children Don killed in the accident offer no release.

Midway through the film, CeBe runs away from home and lands with a punk band in Vancouver for a few days. There is also a very strange sequence involving a cab driver who takes CeBe home for drugs and...something else.

This all leads to an appropriately grim finale. There is simply no hope for these characters. The film does hold your attention if only for Manz's eccentric performance. Hopper is, well, Hopper. Don in a way paved the way for Frank Booth in Blue Velvet. Many irredeemable qualities of Booth had their origins in Don.

Long before Larry Clark and his "Kids" came along Dennis Hopper (who made that other classic film about doomed youth - Easy rider) directed this brilliant and hard-edged drama about a rebellious young girl, CB whose father (played brilliantly by Hopper) comes out of prison after a horrific auto accident with a school bus. An angry film that perfectly captures the disillusionment of post-punk youth in modern America (even though the film was shot in Canada). CB's hopes for a normal family life are shattered though and it isn't long till things build to a shocking climax as a revelation about CB's father tears the whole family apart. A typically uncompromising film from rebel Hopper with excellent performances and gritty, realistic direction. This film is a must see for all fans of non-compromising realistic film. See it!

How should we react to souls who bare their pain with unflinching courage? Hopper was a troubled man who tried desperately to transform his anguish into art. For me, it is an open question whether or not he succeeded. Personally, I think a great filmmaker balances quiet moments with high drama. Perhaps, Hopper captures the frenetic and chaotic energy of a society on the brink of collapse. Someone's comparison with Rafaelson and Cassavettes is definitely useful. I don't think this film rises to the level of Five Easy Pieces or A Woman Under The Influence. The scripts and performances of those films are far more original and superior. The performance of the young woman is the most interesting and unique thing about this downbeat indulgence.

First of all, Linda Manz alone is a reason to see this movie. Her presence is a force. She is the epitome of non-actor vibes effectively channeled through an acting performance - her character feels immensely real because she comes from a hard place. She doesn't need to sell a role like this because she has lived it, and that comes through on the screen.

Dennis Hopper puts in a tasteful directing/writing/acting triple whammy delivery here as well. Always intimidating with flashes of endearment and dark humor. He is legend for a reason.

Though the characters are all living menacing lifestyles, you feel at ease with them through the majority of the film, giving the movie a sort of floaty, hangout sort of vibe - but with a dirty, stained surface. But, you can only play with fire for so long. The conclusion comes quickly, or, "out of the blue", if you will, and I've got to say, it hits HARD. Heavy subject matter, delivered in as meaningful a manner as it really could be, and in it's own singular light...

This film will certainly not sit well with everyone, but for those who can appreciate reflections of realistic darkness, this film is a great accomplishment.

Hopper is a true PLAYER. He knows his talent so he don't have to lick, or never have had to lick Hollywood's a**. He knows when he wants to do something, and he does it. The guy directed Easy Rider, Hot Spot, Colours and this. If you look these films together, it (his "career") almost makes some sense in a traditionally logical way. If he would have done only Easy Rider and this, he would be part of the (living) history of art and cinema. And of course now I'm talking about only his directing talent.

Beautiful imagery, wonderful script/dialogue, great directing. Great scenes. Really interesting characters. Great use of music (Elvis, Neil Young,etc). Yeah it's serious alright, but not in any case too "heavy" to watch. I think everybody or at least anybody should see this movie. It's beautiful and humane.

Some reviewer said that these people are "white trash". I'm sorry, but they are not. First, no people are trash, and second: If you live in a big two-story house, in a small town, that don't make you trash. And both parents in this family go to work. I don't quite understand the logic; what is the definition of "human trash"? I have understood that the people who live in trailers are often called "white trash", so is the main criteria living in a trailer? Or is it the level of yearly income?

Some reviewers wrote that this is a portrayal of the "end of the punk-era". I would say, as the leading girl says in this movie, that "Punk never dies". It always transforms and represents itself in new forms: The spirit of the eternal rebellion lives forever, because it is a part of being human: It existed before the 60's/70's, and nowadays it can be found anywhere else than "punk" scene: In rap music, in art, books, movies, anywhere. You just have to feel it to know it.

one of the best of the best- i think of the whole film, from performances to story as an absolute miracle- to capture this kind of vitality is one out of a million(s).. guess Linda Manz was just too real for Hollywood and the rest, but her work for me is to be treasured. this film reminds you just how little narrative art has evolved since, better, how it has dissolved. There is not a frame in there that is not driven by purpose, and at the same time particular- it matches the best of what punk rock was/is, and perhaps its response since, shows it to be just a bit more pure (no "filthy lucre" tours for this one). now available in the $1.99 cheap bin, right next to Altered States..get it now!

