Thrasher Road (2018) User Reviews

An inner / outer Road Film deserving witness.

[gschrock · 7/10 · 25 November 2019]

"In the lineage of many a good film, THRASHER ROAD tackles a pertinent contemporary theme: the unwitting pass-along of generational / familiar error. The movie combines both outer and inner journeys, as old wounds play out towards eventual self-awareness, where healing and hope can finally live, & repeated errors cease. Some moving scenes in this indy film, deserving witness." Gladden Schrock

Along for the ride on this road trip movie

[ninawatkins · 9/10 · 19 November 2019]

You're along for the ride on this road trip movie that manages to capture the feeling of transition and contemplation that you get when on the road. Chloe, the main character is headed home to Vermont while dealing with her past, present and future. There is a tenderness and vulnerability to the acting and visual look of this film that is quite beautiful. It's a small story with a lot of heart, highly recommend.

Moving, unpredictable and beautifully shot.

[doggodVT · 9/10 · 19 November 2019]

A beautifully shot journey home to VT from CA for hard-luck and dysfunctional estranged family members who both seek and resist common ground. Plot is tight and unpredictable - an enjoyable and satisfying watch!

Great indie film with a touching theme

[tashahardy · 10/10 · 24 November 2019]

I thought "Thrasher Road" was incredibly touching, with relatable interpersonal struggles and scenarios. The production value was very high and the music really suited the film. The actors were talented and believable. I can't say one bad thing about it-highly recommend it, especially if you like feel good movies that involve animals!

A beautiful meditation of the conditions human beings place on their love.

[brennamusic · 10/10 · 17 November 2019]

Thrasher Road is an honestly-acted, well-written, beautifully-filmed meditation on the juxtaposition of the unconditional love of animals, and the highly-conditional love of human beings. The journeys taken by the two main characters, and the interactions they have with others along the way, help them to see that there is more that connects than separates them. The places they are thrown into are characters themselves, and reflect the complexity and depth of human relationships. This film provides an intimate look at the barriers people construct in response to the vulnerability we all feel, and how our lives are shaped by the choices and weaknesses of the people who are close to us. Ultimately, this story shows that the power is within each individual to decide how to live our lives, and that the choice of how we react to people is up to us alone.

A thoughtful and heartfelt journey

[mmccii · 9/10 · 18 November 2019]

Beautifully shot, acted and especially directed, Thrasher Road is a thoughtful and heartfelt journey that deepens as it goes along. A movie that resonates in primal ways.

An unpredictable road movie that is worth the trip

[kent-marks · 9/10 · 4 October 2019]

At the heart of every road movie is a couple of lost souls trying to find that person or place that they can call home. Perhaps the fact that their journey seems bound to fall apart at any moment is what makes these stories so appealing to independent filmmakers, who must feel that their films are equally vulnerable to the whims of fate. Samantha Davidson Green's Thrasher Road can't help but take you on the emotional roller coaster that must have taken place behind the camera while shooting a Super 16 mm film on location from California to Mississippi to Vermont in unreliable vehicles traveling forgotten highways.

When very pregnant Chloe (Allison Brown) is inexplicably abandoned by her musician-boyfriend, she leaves Los Angeles with her geriatric dog Thrasher in tow, hoping to silently slink all the way back to Vermont in her old clunker. After a near-accident awakens her to the foolishness of this plan, Chloe calls her mother asking for help. Instead, rescue comes in the unwelcome form of her long-estranged father, Mac (Christian Kohn). Stuck together in a car with thousands of miles ahead of them and thirteen years of unspoken regret behind them, father and daughter just begin to reconnect when fate reliably intervenes to test the resolve of both. While Brown hits her notes perfectly as the stronger-than-she-looks daughter-in-distress, Kohn is a revelation as Mac, slowly peeling away layers of insecurity, with only his unreliable charm and surprising sensitivity to save him from some questionable choices.

