History Film / Witness

* {{Fanservice}}: An extremely emotionally-charged and plot-relevant example of female nudity (and the only example of it in the movie), but still nudity nevertheless. Hi, Kelly [=McGillis=]. Hi, Kelly [=McGillis'=] tits.

* AnAesop: The film depicts violence as never being the answer and depicts it unpleasantly and having negative consequences. As satisfying as it may be to the viewer, Book angrily punching the {{Jerkass}} tourist who was bullying Daniel is what allows Schaeffer to track him down. At the opposite end, the movie, by this same logic, avoids having Book kill [[spoiler:Schaeffer]] in favor of a nonviolent conclusion.

* UsefulNotes/{{Amish}}: The film is notable for being one of the first mainstream works of fiction centered on the Amish community and [[ShownTheirWork portrays it with great accuracy]]. It also uses Lancaster Amish, who are much more liberal than the rest of the congregations, allowing the film to be made in the first place.

1985 film directed by Creator/PeterWeir and starring Creator/HarrisonFord, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Also starring Kelly [=McGillis=], Lukas Haas and Creator/DannyGlover.

* HaveYouToldAnyoneElse: When Book finds out that the perpetrator of a recent cop murder is a narcotics detective, and upon further investigation realizes said detective was involved in the theft of confiscated drugs, he [[spoiler:goes to Police Chief Schaeffer and, upon telling everything he knows, is asked whether he has told anyone else. When Book says no, Schaeffer tells him to keep it quiet. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] by the fact that Book trusts Schaeffer and, as a police corruption case, it would make sense to keep as few officers in the loop as possible]].
* HeKnowsTooMuch: [[spoiler:Both Book and Carter end up as targets for the corrupt cops, who eventually murder Carter. Also, Samuel is a prime suspect of a drug-related murder, making a little boy another person they are willing to kill]].

* HiddenInPlainSight: Justified. [[spoiler:John tries to reach the top of the silo to get it open as a distraction, but can't move the hinge. Fergie, the corrupt cop after him looks up, but since the ladder is inside a narrow, dark tunnel without any lights, he fails a spot check, while looking directly at Book's feet]].

* OhCrap: John realizing [[spoiler:the Police Chief is part of the drug dealing circle and he reported the entire case directly to him to keep things secret]].

* PutDownYourGunAndStepAway: Done twice. First by [[spoiler:Schaeffer to Book when he has Rachel hostage, and later by the Amish to Schaeffer. Surprisingly it works, and Schaeffer is shamed into surrendering after realizing he can't actually kill Samuel]].

** It's an undercover cop getting shanked and not just random guy killed by two mafioso types.

-->'''John Book''': ..."whacking"?

** After spending a night in Eleine's house, Rachel has a talk with John about him and his sister, working almost like a mouthpiece and a mediator for Eleine. Eventually both Rachel and John ends up laughing about all the things she repeats to him.
** During the milking scene, Eli asks Book, who is having trouble with it, "Come on man, have you never held a teat before?" to which Book deadpans "Not one this big." You expect the dour Eli to get indignant at this fairly sexual quip, but after taking a second to realize what Book means, he instead gives a roar of laughter and claps him on the back in a "You're all right, kid" manner.[[note]]TruthInTelevision, Amishmen are farmers and don't mind this kind of sexual humor. At the funeral dinner, they're joshing around about a horse with one testicle, and Hochstetler says "one good ball, that's all it takes".[[/note]]

* SearchingTheStalls / IndyHatRoll: The bathroom scene that sets up the plot.

* {{Greed}}: The drug deal done by the dirty cops was worth 22 ''million'' dollars. Assuming it was a split for just three people, it really gives them a reason to be so vicious in keeping it secret.