hopper's late work deserves the accolades, but out of the blue, from his out of control middle period, is a pretty rough artifact. his directing style borrows loosely from roger corman, john cassavetes, bob rafelson, but out of the blue comes across as shouty and self absorbed, without the critical distance necessary for a full bodied outcome. it feels like hopper was trying way too hard to be on a radical edge, but ended up making something conservative in structure, pacing, characterisation because his judgement was clouded or lacked maturity. it's all pretty flat, except for the naturalism of hopper's performance which is outstanding, perhaps because the other actors are so wooden. there are strange b-grade editing choices - why use the slow motion crash footage in which dummies are really obvious, for example? maybe hopper didn't really have directorial ideas, and needed to get over himself a bit before he was able to concentrate on becoming the great character actor of his later years.

I picked up this movie on a DVD rack for 99 cents.It was paired with another film called "Mob War". After seeing "Mob War" and then starting the second feature I almost abandoned the film after a few minutes and decided to stick with it.I made the mistake of thinking "Out of the Blue" was some seventies picture that mercifully fell through the cracks.It was thirty minutes into this film that I realized that I was watching an unjustly ignored masterpiece! Looking at the character of CeBe reminded me of the character of Holden Caulfield in the novel "Catcher in the Rye".I totally emphasized with her rebellion in response to her family's astonishing dysfunction.

In 1980 I was a teenager a little older than the Cindy Barnes character(I was surprised that she was played by an actress that was almost twenty years old!) and would've understood her and probably emulated her as I did with the character in Catcher in the Rye.I'm amazed this film wasn't more heavily promoted back then because it would have spoke well to the youth of that time if it had been given a chance.

This film has made me look at Dennis Hopper with new eyes.The fact is I never really thought that much of his film "Easy Rider" and certainly not "Colors" but "Out of the Blue" is an amazing achievement.I also have to say that I thought Linda Manz's performance was acting at it's best.It regrettable that actresses of her caliber get swept aside for the "classical standard" of beauty of these truly third rate actresses I see promoted today.

This movie is going to find it's audience because it's great art and great art always finds it's audience.

'Out of the Blue' (1980) is a powerful and captivating film that dives deep into the complexities of human emotions and the search for hope amidst despair. Directed by Dennis Hopper, this hidden gem of a movie remains as relevant and thought-provoking today as it was upon release. The film not only stands on its own merit but also draws intriguing parallels to other iconic works like 'Five Easy Pieces' and 'The Last Detail'.

'Out of the Blue' tells the story of Cebe (Linda Manz), a troubled teenager trying to navigate a world filled with disillusionment and soul-crushing events. Linda Manz delivers an unforgettable performance, showcasing her raw talent and capturing the essence of Cebe's complexities with stunning authenticity. She portrays the character's rebellion, vulnerability, and longing for connection in a way that resonates deeply with the audience.

Much like 'Five Easy Pieces', 'Out of the Blue' explores the theme of societal disillusionment and the effects it has on individuals. Both films delve into the exploration of characters who refuse to conform to societal norms, exhibiting a rebellion against the systems that hold them back and seeking personal liberation. In both films, the protagonists struggle with their emotions and their place within a world that feels oppressive, ultimately sparking a quest for identity and self-discovery.

Furthermore, 'The Last Detail' and 'Out of the Blue' both feature powerful, thought-provoking endings that leave a lasting impact on the viewer. While 'The Last Detail' examines the complexities of friendship and the pursuit of redemption, 'Out of the Blue' explores the utmost depths of human emotions, reminding us that hope can emerge even from the darkest of circumstances. Both films successfully challenge us to question our own belief systems and societal norms.

This brings us back to 'Out of the Blue,' a film that unapologetically confronts difficult subject matter, including alienation, rebellion, addiction, and loss. Dennis Hopper's direction shines through, masterfully capturing the malaise of the era against the backdrop of a poignant and thoughtfully written screenplay.

With its powerful performances, compelling storytelling, and brilliantly unpredictable narrative, 'Out of the Blue' is an underrated masterpiece that deserves to be celebrated and remembered. It pushes the boundaries of what independent cinema can achieve and leaves an indelible mark on the viewer's mind.

'Out of the Blue' (1980) is an exceptional film that tackles challenging themes with a raw intensity rarely seen in cinema. Drawing parallels to 'Five Easy Pieces' and 'The Last Detail,' it serves as a testament to the enduring power of movies that challenge, provoke, and inspire. If you are a fan of thought-provoking storytelling and stellar performances, 'Out of the Blue' is a must-watch - especially in its glorious recent 4K restoration.