SUE THUNDER, JOHNNY LIGHTNING (2025, Feature Film)

Logline: SUE THUNDER, JOHNNY LIGHTNING centers around a Native American social worker, Sue Thunder, who leads a task force for missing and murdered Indigenous women in Arizona as she uncovers human trafficking and real estate fraud on her reservation.

Synopsis: SUE THUNDER, JOHNNY LIGHTNING follows the story of Native social worker, Sue Thunder, who heads a task force to investigate missing and murdered Indigenous women on the Salt Sun reservation in Arizona. As she forms a new relationship with Italian-American real estate agent, Johnny, Sue uncovers a sinister web of corruption and exploitation orchestrated by a powerful tobacco tycoon and his business partner who are profiting from the trafficking of Indigenous women and girls, while also acquiring sacred Native land through embezzlement and bribery of tribal leaders.

Status: Filming begins in December of 2024.

Investment: Seeking $100-200k of equity investment to add to the $60k already raised.

Credits

Written and Directed by Calogero Carucci

Produced by Calogero Carucci, Alex Cherney, Tyesha Wood, Laura Piffero, Fernando MacFarlane

Cinematography by Katie Mlinek

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Sue’s Web

Visual Inspiration

CHINATOWN

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

MEMORIES OF MURDER

RAISING ARIZONA

BLOW OUT

TAXI DRIVER

EASY RIDER

INHERENT VICE

A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE

KANEHSATAKE: 270 YEARS OF RESISTANCE (THE OKA CRISIS)

SHORT FILMS BY SKY HOPKINA

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND

E.T.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

RAGING BULL

LE NOTTI DI CABIRIA

THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE

THE MASTER

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

THIEF

A MARRIED COUPLE

FACES

KILLER OF SHEEP

THE LOVERS ON THE BRIDGE

MOTHER OF GEORGE

Art by T.C. CANNON

Art by WALTER UFER

Art by FREDERIC REMINGTON

Art by JASON NELSON

Art by MIGUEL CAMARENA

Art by TED DEGRAZIA