** After spending a night in Eleine house, Rachel has a talk with John about him and his sister, working almost like a mouthpiece and a mediator for Eleine. Eventually both Rachel and John ends up laughing about all the things she repeats to him.
** During the milking scene, Eli asks Book, who is having trouble at it, "Come on man, have you never held a teat before?" to which Book deadpans "Not one this big." You expect the dour Eli to get indignant at this fairly sexual quip, but after taking a second to realize what Book means, he instead gives a roar of laughter and claps him on the back in a "You're all right, kid" manner.[[note]]TruthInTelevision, Amishmen are farmers and don't mind this kind of sexual humor. At the funeral dinner, they're joshing around about a horse with one testicle, and Hochstetler says "one good ball, that's all it takes".[[/note]]
* AdultFear: The film likes to slap a lot of it on you especially when concerning Samuel's well being.
** The most prominent being the Gun scene. You have Samuel who as an Amish person, let alone a child has never seen or knew how a handgun works. He sneaks into Book's room while he's in another room, still recovering from his own gunshot wound. Out of sheer curiosity he opens the drawer and takes Book's gun out. Book walking in and seeing Samuel, knowing the gun is loaded, yells at him not to move. You can tell by the tone of his voice, he's more worried that Samuel would get hurt rather than angry. Book gives Samuel a stern lecture about handling a loaded gun and even shows him how to properly disarm it. As if that wasn't bad enough Rachel walks in, not knowing the gun was unloaded, but still upset that her kid is handling a handgun. She justifiably chews Book out over it and rather than argue with her, he agrees and asks her to hide it in a safer place. Eli gets in on it too and gives a less stern, but reasonable lecture to Samuel on why it's not ok to use a gun and take human life.[[note]]The Amish use guns, but only for hunting. Any other use is a sin.[[/note]] You can even tell by his voice, that he's seen his fair share of violence and that he just doesn't want to see his own grandson get hurt or hurt anyone else too.
** [[spoiler: Later, Rachel and Eli are reduced to prayers about Samuel well-being as they don't know if he was killed or managed to escape from the corrupt cops. Eli is more than relieved when he notices Samuel hidden in the corridor of their own house, but before that he had a really hard time not to burst into tears, all while trying to put a face and keep Rachel calm]].

* AnAesop: The film depicts violence as never being the answer and depicts it unpleasantly and having negative consequences. As satisfying as it may be to the viewer, Book angrily punching the {{Jerkass}} tourist who was bullying Daniel is what allows Schaeffer to track him down. At the opposite end, the movie, by this same logic, avoids having Book kill [[spoiler: Schaeffer]] in favor of a nonviolent conclusion.
* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler: Police Chief Schaeffer remains calm, collected, cordial and keeps up a friendly attitude rather than trying to antagonise Book or Carter. He still is a mastermind behind massive drug deal, but remains much more humane than his underlings]].
* UsefulNotes/{{Amish}}: The film is notable for being one of the first mainstream works of fiction centered on Amish community and [[ShownTheirWork portrays it with great accuracy]]. It also uses Lancaster Amish, who are much more liberal than the rest of the congregations, allowing the film to be made in the first place.
* {{Arcadia}}: ZigZagged. While the life of Amish is portayed as peaceful, calm and with closely knit community that supports all members, it doesn't shy from also portaying all the hard work it takes to run a farm, especially the one with only basic tools, while also reminding about the concept of shunning.

* TheBadGuysAreCops: The reason Book has to hide among the Amish is because so many of his own fellow officers are corrupt drug dealers, [[spoiler: including his superior, Schaeffer]].

* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler: The ''entire Amish community'' shows up in the end]].

* BlackDudeDiesFirst: [[spoiler: Elton Carter, John's partner, gets murdered by the corrupt cops. This turns the entire case into [[ItsPersonal a very personal matter]] for Book]].
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Despite knowing the Lapp family and living in the Amish community for a few days, Book is able to blend in pretty well and adopt their mannerisms. The only times he slips up are when he threatens a lady or gets into a fight with some tourists that harass Daniel.

* CityMouse: Averted. Book very quickly adapts to life on an Amish farm. However, early on he has problems to simply wake up early enough to milk the cows, as he is not used to raising before sunrise.
* TheCityVsTheCountry: Naturally. The country wins on moral side, but the film avoid portaying it as {{Utopia}}.

