Effects (1980)

Director:

Dusty Nelson

Writers:

William H. Mooney (novel)
Dusty Nelson (screenplay)

Release Date:

June 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Making movies can be MURDER!

Plot:

Some crew members of a company shooting a horror film begin to suspect that the "killings" in the movie are real, and that they are actually making a "snuff" film.

Plot Keywords:

Crew | Director | Snuff Film | Film Crew | Casting

Cast

Joseph Pilato	...	Dominic (as Joseph F. Pilato)
Susan Chapek	...	Celeste
John Harrison	...	Lacey Bickel
Bernard McKenna	...	Barney
Debra Gordon	...	Rita / Mona
Tom Savini	...	Nicky
Charles Hoyes	...	Lobo (as Chuck Hoyes)
Blay Bahnsen	...	Scratch (as Blay Bahnson)
Joe Wittkofski	...	TV Director
John Sutton	...	TV Sound Man
Dave Balko	...	TV Video Man (as Dave Belko)
Jackie Lahane	...	Murdered Girl (as Jackie Lehane)
Cindy Sebastian	...	Dancer
Bobbi Van Eman	...	Campfire Extra
Duke Snyder	...	Campfire Extra
Kim Snyder	...	Campfire Extra
Doug Harrison	...	Bar Extra
Dave Andrews	...	Bar Extra
Ramona Zini	...	Bar Extra
Marty Schiff	...	Bar Extra (as Martin Schiff)
Nancy Allen	...	Bar Extra
Tom Turich	...	Bar Extra

Directed by
Dusty Nelson

Writing credits
William H. Mooney		(novel "Snuff")
Dusty Nelson		(screenplay)

Produced by
Pasquale Buba	....	producer
John Harrison	....	executive producer (as John S. Harrison Jr.)

Original Music by
John Harrison

Cinematography by
Carl Augenstein		(as Carl E. Augenstein)
Toni Semple		(as Toni Semple-Nelson)

Film Editing by
Pasquale Buba

Art Direction by
Ellen Hopkins

Makeup Department
Nancy Allen	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Barbara Lifsher	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Zilla Clinton	....	associate director

Sound Department
Pasquale Buba	....	sound (as Pat Buba)
Nicholas Mastandrea	....	sound (as Nick Mastandrea)

Special Effects by
Tony Panatella	....	explosions
Tom Savini	....	special effects
Regis Survinski	....	explosions (as Rege Survinsky)

Camera and Electrical Department
Norris Brock	....	second assistant camera
Richard Golomb	....	still photographer
Susan Lewis	....	still photographer
Ken Nagin	....	grip

Editorial Department
David Andrews	....	assistant editor
Toni Semple	....	assistant editor (as Toni Semple-Nelson)
David Block	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Leland Balber	....	composer: additional music (as Lee Balber)
Ron 'Byrd' Foster	....	composer: additional music
Ron 'Byrd' Foster	....	musician: drums
John Harrison	....	musician: bass guitar
John Sutton	....	music producer
Kenny Blake	....	musician: saxophone (uncredited)
Michelle DiBucci	....	singer (uncredited)
Jim Emminger	....	musician: saxophone (uncredited)
Doug Harrison	....	musician (uncredited)
Robbie Klein	....	musician (uncredited)
Malcolm Lukens	....	musician: keyboards (uncredited)
Jim McMillan	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Henry Reid	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Other crew
Merle Buckler	....	production services
Leslie Chapman	....	production assistant
Bob Earl	....	equipment
Alan Lefkowitz	....	production services

Thanks
John Bartell	....	special thanks
John Butler	....	special thanks
Terry Carson	....	special thanks
Gary Critchlow	....	special thanks
Peter Finberg	....	special thanks
Don Garvin	....	special thanks
Michael Gornick	....	special thanks
Grant Haught	....	special thanks
Rob Klein	....	special thanks
Lee Knepshield	....	special thanks
Larry Koltys	....	special thanks
Tom Morante	....	special thanks
Jeff Morford	....	special thanks
Jack Napor	....	special thanks
George A. Romero	....	special thanks (as George Romero)
Richard P. Rubinstein	....	special thanks (as Richard Rubenstein)
Kid Smoker	....	special thanks
John B. Sutton Jr.	....	special thanks
Ed Wurm	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Image Works
• International Harmony

Distributors

• Synapse Films (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• International Harmony (1980) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Screen Time Images  film restoration

Also Known As:

"The Manipulator" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ligonier, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Image Works

Trivia:

During the scene being filmed in the kitchen, the clapboard that is briefly seen has "Bududa" listed as the production company. This was the actual production company of this film's producers and director, Dusty Nelson, John Harrison and Pasquale Buba.

Quotes:

Dom:[after snorting cocaine] It's funny to have your nose cold.

Movie Connections:

References The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Soundtrack:

RADIO JINGLES

This should have stayed lost

Being a fan of Tom Savini, I was excited to see this old film of his that he did the effects for. Now, think of this: Tom Savini, Joe Pilato (Rhodes from Day of the Dead) John Harrison (the composer of Romero films like Creepshow and Day of the Dead) in a movie about a making of a snuff film! Sounds like good ol' 70's exploitation horror, right? As Arnold said in Terminator "Wrong!" This boring suspense drama is about...well, not too sure since there was no plot. But something about a crazy director who secretly video tapes his cast and crew have sex, snort cocaine, talk about George Taki's sex life, and then tries to kill his cinematographer for no reason. Tom Savini is funny as a scumbag stunt man who loves his women (basically Tom just played himself). But there is no blood or gore, there is nothing scary about the film, and the editing is really poor. I would rather see midgets shoot their little people pee all over a bag of Dorito's for 90 min. Now that would be an effect! I would rather see mentally challenged people drool all over bare breasts for 90 min. That would be an effect! Watching Joe Pilato mope around and fall in love with a female gaffer on some cheap movie is not an effect! Effect rhymes with erect.