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Action Cult Classic

A Boston educator turns avenger in Texas after a brutal assault forces her into the world of guns.

HANDGUN

1983 · 1h 41m · R · Action / Drama

Shortly after moving to Dallas, a young woman is raped at gunpoint. Her intense anger drives her to seek revenge, and she becomes a hunter on a vengeance mission.

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Quick Answer
What is Handgun about?

Handgun is a 1983 American action drama film directed by Tony Garnett about a Boston educator who, after being raped at gunpoint in Texas, sets out on a mission of revenge against her attacker.

Themes & Keywords

Synopsis

British director Tony Garnett's American film debut is a tale of revenge that criticizes American gun culture. Karen Young plays Kathleen Sullivan, an idealistic Boston educator who travels to Texas to teach. In her new home town she meets Larry Keeler (Clayton Day), a handsome lawyer who is obsessed with guns. On their first date together, things seem to go swimmingly, but on their second date, Larry brings his gun along and Kathleen finds herself raped with a firearm pointed at her head. Kathleen becomes consumed with vengeance; she learns how to handle a gun, becomes a crack shot, and goes forth to seek revenge for her rape.
Details & Specs
Director
Tony Garnett
Writer
Tony Garnett
Release
1983
Runtime
1h 41m
Genres
Action, Drama
Also Known As
Deep in the Heart

Why Cult

British Director in America

Tony Garnett makes his American film debut, bringing a British outsider’s eye to the Texas landscape and its gun obsession.

Revenge-Driven Heroine

Karen Young’s Kathleen is an ordinary woman forced into extraordinary violence, subverting traditional action tropes.

Gun Culture Exploration

The film directly critiques American gun culture, making its revenge narrative as much about society as individual trauma.

Questions from the Vault

What is Handgun about? +

Handgun is a 1983 action drama about a Boston educator who, after being raped at gunpoint in Texas, seeks revenge on her attacker.

Who directed Handgun? +

Handgun was directed by Tony Garnett.

How long is Handgun? +

Handgun has a runtime of 101 minutes.

What genre is Handgun? +

Handgun is an action drama film.

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