Thunder Road (2018)

Directed by: Jim Cummings | 92 minutes | drama, comedy | Actors: Jim Cummings, Kendal Farr, Nican Robinson, Jocelyn DeBoer, Chelsea Edmundson, Macon Blair, Ammie Masterson, Bill Wise, Jordan Ray Fox, Frank Mosley, Jacqueline Doke, Chris Doubek

Jim Cummings is not yet a big name in the film world, but the filmmaker has big plans. In any case, he is someone who knows how to persevere and advocates an independent approach. Don’t dream, but do, is pretty much his motto and so far this approach seems to work. Based on his short ‘Thunder Road’, he made the feature film ‘Thunder Road’ on his own initiative. Not only did he write the screenplay, he also directed, edited and played the leading role. He kept the distribution in his own hands and that paid off: the film became a great success, partly due to its appearance on Amazon Prime.

‘Thunder Road’ is about police officer Jim Arnaud (played by Cummings himself). We meet him just before the memorial service for his recently deceased mother. Jim had a good relationship with his mother. His brother and sister “didn’t have time” to get to the funeral, and maybe that’s why Jim goes out of his way to give his mother the last greeting as memorable as possible. Telling too much would ruin the experience of this special scene, but a tip from the veil: someone thought it was worth filming and throwing it on the internet.

Jim struggles with mental problems, that much is clear. It’s not nothing either. His ex-wife is an addict, but who eventually gets custody of their daughter is still in doubt. The grief for the loss of his mother is great and he does not allow himself time to mourn. In addition, raising his daughter (too young for make-up, too old for the sandbox) is also not an easy task. And not everything goes smoothly at work either.

All these emotional ups and downs ensure that Jim regularly balances on the brink of burnout. He simply can’t handle life anymore and that results in tragicomic scenes, where you alternately have to laugh, you can cry and you feel vicarious shame for what is happening on screen. Cummings does a wonderful job of balancing these elements – which normally could easily have collided. The emotions are as real as can be. In the end, you take this man close to your heart, although you also see him in countless situations where you want to say to him “Don’t do it!” ‘Thunder Road’ has a sophisticated screenplay and a wonderfully maniacal lead. Charming and moving, this film is what you want to see.