Welcome to an exciting year-long project here at The Nerdy. 1986 was an exciting year for films giving us a lot of films that would go on to be beloved favorites and cult classics. It was also the start to a major shift in cultural and societal norms, and some of those still reverberate to this day.
We’re going to pick and choose which movies we hit, but right now the list stands at nearly four dozen.
Yes, we’re insane, but 1986 was that great of a year for film.
The articles will come out – in most cases – on the same day the films hit theaters in 1986 so that it is their true 40th anniversary. All films are also watched again for the purposes of these reviews and are not being done from memory. In some cases, it truly will be the first time we’ve seen them.
This time around, it’s September 12, 1986, and we’re off to see Avenging Force, ‘night, Mother, and Restless Natives.
Avenging Force
Boy, I wish it was clearer the bad guys were bad guys in this movie. (Spoiler: They beat you over the head with it.)
Captain Matt Hunter (Michael Dudikoff) is a former Secret Service agent that takes his grandpa and kid sister to visit his old friend, Larry Richards (Steve James) who is running for political office. Matt quickly learns Steve and his family have been threatened by a group named Pentangle, and it’s going to be up to Matt try to save all of them and take down this secretive group.
This really felt like it was trying to set up a series of Matt Hunter films, but as I’m sure you can guess, that didn’t happen. As action films, I’ve certainly seen worst, but don’t expect any deep thoughts from the script.
Where to watch: Available to stream.
‘night, Mother
If you’re looking for an uplifting movie… this is not it.
Jessie (Sissy Spacek) is a middle-aged woman living with her mother, Thelma (Anne Bancroft). Upon returning from the county fair one night, Jessie calmly informs her mother that her plan is to commit suicide that night, and she has prepared everything for her so she can go on living on her own. Thelma spends the rest of the night pleading with Jessie to reconsider to no avail.
I normally don’t spoil films, but you need to go into this movie knowing it ends exactly as you think it might. Thelma is unsuccessful at convincing Jessie to change her mind. While you don’t see the act, you do hear it.
This is such a hard film to recommend. The vast majority of the film is a two-hander between Spacek and Bancroft who both do an amazing job in their parts, but there is still something somewhat hollow feeling to the story. Jessie is a bit too clinical about what is to come. It’s explained in the film why she is this way, but it still comes off as a bit too tidy.
Overall, still a good film, but not one I will ever watch again.
Where to watch: Available to stream.
Restless Natives
This feels like every ‘little’ UK film, and that isn’t a complaint.
Will (Vincent Friell) and Ronnie (Joe Mullaney) are residents of Edinburgh who want to find a way out of their lives. They set out to become “highwaymen” and begin robbing coaches, but they’re a bit awkward at it. Through none of their own doing, they become folk heroes and find themselves crumbling under the attention of ‘fans’ and the police.
I had never heard of this film before, and while it’s not doing anything groundbreaking, it’s just fun. Friell and Mullaney are both engaging, and you find yourself cheering them on despite the fact that they are committing crimes.
A fun little film very worth you checking out.
Where to watch: Available to stream.
1986 Movie Reviews will continue on Sept. 19, 2026, with Blue Velvet, The Men’s Club, and Where the River Runs Back.