** Averted with the [[spoiler: [[RedHerring actual gun]]]].

* CoolOldGuy: Eli Lapp, who despite his strict demeanor is suprisingly cheerful and joking, while also showing deep affection and concern to his family rather than being some sort of tyrant his initial behaviour toward Book might have indicate.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: [[spoiler: Death by grain silo drowning.]]
* CultureClash: [[CaptainObvious Duh]]. It's prominent especially early on, when the film is told from Sam's perspective - it's his first time outside Amish community. And he ends up witnessing a murder. The rest of the film heavily contrasts the relatively peaceful life of the Amish with the hectic, brutal and cynical modern world around them, instead making Book the person experiencing customs and things completely alien to him.
* DeadMansTriggerFinger: [[spoiler: [=McFee=] dies this way. Instead of trying to hit anyone, he simply falls heavily on the ground, while shooting the roof of the barn]].

* EvenEvilHasStandards: This is how the Amish win through nonviolence. They passively ''witness'' [[spoiler: Schaeffer]] doing evil, meaning he'd have to slaughter every man, woman and child in the village to keep his secret. He realizes that he cannot bring himself to go that far and gives up.
* FlorenceNightingaleEffect: [[spoiler: While taking care for badly wounded Book, Rachel starts developing feelings toward him. Besides, she's already grateful for him taking care for her and Samuel up until that point]].
* FriendToAllChildren: As much as callous he might appear, John actually does genuinely care about kids, both Samuel and his own nephews. Book is freaked when Sam almost started playing with his gun, hangs around with the boy and even builds him a wooden toy, utilising his carpentry skills.

* GoodIsNotSoft: While Amish are {{Actual Pacifist}}s, that doesn't mean they are naive and most certainly they are not stupid. Their true strenght lies in their strong, tighly-knit community.
* GratuitousGerman: The Amish often speak their "Pennsylvania German" to each other. It is very distinct from the European version, but still can be understood on basic level.

* HawaiianShirtedTourist: The type of tourists visiting Intercourse, "the most Amish town in the world". And the locals exploit both their naivety and nearby Amish communities for own gain.
* HaveYouToldAnyoneElse: When Book finds out that the perpetrator of a recent cop murder is a narcotics detective, and upon further investigation realizes said detective was involved in the theft of confiscated drugs, he [[spoiler: goes to Police Chief Schaeffer and, upon telling everything he knows, is asked whether he has told anyone else. When Book says no, Schaeffer tells him to keep it quiet. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] by the fact that Book trusts Schaeffer and, as a police corruption case, it would make sense to keep as few officers in the loop as possible]].
* HeKnowsTooMuch: [[spoiler: Both Book and Carter end up as targets for the corrupt cops, who eventually murder Carter. Also, Samuel is a prime suspect of a drug-related murder, making a little boy another person they are willing to kill]].
* HeroicBSOD: Book has a couple. Notably, this is the reason he finally hauls off and punches out the tourist picking on Daniel: he'd just learned [[spoiler: his partner Carter had been killed and the tourist picked then of all times to push Book's buttons]].
* HiddenInPlainSight: Justified. [[spoiler: John tries to reach the top of the silo to get it open as a distraction, but can't move the hinge. Fergie, the corrupt cop after him looks up, but since the ladder is inside a narrow, dark tunnel without any lights, he fails a spot check, while looking directly at Book's soles]].
* HomeSweetHome: Due to the events he went through, Samuel is traumatised with the modern world and big city life. The return to the farm makes the boy finally calm down and feeling secured.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: While being a self-righteous hot head with a deadpan attitude, John still does the best he can and know for people around him in a genuine effort to help and show gratitude.
* JustAFleshWound: {{Subverted}}. [[spoiler: Book is badly hit and only barely survives getting shot in the side by [=McFee=]]].

