2. At Close Range (1986)
Director: James Foley
Cast: Sean Penn, Christopher Walken, Mary Stuart Masterson & Chris Penn
Plot: Based on a true story, this thriller is set in 1978 rural Pennsylvania and focuses on the Whitewood brothers (Sean & Chris Penn) who get re-acquainted with their absentee father (Christopher Walken), head of a notorious criminal gang. The boys become intrigued by their fathers lifestyle leading to robbery, theft and eventually murder
Reason(s) To Watch Before You Die: Two words; Christoper freakin Walken. It is easy to forget just how threatening and scary Christopher Walken can be on-screen. After all, we've all seen him in recent years dance to Fat Boy Slim and crack jokes on Saturday Night Live but back in the mid-eighties he was still an acting enigma, one whose film choices, demeanor and attitude cultivated an air of menace around him. That menace is used to great effect in At Close Range where his demonic patriarch crosses any line put in front of him. He may have been Norman Cooks Weapon of Choice but after this film he was every directors Villain of Choice.