The easy humor, lived-in emotions and scenic locations all move this breezy 86 minute film along, and though it has to contend with the limited resources common to most independent features, the depth of the characters keep you from noticing the bumps along the way. Writer/director Green has a few neat tricks up her sleeve as this bighearted road trip takes a few unexpected detours, and even better, she wisely saves her best surprise for the end.

Cross country journey of self-discovery

[marisahonma · 8/10 · 17 November 2019]

The story follows Chloe's wavering steps into an uncertain future, and the highlight comes when she is forced to stop along the way. Her long lost dad shows up, and Chloe must flush out some painful wounds. The confrontations she has with the fragile men in her life grant her healing and greater self-knowledge, but will her future be stronger for accepting them back into her life? Charming performance by Christian Kohn as Mac, the self doubting hedonist slowly evolving into a father by way of much needed forgiveness, steals the show. Beautiful cross country scenery reminds us that we are one nation from sea to shining sea.

Beautifully shot film

[joanwillia · 9/10 · 19 November 2019]

This beautiful road trip film does not disappoint. It's a moving and thoughtful story of love and redemption with wonderful performances. And if you're a dog lover you shouldn't miss it!

Watch this film!!!

[marinda3 · 10/10 · 18 November 2019]

Who doesn't love a good road trip movie? Thrasher Road's a great one - combining lots of laugh-out-loud moments, beautifully shot scenes, a great sound track - plus a feeling at the end like you've seen a quality film that'll stick with you for days to come, pondering the nature of human relationships and what it's all really about in this world. A thoroughly enjoyable film.

The Road Back To Family

[TheAll-SeeingI · 9/10 · 3 November 2019]

The wonderful and earnest "Thrasher Road" slowly and expertly pulls at the simple threads of everyday life, only to give rise to complex intricacies and imperfect familial truths.

Director Samantha Davidson Green shrewdly starts her story at a deceptively plain-faced and unassuming launch point. Yet with each passing scene, she weaves in layers of relational nuance and accumulating complication that most of us with imperfect family lives will find exceedingly truthful. Chloe (Allison Brown) is pregnant; pursuing something aspirational in L.A. by way of blue collar Vermont, she waits tables by day, and by night she returns to her apartment, joining boyfriend and busking songwriter Hank (Joe Rogers) and her lovely and aging hound Thrasher (played endearingly by the scene-stealing Roscoe). Chloe loves Hank, but their financial ends spectacularly don't meet, forcing her to concede defeat as she loads Thrasher into her car and begin the painful drive back to Vermont. When she gets in an accident and her working mom can't come and help complete the journey, her estranged dad Mac (Christian Kohn) appears at Chloe's motel room door. And with that, "Thrasher Road" begins to methodically reassemble the broken pieces of its characters.

"Thrasher Road" melds a director's terrific vision with the emotional heft of an imperfect but ultimately hopeful family life in what amounts to a truly inspired piece of filmmaking. - Was this review of use to you? If so, let me know by clicking "Helpful." Cheers!

A little road movie with a big heart

[davidquantic · 10/10 · 17 November 2019]

Thrasher Road has strong performances and beautiful locations to spare. I especially liked Christian Kohn as Mac, the estranged father of Chloe (Allison Brown) who has decided to leave LA behind and return to Vermont with her old dog. Is it strange to also praise the performance of a dog? Who cares. I'll do it anyway. The dog is great and adds a much-needed emotional focus for the people who care for him - especially since the people involved haven't always taken great care of each other. There is lots of unfinished business and many old scores to settle. It's a damaged group, filled with regret for past mistakes and struggling to survive close to the bone but they all eventually accept each other at face value and leave the past behind. The ending is beautiful and has stuck with me since seeing the film a few days ago.

Thrasher Road shows off The West in the best way and reminds me of a few of my favorite road movies: Into The Wild, Five Easy Pieces, Badlands, Easy Rider.

Don't miss this truthful and heartful film.