** Amish in general wear a very distinctive set of clothes and even when they change them, they change for almost identical set.
** John ends up wearing clothes of Jacob, Rachel's late husband. HilarityEnsues, since Jacob was apparently a head shorter than Book, making all his clothes looking as taken from younger brother, until Rachel starts to re-fit them.
* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: Justified. [[spoiler: In the thick of the fight John didn't notice [=McFee=] shot him in the side due to adrenaline rush. He patches the wound the best he can by himself and gets Rachel and Samuel to their farm. Since he's barely moving for the whole time, the blood loss doesn't affect him as quickly as it would normally]].
* MarriedToTheJob: Book. But unlike typical example of failed marriage or being a loner, he substitutes having a family on his own with being a regular guest for his sister and her kids, still playing the role of the overprotective older brother to her.
* MuggingTheMonster: A group of rednecks antagonise group of Amish for no particular reason [[JerkAss aside because]]. Book doesn't take it lightly, especially since [[spoiler: he just learned Carter was killed]], but first tries to find a peaceful solution. When it fails and the redneck in question keeps pushing, John breaks his nose with a single swing. Just because he dress like Amish, it doesn't make him one.

* OhCrap: John realising [[spoiler: Police Chief is part of the drug dealing circle and he raported the entire case directly to him to keep things secret]].

* OverlyNarrowSuperlative: Numerous Amish characters comment on how John "looks plain", as a way of complementing him. For them it means an actual praise, but it takes John a while to stop chuckling everytime someone tells him that.

* PowerOfTrust: John is more than aware how important it is to be able to trust people, especially after [[spoiler: Chief Schaeffer turns out to be part of the police drug deal]]. He trusts his partner and his sister and knows they won't fail. After ending up among Amish, he does his very best to gain their trust in different occasions. This ''greatly'' helps him, as the Amish don't antagonise him in any way nor pay it back on Rachel.
* PunchClockVillain: [[spoiler: [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Schaeffer]] [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes has a family]] and doesn't seem as vicious as his two overzealous henchmen]].
* PutDownYourGunAndStepAway: Done twice. First by [[spoiler: Schaeffer to Book when he has Rachel hostage, and later by the Amish to Schaeffer. Surprisingly it works, and Schaeffer is shamed into surrendering after realizing he can't actually kill Samuel]].

** [[spoiler: Without access to modern medicine and trained doctor, John spend two days to just ''regain consciousness'' after getting shot, barely scrapping through the heavy blood loss and fever. It takes another few days for him to get on his feet]].
** Revolvers hold max of 6 bullets and usually one chamber is left empty as a safety measure. After getting dry, both [[spoiler: Book and [=McFee=] can't shoot anymore and are forced to flee from each other]].
* RealityHasNoSubtitles: Not a single line is translated from the Pennsylvanian German. Most notable is the opening of the film, where it's more about the atmosphere of the situation than understanding the dialogues.

* RecklessGunUsage: Averted, if not outright defied. Out of pure curiosity, Samuel starts looking through John's things, including a revolver, when Book is not in the room. However, before he can even touch the gun, John shows up and stops him in the middle of move. Then he takes a long while to carefully explain the boy the dangers of handling a loaded weapon. He then tells Rachel and Eli about it, making it explicit to them it was his own fault and neglect, not Samuel's, all while being genuinely freaked by the sheer posibility of the boy handling the gun. Then Eli explains to Samuel why it's wrong to even touch a weapon. The entire sequence is handled with amazing grace, given the subject, and without any heavy-handed preaching, while also carefully explaining Amish pacifistic stance.
* RedHerring: [[spoiler: The revolver hidden in the kitchen and the importance of bullets being stored separately? They are never used in any way. Book doesn't even get a chance to run to the house for it and is forced to improvise instead]].

** [[spoiler: Paul Schaeffer was part of the scheme, a thing Book learns only when he's attacked by [=McFee=] and quickly makes a connection between the two]].
* [[RidiculouslyAverageGuy Ridiculously Average Surname]]: ''Third'' of all Lancaster Amish [[TruthInTelevision are called Lapp]].

* SecretlyDying: At least from [[spoiler: Rachel's perspective, since she didn't know Book was wounded]].

