The Mosquito Coast

Name: The Mosquito Coast
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Released: November 26, 1986
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren

1986

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Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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The Mosquito Coast

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: November 26, 1986 | PG

Starring: Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren

Summary: Allie Fox (Harrison Ford) moves his wife (Helen Mirren) and their four young children to Central America to form his own Utopia.

Director: Peter Weir

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Thriller

Rating: PG

Runtime: 117 min

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Critic Reviews

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

A courageous and serious film that explores the limits of the mythic American virtues of persistence, inventiveness, and rugged individualism. Read full review

Josh Larsen

Ford dials up the smarm of Han Solo and the hubris of Indiana Jones to portray a man who’s just smart, capable, and charming enough to be dangerous—to himself, his family, and the villagers. Read full review

Sheila Benson

Weir's orchestrated The Mosquito Coast's action to match Fox's progressive mental state, from rage to explosion to squalls and finally to hurricane velocity; however, the film leaves us not with an apotheosis, but exhaustion. [26 Nov 1986]

David Sterritt

What keeps The Mosquito Coast from being a great movie is too much caution. Read full review

Pat Graham

Peter Weir's 1986 adaptation of Paul Theroux's best-selling novel is literally that - an adaptation without much character of its own. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The movie has been directed and acted so well, in fact, that almost all my questions have to do with the script: Why was the hero made so uncompromisingly hateful? Read full review

Richard Schickel

The problem is that the high-pitched whine of Allie's character finally vitiates not merely the viewer's sympathy for him, but sympathy for the movie he dominates, despite the care and courage that went into its making. Read full review

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User Reviews

HonestReviews69

Jun 19, 2019

This movie is so good. The concept, acting, and everything else is amazing. This might be a weird comparison, but this movie is a lot like The Shining. (How the characters develop) and I love it for that. I've seen dozens of horror movies, old and recent. But the Mosquito Coast (a non horrorThis movie is so good. The concept, acting, and everything else is amazing. This might be a weird comparison, but this movie is a lot like The Shining. (How the characters develop) and I love it for that. I've seen dozens of horror movies, old and recent. But the Mosquito Coast (a non horror movie) is ONE if the *scariest* movies I have ever seen. Modern horror movies are all just about unrealistic dolls, ghosts, and monsters. Fake isn't always scary, but the concept of this movie is so real, that it might frighten you. But it will intrigue you at the same time.… Expand

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StevenG.

Jun 22, 2007

Possibly my favourite movie of all time beautiful, unusual and a chilling portrayal of shattered dreams.

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borderlinefilms

Feb 4, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Disney for Anarchists

Before there was a McConaissance there was a Harrisance, That's right, you heard right: Harrisance. Within a few years in the 1980's Harrison da Chicago lead what was arguably the greatest adventure movie ever mounted, and possibly the best science fiction movie ever launched. He was also featured in that adorable little Star Wars trilogy. Not to mention a slew of fine movies like Presumed Innocent, Frantic, the Fugitive, and two thrillers as Jack Ryan. Among my favourite movies from the Harrisance period (if I keep saying it, it will be a thing) were two directed by Peter Weir, an Aussie who never met a cultural clash he didn't want to shoot. Weir directed a couple of American films and chose the right man to lead them. Witness was well-liked and had a righteously tough Harrison cop defending the Amish. But in my opinion, Mosquito Coast was better. Look at the headliners. Harrison Ford , Helen Mirren, River Pheonix, from a story by Paul Theroux, scripted by Paul (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) Schrader. The jaded Film Critics at the time weren't exactly blown away by the movie's ambitious scope but liked the way Harrison could play an anti-hero. What's so anti about him? He was great! I wish he was my dad. I would have loved to go on an escapist adventure with a genius inventor father who had grand visions of erecting a new utopia in the forests of Belize by manufacturing ice in the tropics. Okay, maybe he went too far. Got a bit swollen-headed and delirious. Became the patriarchal tyrant he was running away from. But that was from the rage he felt when realizing that while (in the 1980's) he might be able to elude multinational greed, he can't escape human avarice. O the tragedy of humans.… Expand

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JayH.

Jan 4, 2009

Fascinating direction by Peter Weir, one of Harrison Ford's best performances and outstanding cinematography make this one a must see. Excellent story, always interesting. Excellent performances from everyone.

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truerock

May 17, 2021

An interesting take and loosely based on a novel written by Paul Theoroux. This Apple TV series provides more thought material than is typical of American film.

The acting is all very good and interesting to watch. The writing is very good and actually sometimes better than the originalAn interesting take and loosely based on a novel written by Paul Theoroux. This Apple TV series provides more thought material than is typical of American film.

The acting is all very good and interesting to watch. The writing is very good and actually sometimes better than the original novel. So, even if you have read the novel and/or seen the 1986 movie I think most people will enjoy this TV series even more.

I'm compelled to say that I do not like Logan Polish's interpretation of Dina the teenage daughter. Perhaps because I anticipated something much better. I may have set my expectations too high. It seems to me that perhaps whoever decided to cast Polish for the part expected something different (based on Polish's past work) and unfortunately did not get a good result. The part of the 15 year old daughter is important to the series and it is unfortunate that it did not work out. I would wager a large sum that Polish did not screen test for the role. Or, maybe it was just a case of poor casting. Anyway, I think Polish has a lot of potential and I hope to see her in other roles that are a better fit for her.
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I just read some of the professional reviews of Apple TV's The Mosquito Coast.
As always, I am astounded at how incompetent professional critics are.
I'll provide a hint to potential viewers that may help you better appreciate the film.
The main character Allie Fox (husband and father) is a villain. According to the author of the novel, Allie Fox is partly based on the character Pap in the Samuel Clemens novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
If you are a father and a husband you might see a little bit of yourself (in a very exaggerated way) in the Allie Fox character.… Expand

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MichaelL.

Mar 4, 2008

A mediocre adaptation of Theroux's great novel. While Ford is fine in the central role, the movie (and script) don't give enough breathing room for the inconsistencies and contradictions that ultimately doom Allie Fox to become apparent to the viewer. His character just never felt A mediocre adaptation of Theroux's great novel. While Ford is fine in the central role, the movie (and script) don't give enough breathing room for the inconsistencies and contradictions that ultimately doom Allie Fox to become apparent to the viewer. His character just never felt fully formed to me, which is a big problem since he dominates the story. I hate to fall back on cliches, but in this case it's really true: the book was way better.… Expand

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Gamzguy17

Aug 22, 2021

It can be seen as a genius gone horribly mad and abusive, or it can be seen as a genius who has always been blind to his ignorance and ethical rationality towards humanity and his family. Kudos to Ford and his supporting cast to pulling off this tough cast of characters, but as statedIt can be seen as a genius gone horribly mad and abusive, or it can be seen as a genius who has always been blind to his ignorance and ethical rationality towards humanity and his family. Kudos to Ford and his supporting cast to pulling off this tough cast of characters, but as stated earlier, the film can either work or not work at all if you consider what is being established during its first one-third runtime.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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