[pascale-kramer · 10/10 · 18 November 2019]

This film has an superb indie quality to it. The story is sad and funny and it has insightful moments that represent the dynamics of relationships. It's very good.

An Indie with Heart

[debijohess · 8/10 · 30 October 2019]

An indie with a lot of heart and great performances. Poor pregnant Chloe, she is dumped by her boyfriend, kicked out of her apartment and near penniless. She and canine buddy, Thrasher, set out on the road back home to mamma only to have car trouble, a crash and stranded in no where desert land. Momma can't come to her rescue so she sends negligent father Mac, who is unwelcomed but needed. The two set out again on a daughter estranged father road trip. The movie has a great story plot and will hold your interest through out with a scenario that many people can relate to no doubt. Great cast, direction and overall good production value. Give a watch, well worth it!

Love this flick!

[lbruhnca · 9/10 · 7 December 2019]

This is my kind of movie, where the character is relatable in her struggles and obstacles, and must do some things that are outside the comfort zone to get to where she needs to be - figuratively and physically. Great directing, writing, and acting. Well worth the money to rent this film. A recommend from me.

You will love this charmer!

[drupearson · 10/10 · 14 December 2019]

Dave and I have an agreement when it comes to movies. If I pick it, he is free to leave after twenty minutes if he doesn't like it, and vice versa. For this movie, neither one of us budged; both of us sat there entranced, not wanting it to end.

The movie is touching without being maudlin. It conveys a message that anyone who's experienced loss-and redemption-can relate to. You'll find the themes linger long after the closing credits.

Dave and I agree this is one of the best, if not THE best film, we've seen this year. Do yourself a favor and see this remarkable movie.

A laugh-and-cry movie full of suspense, surprise, pain and love

[a-twelve · 10/10 · 17 December 2019]

Starts quiet, low-key, but then wades deep into the weeds of human relationships and packs many an emotional power punch. It's a laugh-and-cry movie, about betrayal, estrangement, the twisting road to forgiveness made literal as a crazy cliffhanger road trip, anchored by a patient, aged dog who is the film's heart. So moving, I'm wrung out the good way.

A Powerful Family Road Movie with Redemption

[ebdriker · 10/10 · 4 December 2019]

Thrasher Road tackles the emotional journey of coming to terms with our continual search for love. It's the story of a young woman on the verge of motherhood confronting her estranged father and attempting to heal their relationship. The film poetically touches on how difficult it is to be a good parent and the lasting effect our decisions have on our children. The characters are nuanced, the writing is layered and the acting is very natural. In addition, the story takes us on a stunning cross-country trip across America with striking landscapes and unique communities playing a role in the drama. It is a beautiful film that takes on a difficult subject that needs to be addressed and talked about. I loved the movie!

nicely done movie about family and foregivness

[williamgway · 8/10 · 1 May 2020]

This was a cicely done movie that deals with adversity, fractured family relationships and asking for help. It is well filmed and a solid script. Acting is pretty good, certainly from the principal characters. Nice job by the director. Quality movie worth a watch.

We need more movies like this

[big007 · 8/10 · 5 May 2020]

We need more movies like this, father daughter relationship especially grown men and women trying to work out our relationships,. Good concept.

Charming amd moving journey

[davidrfable · 9/10 · 18 May 2020]

A daughter's journey, a father's journey and a dog's journey all rolled into this heartfelt indie. This is a movie worthy of theatrical release with expert execution in all areas. Samantha Davidson Green does a superb job with her actors, camera and music. Everything here is thoroughly professional and you'll find yourself touched and heartened if you spend the time and a couple of bucks to watch this one.

Well crafted indie delight

[filmentity-20516 · 9/10 · 17 January 2021]

This movie takes us on a journey through imperfect relationships and soul healing moments of reckoning. It's a thesis on the power of second chances. Well-crafted emotional moments. Great transitions and use of music and really well paced. Universally relatable themes and something that everyone can identify with in this movie. Very sweet indeed.