* ShowerScene: A variant, as the Amish don't use showers. But Rachel and Book share a sexually charged moment where she's finished bathing and lets him get a good look at her.

* StarCrossedLovers: Rachel and Book. Their relationship is pretty much doomed from the get-go. What's really important is how they are both aware about it. In fact Book does his best to stay away, as their relationship would put Rachel in danger of being shunned by other Amish, and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy that's the last thing he wants for her]].
* TakeAThirdOption: Part of the Amish reasoning for pacifism - locking world in us-vs-them logic is simply wrong and harmful. [[spoiler: Even if John wasn't present when Eli lectured Sam about it, he still uses a variation of the same logic to talk Schaeffer into surrendering]].
* TotallyRadical: PlayedForLaughs. Rachel can't find a proper word to describe Book's aggressive behaviour early on, ultimately settling for...

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: The trailer itself tells only the basic premise of the film, but it uses the scene from the very end, [[spoiler: showing three dirty cops walking, armed, toward Amish farm]]. While it makes the trailer suspensful due to the way how its edited, it definitely spoils [[spoiler: the sole fact John will be found, which isn't that obvious till it happens in the film]].
* TranslationConvention: When Eli is explaining to Samuel all the complicated matters of taking life and staying away from weapons, he makes a quote from The Bible. Said quote is from King James' version, which Amish rarely use, but was much more accessable to Anglophone audiences.
* TwoDecadesBehind: Forensic facial composition was a thing since early 70s. Instead of even trying to make one, which would greatly speed up search for the killer, Samuel is put in front of album full of mugshots to pick the murderer.
* {{Unperson}}: Being shunned means no member of the Amish community can share a meal or even talk to shunned person, basically making them an outcast for the entire congregation.
* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: Subverted. John always makes the ''important'' details explicit to his different allies, but in the same time keeps enough things secret to make it possible for everyone to pledge a honest PlausibleDeniability in case of interrogation of any sort and make their own actions so much efficient.
** [[spoiler: He tell his sister what she's supposed to tell in case of being asked, but doesn't explain much more, so she can't give away anything]].
** [[spoiler: Carter is told to get rid of the files of the case, but John doesn't tell him what he plans to do or where he's heading]].
** [[spoiler: Rachel is explained why he can't see a doctor due to his gunshot wound, which in turn makes it much easier for her to explain it to her father and the elders of their community]].
* ViewersAreMorons: The card reading "Pennsylvania, 1984" was added on executive demand in the opening scene, ruining otherwise neat setup implying for a while the film being set in an unspecified past.
* WouldHurtAChild: {{Played with}} and subverted. [[spoiler: Schaeffer initially]] seems hellbent on killing Samuel for witnessing the murder but he finds himself unable to actually do it when the time comes, and is shamed into giving up.

* YouCanBarelyStand: [[spoiler: John took a bullet in his side. While he still drove from Philly to the Lapp farm in Lancaster county, ''it almost killed him'']].

1985 film directed by Peter Weir and starring Creator/HarrisonFord, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Also starring Kelly [=McGillis=], Lukas Haas and Creator/DannyGlover.

* GenreSavvy: While Eli doesn't like violence, when [[spoiler: he spots [=McFee=] and the other two corrupt cops, the first thing he does is call Book for help. He gets knocked out right after]].

* ScaryBlackMan: [=McFee=], especially when shown from Samuel perspective.

* InsistentTerminology: Amish call all the outsiders "English". Daniel even jokingly explains to John it doesn't make much difference if they are Yanks or English - they are simply not Amish.

