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One man vs. the entire IRS — and he's armed with righteous fury and a tank.
TMDB
52
IMDb
61
Rotten Tomatoes
78
Audience Score
78
Google
82
Watch

Harry's War (1981)

underdog fever dreamtax-season horrorboomer revenge fantasy

Overview

ComedyDrama

After his aunt dies of a heart attack while fighting the IRS, Harry Johnson decides to take up the cause.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
bureaucratic dehumanizationgenerational ragefound family vs. blood familythe absurdity of American individualism

Standout Aspects

Acting

Edward Herrmann's unhinged everyman energy.

Direction

Kieth Merrill commits fully to tonal whiplash.

Practical Effects

That tank. They actually got a tank.

Best for:Solo: Late-night curiosity viewing when you wonder 'what even IS cinema?'·Friends: Bond over shared confusion and unexpected emotional beats.·Rewatch: Uncover new layers of 1981 tax-code grievances.
Heads up:Emotional: Sudden parental death in opening act hits harder than expected.
Kieth Merrill

Director

Kieth Merrill

ReleasedMar 6, 1981
Runtime1h 38m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonemixed
Feelmedium

Top Cast

Edward Herrmann

Edward Herrmann

Harry Johnson

Geraldine Page

Geraldine Page

'Aunt' Beverly

Karen Grassle

Karen Grassle

Kathy

David Ogden Stiers

David Ogden Stiers

Ernie

Salome Jens

Salome Jens

Wilda

Elisha Cook Jr.

Elisha Cook Jr.

Sgt. Billy

James Ray

James Ray

Commissioner

Jim McKrell

Jim McKrell

Newsman

Noble Willingham

Noble Willingham

Major Andrews

Vernon Weddle

Vernon Weddle

Ponde

Ask about Harry's War

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Elisha Cook Jr., who plays Sgt. Billy, was a noir legend from The Maltese Falcon — his presence here is deeply unhinged casting.

Cultural

This film captures peak Reagan-era anti-government paranoia, released the same year as the first major IRS scandals — it's practically documentary.

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