Charming and brutal

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

"Sonny Boy" is not for the faint of heart, or the easily offended. It's a mind blowing, shocking, trashy melodrama that the cast performs for everything that they're worth. It may not be to very many tastes, but this twisted, darkly comic allegory is striking enough and compelling enough to make it a memorably weird viewing. Yet it does manage the feat of being somewhat poignant, even in the face of its depravity.In 1970 New Mexico, a young couple is murdered, their car stolen, and baby unknowingly abducted - by quirky lowlife Weasel (who else but the great Brad Dourif). Weasel takes the prize(s) back to his boss, small time crime kingpin Slue (Paul L. Smith of "Popeye" and "Pieces"). Slue lives with a "wife", Pearl (David Carradine, who plays the role in full drag) who takes an instant shine to the kid. Slue wants nothing to do with a child until he realizes that he now has innocent life that he can corrupt as he sees fit, and turn into a feral attack dog. The much abused "Sonny Boy" (Michael Boston) makes his presence known to the outside world, eventually, leading to predictable circumstances."Sonny Boy" will turn some viewers off and intrigue others. At least it does seem to have the courage of its convictions. While on the one hand it depicts a pretty sleazy little world, it's decently shot in widescreen by Roberto D'Ettorre Piazzoli and vividly designed by Mario Molli. The music by Carlo Maria Cordio is nice, and there's a similarly appealing, wistful ditty composed and sung by Carradine called "Maybe It Ain't".Carradine is truly something to see as the desert moll. Smith, who didn't want to do the movie but changed his tune when he saw who else had been signed up, is typically amusing as the loathsome father figure. Dourif and his "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" co-star Sydney Lassick are reunited as they cheerfully play their slimy parts. Conrad Janis is solid as a drunken doctor teased by his fellow citizens. And Alexandra Powers is appealing as Rose, the young lady who is moved by Sonny Boy and tries to reach out to him.Worth a look see for the more adventurous among B movie enthusiasts.Seven out of 10.

Okay, let's start with David Carradine in drag...he gives a surprisingly touching performance. And any movie with Brad Dourif - well - what can one say? He always brings a certain something to his roles and I'm glad he continues to get work. This is one strange movie, but guess what? - it's better than some mainstream crap I payed money to see! (Blair Witch Project, for example). I caught if on TCM Underground one night (thanks, TCM!) and was instantly intrigued. If you didn't know it was filmed in 1989 you'd swear it was a product of the 1970's; it certainly has that feel to it. If you're a fan of "Spider Baby" and movies like that, you will enjoy (?) this movie!

Terminally weird indie film with Paul L. Smith playing Slue, a small town crime boss. David Carradine plays his transvestite (I think) squeeze, Pearl, while Brad Dourif and Sydney Lassick are his two henchmen, Weasel and Charlie P. Weasel kills a couple and steals their car, which he brings to Slue. He didn't realize, however, that the couple's baby was asleep in the back. Slue wants to feed the kid to the hogs, but Pearl sees him as the son he could never have. They raise him as a killer to be used against Slue's enemies. They also cut out his tongue as a birthday present?! When Sonny Boy gets loose, his actions threaten to turn the town against Slue.I had wanted to see this one after reading about it in "Terror on Tape", and TCM gave me the chance when they aired it as part of their Underground lineup. As you can plainly see from the plot description, it's certainly offbeat. Sort of an allegory in disguise for the effects of child abuse, you might expect this to be a disturbing film. Not even close. Instead, it's just strange. Slue has an old canon, and in a wicked scene, he uses it to blow apart a nosy deputy. There are also some obvious parallels to Frankenstein towards the end. Had I not known it beforehand, I would have been shocked to see that this was released in '89. It felt like something straight out of the 70's. The main giveaway was the computer font which tells how much time had passed. While I would hesitate to call "Sonny Boy" a good film, it's worth a look if only to say that you've seen it. For fans of bizarre cinema, there's enough of a novelty present to warrant at least one viewing. Personally, I'm still not 100% sure if Carradine was supposed to be playing a guy in drag or an actual woman.

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!