** The most prominent being the Gun scene. You have Samuel who as an Amish person, let alone a child has never seen or knew how a handgun works. He sneaks into Book's room while he's in another room, still recovering from his own gunshot wound. Out of sheer curiosity he opens the drawer and takes Book's gun out. Book walking in and seeing Samuel, knowing the gun is loaded, yells at him not to move. You can tell by the tone of his voice, he's more worried that Samuel would get hurt rather than angry. Book gives Samuel a stern lecture about handling a loaded gun and even shows him how to properly disarm it. As if that wasn't bad enough Rachel walks in, not knowing the gun was unloaded, but still upset that her kid is handling a handgun. She justifiably chews Book out over it and rather than argue with her, he agrees and asks her to hide it in a safer place. Eli gets in on it too and gives a less stern, but reasonable lecture to Samuel on why it's not ok to use a gun and take human life.[[note]]The Amish use guns, but only for hunting. Any other use is a sin.[[/note]] You can even tell by his voice, that he's seen his fair share of violence and that he just doesn't want to see his own Grandson get hurt or hurt anyone else too.

* AffableEvil: [[spoiler: Police Chief Schaeffer remains calm, collected, cordial and keeps up a friendly attitude rather than trying to antagonise Book or Carter. He still is a mastermind behind massive drug deal, but remains much more humane than his underlings]].

* GenreSavvy: While Eli doesn't like violence, when he spots [=McFee=] and the other two corrupt cops, the first thing he does is call Book for help. He gets knocked out right after.

* HawaiianShirtedTourist: The type of tourists visiting Intercourse. And the locals exploit both their naivety and nearby Amish communities for own gain.
* HaveYouToldAnyoneElse: When Book finds out that the perpetrator of a recent cop murder is a narcotics detective, and upon further investigation realizes said detective was involved in the theft of confiscated drugs, [[spoiler: he goes to Police Chief Schaeffer and, upon telling everything he knows, is asked whether he has told anyone else. When Book says no, Schaeffer tells him to keep it quiet. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] by the fact that Book trusts Schaeffer and, as a police corruption case, it would make sense to keep as few officers in the loop as possible]].
* HeKnowsTooMuch: [[spoiler: Both Book and Carter end up as targets for the corrupt cops, which eventually get Carter killed. Also, Samuel is a prime suspect of a murder, making a little boy another person they are willing to kill]].

* HiddenInPlainSight: Justified. [[spoiler: John tries to reach the top of the silo to get it open as a distraction, but can't move the hinge. Fergie, the corrupt cop after him looks up, but since the ladder is inside a narrow, dark tunnel without any lights, he fails a spot check, while looking directly at Book's soles.

* MarriedToTheJob: Book. But unlike typical example of failed marriage or being a loner, he substitutes having a family on his own with being a regular guest for her sister and her kids, still playing the role of the overprotective older brother to her.
* MuggingTheMonster: A group of rednecks antagonise group of Amish for no particular reason [[JerkAss aside because]]. Book doesn't take it lightly, especially since [[spoiler: he just learned Carter was killed]], but first tries to find a peaceful solution. When it fails and the redneck in question keeps pushing, John breaks his nose with a single swing. Just because he dress like Amish, doesn't make him one.

* RecklessGunUsage: Averted, if not outright defied. Out of pure curiosity, Samuel starts looking through John's things, including a revolver, when Book is not in the room. However, before he can even touch the gun, John shows up and stops him in the middle of move. Then he takes a long while to carefully explain the boy the dangers of handling a loaded weapon. He then tells Rachel and Eli about it, making it explicit to them it was his own fault and neglect, not Samuel's, all while being genuinely freaked by the sheer posibility of the boy handling the gun. Then Eli, the boy's grandfather, explains to him why it's wrong to even touch a weapon. The entire sequence is handled with amazing grace, given the subject, and without any heavy-handed preaching, while also carefully explaining Amish pacifistic stance.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: During the milking scene, Eli asks Book, who is having trouble at it, "Come on man, have you never held a teat before?" to which Book deadpans "Not one this big." You expect the dour Eli to get indignant at this fairly sexual quip, but after taking a second to realize what Book means, he instead gives a roar of laughter and claps him on the back in a "You're all right, kid" manner.[[note]]TruthInTelevision, Amishmen are farmers and don't mind this kind of sexual humor. At the funeral dinner, they're joshing around about a horse with one testicle, and Hochstetler says "one good ball, that's all it takes".[[/note]]
* AdultFear: The film likes to slap a lot of it on you especially when concerning Samuel's well being. The most prominent being the Gun scene. You have Samuel who as an Amish person, let alone a child has never seen or knew how a handgun works. He sneaks into Book's room while he's in another room, still recovering from his own gunshot wound. Out of sheer curiosity he opens the drawer and takes Book's gun out. Book walking in and seeing Samuel, knowing the gun is loaded, yells at him not to move. You can tell by the tone of his voice, he's more worried that Samuel would get hurt rather than angry. Book gives Samuel a stern lecture about handling a loaded gun and even shows him how to properly disarm it. As if that wasn't bad enough Rachel walks in, not knowing the gun was unloaded, but still upset that her kid is handling a handgun. She justifiably chews Book out over it and rather than argue with her, he agrees and asks her to hide it in a safer place. Eli gets in on it too and gives a less stern, but reasonable lecture to Samuel on why it's not ok to use a gun and take human life.[[note]]The Amish use guns, but only for hunting. Any other use is a sin.[[/note]] You can even tell by his voice, that he's seen his fair share of violence and that he just doesn't want to see his own Grandson get hurt or hurt anyone else too.

