10 Amazing Teen Movies You Might Have Missed

Vision Quest tells a story we’ve seen in most teen-oriented sports movies and its final act is much the same as those other stories. But, where Vision Quest sets itself apart is in its journey to get there.

The narrative concerns Matthew Modine’s Loudon Swain, a senior in high school and a talented wrestler who sets himself a goal to drop two weight divisions in order to wrestle the State Champion.

To complicate things, he and his father charitably take in Linda Fiorentino’s drifter, Carla, who Loudon almost immediately falls for. It’s a really simple set up. The character development is excellent, particularly in the two main roles. You get a sense of just how much of a difference there is between Loudon and Carla despite only being three years apart.

Modine is brilliant as Loudon. It’s a measured and thoughtful performance and the existential script favours his approach. He portrays a singularly determined character, whether in his quest for wrestling glory or to win Carla’s affections.

When he sets his goal, you quickly realise the goal can be anything but the real intention of the character is to feel like he has made a mark on the world. The acting throughout is excellent and secondary characters feel well developed and offer a number of memorable moments.

It really is a standout of the genre and seems to have been absolutely forgotten over the years, there is also a bonus appearance from Madonna in a film debut singing her hit Crazy For You.