Distant Thunder (1988)

Amidst the echoes of the Vietnam war, John Lithgow's character, a once stoic soldier, finds himself wrestling with the ghosts of his past. Scarred by the horrors of combat, he abandons his wife and child in a desperate attempt to escape the battlefield that his life has become. Retreating into the wilderness, he spends a decade living as an untamed creature, far removed from the world he once knew. The narrative catapults forward ten years, when he finally re-emerges from his self-imposed exile. Confronted by a world that has moved on without him, he grapples with the stark realization of the wounds his desertion has inflicted on his family, particularly his son, portrayed by Ralph Macchio. As the estranged father attempts to bridge the gulf he had created, he inadvertently triggers a tempest of war-torn memories, igniting a volatile chain of events. Father and son find themselves entwined in a harrowing struggle for survival, a potent crucible that threatens to shatter them or forge an unbreakable bond. "Distant Thunder" is a poignant exploration of a war hero's descent into wilderness, a decade-long journey of self-isolation, and the painful path to redemption. It shines a stark light on the haunting repercussions of war, the fragility of human relationships, and the enduring power of familial bonds.

Distant Thunder is a drama movie featuring Ralph Macchio.

It is possible to buy Distant Thunder on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.