Under the Influence
Under the Influence
| 28 September 1986 (USA)
Under the Influence Trailers

Noah Talbot is a long-time alcoholic whose drinking begins to have a devastating effect not only on his personal life but on his family as well.

Reviews
AnhartLinkin

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

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Kaelan Mccaffrey

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

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Bob

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

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Geraldine

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

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ten123170

This movie is an excellent learning tool for family systems and alcoholism. All of the basic roles of an alcoholic and/or dysfunctional family are portrayed in this film: Alcoholic, Hero, Scapegoat, Mascot, Lost Child, Enabler. This film shows how alcoholism is a family illness and how all family members are affected by it. The film also shows how other family members may develop drug/alcohol problems and also act as enablers no matter what "main" role they play in the family. Andy Griffith and Keanu Reeves along with the rest of the cast do an excellent job in this made for TV film. I highly recommend this film to anyone who is interested in learning more about family systems and alcoholism and the affects it has on the family.

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jrpeter51

I feel that this movie was one of the best I've seen which illustrates the dysfunctional alcoholic Family. It clearly showed all of the family roles which typically can exist in that setting. (Dependent, Enabler, Hero, Scapegoat, Lost Child and Mascot). I believe that this is a must to see for any alcoholic, family member of an alcoholic family and even any member of a dysfuntional family which my not involve alcoholism.

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dtucker86

This fine film features one of Keanu Reeves first performances. Who would have guessed he would have become such a big star at the time this film came out. Griffith is compelling as Noah a long time alcoholic with a long suffering family. His wife basically closes her eyes and denies everything, one of his son's runs away and becomes a comedian joking about his dysfunctional family, his daughters become suicidal and his son is an alcoholic to. This isn't a happy bunch by any means, but this film delivers a powerful message about alcoholism and its effect on a family. Its gritty, unsentimental and pulls no punches. Next to Murder In Coweta County, I think this is Andy's most chilling performance. He definitely doesn't play the sheriff from Mayberry here.

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Sax

This movie does an excellent portrayal of the alcoholic family, and the son's unconscious recording of his fathers'personality. Everyone plays their role well, but you could swear Andy and his oldest son developed a problem, on purpose, for the reality of this sad, but real, film.

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