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Jacknife

1989 • 1h 42m •
Drama War
MOVIEVIBE Rating
★ 6.4/10
142 reviews
Your Rating
Jacknife

A conflict develops between a troubled Vietnam veteran and the sister he lives with when she becomes involved romantically with the army buddy who reminds him of the tragic battle they both survived.

"Three buddies in Vietnam. Two survived. Only one is really alive."

Top Billed Cast

Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Joseph 'Jacknife' Megessey
Kathy Baker
Kathy Baker
Martha Flannigan
Ed Harris
Ed Harris
David 'High School' Flannigan
Ivar Brogger
Ivar Brogger
Depot Mechanic
Jordan Lund
Jordan Lund
Tiny
Charles S. Dutton
Charles S. Dutton
Jake, Veteran Encounter Group Leader
Bruce Ramsay
Bruce Ramsay
Corridor Student
Jessalyn Gilsig
Jessalyn Gilsig
His Girlfriend

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

J John Chard Verified TMDB Critic
2014-04-19

Dave, Megs and Martha.

Jacknife is directed by David Jones and adapted to screenplay by Stephen Metcalfe from his own play Strange Snow. It stars Robert De Niro, Ed Harris and Kathy Baker. Music is by Bruce Broughton and cinematography by Brian West.

De Niro and Harris play two Vietnam War veterans trying to come to terms with their lives post the war. Things are further complicated when De Niro gets romantically involved with Harris sister played by Baker.

Wonderfully sedate and intimate, Jacknife, whilst not creating anything new in the “coming home from Nam” genre of film, is s...

K kevin2019 Verified TMDB Critic
2025-06-06

"Jacknife" is based upon the stage play "Strange Snow" by Stephen Metcalfe and yet it has been very skilfully adapted into a screenplay which allows the many meaningful character moments to be subtly played out. Its depiction of the veterans who fought in Vietnam paints a portrait of damaged men now struggling to maintain at least a semblance of the normality they once took for granted in a world which once enthusiastically jeered and spat upon them. The legacy of that deeply contentious war is soul destroying where every day must seem to be trying to find a reason to go on living such a haunt...