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Repo Man
1984
Otto (Emilio Estevez) is a Los Angeles punk, a loser with no direction and no role models. But he discovers a code of honour and higher purpose when he joins a select group of latter-day knights: the repo men. As a fledging apprentice, Otto slowly learns the ways of these high-caliber, overmedicated auto repossessors. And when .. Read more
| Starring | Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton |
|---|---|
| Director | Alex Cox |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Comedy |
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Repo Man
Otto (Emilio Estevez) is a Los Angeles punk, a loser with no direction and no role models. But he discovers a code of honour and higher purpose when he joins a select group of latter-day knights: the repo men. As a fledging apprentice, Otto slowly learns the ways of these high-caliber, overmedicated auto repossessors. And when a $20,000 bounty is placed on a mysterious missing car, Otto eludes the police, feds, religious cultists, and other repo men in a frantic search for this holy grail. Could one man's destiny lie in the back of a 1964 Chevy Malibu?
| Starring | Emilio Estevez, Harry Dean Stanton |
|---|---|
| Director | Alex Cox |
| Studio | UCA |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 28 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Comedy |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 04 May 2009 Production year: 1984 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Despite poor reviews on its initial release, this darkly satirical swipe at American urban low life from director Alex Cox mutated into one of the greatest cult movies of the 1980s. Emilio Estevez, who's never been in a better movie since, plays a novice car repossession man in Los Angeles, learning the tricks of the trade from veteran Harry Dean Stanton, while coming into contact with aliens and drug pushers. The film is a winning blend of sci-fi, social commentary and film noir, with lots of quotable dialogue. Estevez's new-wave punk and his friends are portrayed as characters existing on the fringes of society (note the names taken from beers — Bud, Miller and Lite) and it's a world that's beautifully captured by Wim Wenders's regular cinematographer Robby Müller. This film marked out Cox as a director to watch in the future, but alas nothing he's made since has ever been equally worth watching. This deserves multiple viewings.
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When LA punk Otto (Estevez) loses both girl and job, he's hardly prepared for an adventure of mind-blowing proportions... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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23 out of 24 people found this review helpful
A gem
Well who would ever take the trouble to watch this film if they read the description?
The plot is sillier than most of the X-Files and the special effects are nearer to Dr Who than Star Wars, but this film is a gem.
Emilio Estevez's characterisation of the of the young waster who finds purpose in his life and Harry Dean Stanton as his self-deluded mentor are always interesting and sharp.
Cox's invocation of the seedy world they move in, the closeness and dubious dignity of the characters is funny and totally believable. Best of all Cox creates has created a film that seems as fresh and relevant today as in 1984.
It's not really science fiction at all, but the 88 minutes will fly by, you might even think about a job in repossession! -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
This film still hits the spot with me. Director Alex Cox wears his love of cult movies on his sleeve as he throws in all kinds of references and over the top plot twists.
I like the fact that while it is ostensibly a comedy, it is played straight and you do genuinely gain an insight into the dangerous and despised world of the repo man.
It veers between genres but somehow manages to work almost all of the time. The different threads of the story are woven together very skilfully to build a satisfying climax. Emilio Estevez is suitably restless while Harry Dean Stanton really gives the movie heart with his performance.
Otto's parting shot never fails to make me laugh out loud. -
News and features
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Alex Cox planning Repo Man sequel
- 07 Jul 2008
British director Alex Cox has been speaking of his planned follow-up to his 1984 cult movie Repo Man. The original starred Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton and focused on their search for a 1964 Chevy Malibu with a mysterious cargo. Now Cox is looking for studio support for a sequel entitled Repo Chick, which has been inspired by the subprime mortgage crisis in the US. Talking to ScreenDaily.com, the maverick director said: "The repo business has expanded to everything from boats,... Read more
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