The Fury (1978)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writers:

John Farris (novel)
John Farris (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 March 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

An experience in terror and suspense.

Plot:

A government agent is determined to come to his son's rescue, when a sinister official kidnaps him to harbor his extremely powerful psychic abilities.

Plot Keywords:

Psychic | Experiment | Gothic | Severed Head | Chicago

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Kirk Douglas	...	Peter Sandza
John Cassavetes	...	Ben Childress
Carrie Snodgress	...	Hester
Charles Durning	...	Dr. Jim McKeever
Amy Irving	...	Gillian Bellaver
Fiona Lewis	...	Dr. Susan Charles
Andrew Stevens	...	Robin Sandza
Carol Eve Rossen	...	Dr. Ellen Lindstrom (as Carol Rossen)
Rutanya Alda	...	Kristen
Joyce Easton	...	Katharine Bellaver
William Finley	...	Raymond Dunwoodie
Jane Lambert	...	Vivian Nuckells
Sam Laws	...	Blackfish
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Robertson
Alice Nunn	...	Mrs. Callahan

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 (re-rating) (1978) (cut) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Argentina:13 (re-rating) (1985) (uncut) | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Brazil:16 | Sweden:15 | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Astor Street, Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Frank Yablans Presentations

Trivia:

The amusement park scenes were filmed inside Old Chicago, the world's first indoor theme park and shopping mall. Built in 1975, closed in 1980, and finally razed in 1986, it was located in Bolingbrook, a southwest suburb of Chicago, IL.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As Peter Sandza descends in an elevator to meet Hester, in the shot inside the elevator a camouflaged cameraman is reflected in the metallic railings between each floor.

Quotes:

Peter Sandza: Hester, look at me. I'm proof - proof that my son is alive or else why would Childress be so anxious to put me away?... Well, thank God I'm somewhere.

Movie Connections:

References Rear Window (1954)

Grand Guignol shocker with explosive climax!

THE FURY

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Sound format: Mono

An ex-government agent (Kirk Douglas) enlists the help of a gifted psychic (Amy Irving) in the search for his equally gifted son (Andrew Stevens), who has been kidnapped by a sinister cartel for nefarious purposes.

Dismissed at the time of its release as a mishmash of themes and genres, Brian De Palma's dazzling thriller encompasses Middle Eastern terrorism, government conspiracies, psychic horror, and a series of Grand Guignol set-pieces, orchestrated with pulp grandeur by a director flexing his creative muscles. Highlighted by John Williams' magnificent score (a genuinely eerie composition, one of the best of his career), the film builds slowly and surely to an explosive climax which closes proceedings on a note of absolute screaming hysteria (celebrated and vilified in equal measure by fans and critics alike!). The supporting cast includes John Cassavetes, Charles Durning and Carrie Snodgress, all of whom add gravitas to the material. Look fast for Daryl Hannah in an early pre-stardom role.