* AnAesop: The film depicts violence as never being the answer and depicts it unpleasantly and having negative consequences. As satisfying as it may be to the viewer, Book angrily punching the {{Jerkass}} tourist who was bullying Daniel is what allows Schaeffer to track him down. At the opposite end, the movie, by this same logic, avoids having Book kill Schaeffer in favor of a nonviolent conclusion.
* {{Amish}}
* TheBadGuysAreCops: The reason Book has to hide among the Amish is because so many of his own fellow officers are corrupt drug dealers, including his superior, Schaeffer.

* BigDamnHeroes: The Amish.
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Despite knowing the Lapp family and living in the Amish Community for a few days, Book is able to blend in pretty well and adopt their mannerisms. The only times he slips up are when he threatens a lady or gets into a fight with some tourists that harass Daniel.
* ButNowIMustGo: Book, at the end.

* ChekhovsGun: The grain silo.
* CoolOldGuy: Eli Lapp.

* DoggedNiceGuy: Daniel. Apart from a pointed question about when Book is going to leave, he doesn't create any problems re him and Rachel. Justified in that his patient courting is implied to win out in the end when Book leaves.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: This is how the Amish win through nonviolence. They passively ''witness'' [=Schaeffer=] doing evil, meaning he'd have to slaughter every man, woman and child in the village to keep his secret. He realizes that he cannot bring himself to go that far and gives up.

* GratuitousGerman: The Amish often speak their "Pennsylvania German" to each other. It is very distinct from the European version.
* HaveYouToldAnyoneElse: When Book finds out that the perpetrator of a recent cop murder is a narcotics detective, and upon further investigation realizes said detective was involved in the theft of confiscated drugs, he goes to Police Chief Schaeffer and, upon telling everything he knows, is asked whether he has told anyone else. When Book says no, Schaeffer tells him to keep it quiet. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] by the fact that Book trusts Schaeffer and, as a police corruption case, it would make sense to keep as few officers in the loop as possible.
* HeKnowsTooMuch
* HeroicBSOD: Book has a couple. Notably, this is the reason he finally hauls off and punches out the tourist picking on Daniel: he'd just learned his partner Carter had been killed and the tourist picked then of all times to push Book's buttons.
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Book's reason for leaving. He knows Daniel will make a better husband for Rachel and father for Samuel.

* JustAFleshWound: {{Subverted}}. Book is badly hit and only barely survives getting shot in the stomach by [=McFee=].
* MuggingTheMonster: The jerkass tourist who decides to pick on Book, thinking he is just another peaceful Amish man. Cue LaserGuidedKarma.

* PunchClockVillain: [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Schaeffer]] [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes has a family]] and doesn't seem as vicious as his two overzealous henchmen.
* PutDownYourGunAndStepAway: Done twice. First by Schaeffer to Book when he has Rachel hostage, and later by the Amish to Schaeffer. Surprisingly it works, and Schaeffer is shamed into surrendering after realizing he can't actually kill Samuel.

