Starring Matthew Modine (Dark Knight Rises, Full Metal Jacket, Stranger Things), Frank Jasper, Daphne Zuniga, Linda Florentino (Gotcha, Last Seduction), Michael Schoeffling (Sixteen Candles), Ronny Cox (Total Recall, Robocop). Directed by Harold Becker and released on February 15, 1985 earning a modest Box Office of just $13 million dollars.
There are plenty of films that become Cult Classics, for better or worse; with only some of them actually being worth a damn to watch and re-watch over again. But, a select number of those few actually capture not only a time and setting but also a culture. Vision Quest is one of those films.
The story of Louden Swain, an eighteen year old high school wrestler, who in attempt to end his senior year with a bang decides to drop weight and take on the defending state Champion “Shute”, played by Frank Jasper. Based on the novel by Terry Davis the film is a character study of a young man coming of age into adulthood. Along the journey his father takes in a young artist on her way from New Jersey to California and develops feelings for her. This movie is the Rocky of wrestling films and will probably be the best and only true depiction of what it takes to be a wrestler. I’m going on a limb but, I guarantee every High School coach has given this film as an assignment to aspiring wrestlers every year for a book report. Yes, a generic coming-of –age story. But thanks to the pacing and writing by the filmmakers, Vision Quest showcases well developed and authentic characters; making it a stand-out entry in the genre worthy of multiple revisits.
It’s as good as it gets.
So keep your cool. Stay healthy and always keep that finger on the REWIND button.
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