* ScaryBlackMan: [=McFee=].

* StarCrossedLovers: Rachel and Book. Their relationship is pretty much doomed from the get-go.
* WouldHurtAChild: {{Played with}} and subverted. Schaeffer initially seems hellbent on killing Samuel for witnessing the murder but he finds himself unable to actually do it when the time comes, and is shamed into giving up.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: During the milking scene, Eli asks Book, who is having trouble at it, "Come on man, have you never held a teat before?" to which Book deadpans "Not one this big." You expect the dour Eli to get indignant at this fairly sexual quip, but after taking a second to realize what Book means, he instead gives a roar of laughter and claps him on the back in a "You're all right, kid" manner.
* AdultFear: The film likes to slap a lot of it on you especially when concerning Samuel's well being. The most prominent being the Gun scene. You have Samuel who as an Amish person, let alone a child has never seen or knew how a handgun works. He sneaks into Book's room while he's in another room, still recovering from his own gunshot wound. Out of sheer curiosity he opens the drawer and takes Book's gun out. Book walking in and seeing Samuel, knowing the gun is loaded, yells at him not to move. You can tell by the tone of his voice, he's more worried that Samuel would get hurt rather than angry. Book gives Samuel a stern lecture about handling a loaded gun and even shows him how to properly disarm it. As if that wasn't bad enough Rachel walks in, not knowing the gun was unloaded, but still upset that her kid is handling a handgun. She justifiably chews Book out over it and rather than argue with her, he agrees and asks her to hide it in a safer place. Eli gets in on it too and gives a less stern, but reasonable lecture to Samuel on why it's not ok to use a gun and take human life. You can even tell by his voice, that he's seen his fair share of violence and that he just doesn't want to see his own Grandson get hurt or hurt anyone else too.
* ActualPacifist: Naturally. Though in a very humanizing moment, that doesn't mean Daniel can't enjoy the sight of some jerks who were harrassing him getting their asses kicked.

* TheCastShowOff: Creator/HarrisonFord is a skilled carpenter in real life, and demonstrates carpentry skills several times in the film.

* HaveYouToldAnyoneElse: When Book finds out that the perpetrator of a recent cop murder is a narcotics detective, and upon further investigation realizes said detective was involved in the theft of confiscated drugs, he goes to Police Chief Schaeffer and, upon telling everything he knows, is asked whether he has told anyone else. When Book says no, Schaeffer tells him to keep it quiet. Justified by the fact that Book trusts Schaeffer and, as a police corruption case, it would make sense to keep as few officers in the loop as possible.

* JustAFleshWound: Subverted. Book is badly hit and only barely survives getting shot in the stomach by [=McFee=].
* MuggingTheMonster: The jerkass tourist who decides to pick on Book, thinking he is just another peaceful Amish. Cue LaserGuidedKarma.

* WouldHurtAChild: Played with and subverted. Schaeffer initially seems hellbent on killing Samuel for witnessing the murder but he finds himself unable to actually do it when the time comes, and is shamed into giving up.

* BlondeGuysAreEvil: Fergie.

* BarnRaising: Probably the film's most famous scene.

Samuel Lapp is a young Amish boy journeying to Baltimore to visit an aunt with his mother, the recently widowed Rachel Lapp. Samuel is the witness when two men kill an undercover officer in a Philadelphia train station bathroom. Detective John Book takes the boy into custody to protect him when it turns out that the killers are crooked narcotics cops. After a shootout, Book is wounded and hides with the Lapps on their farm, and ends up developing a relationship with Rachel as he recovers, adapting to the Amish lifestyle and being tentatively accepted by the community. But their idyllic lifestyle is soon shattered once the villains figure out where they went and descend upon the unsuspecting Amish town with their guns.

* MuggingTheMonster:. The jerkass tourist who decides to pick on Book, thinking he is just another peaceful Amish. Cue LaserGuidedKarma.