The Fury (1978)

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.

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writers:

John Farris (screenplay), John Farris (novel)

Stars:

Kirk Douglas, John Cassavetes, Carrie Snodgress

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

A secret US agency behind the unscrupulous Childres gathers children with parapsychologic abilities and trains them to become killers in war situations. To rescue his son, who was officially declared dead after an arranged accident, the ex-CIA agent Peter investigates against Childres.

---

Plot Keywords:

psychic | kidnapping | experiment | shopping mall | levitation | 

---

Taglines:

An experience in terror and suspense.

---

Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

La furia

Filming Locations:

1500 block of North Astor Street, Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Frank Yablans Presentations, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The acronym for the secret government agency MORG stands for the Multiphasic Operations Research Group.

---

Goofs

Andrew Stevens is using his "powers" on a Tilt-O-Whirl ride. In a close up view, of the top of the ride, all of the neon bulbs burst. When they show a full view of the ride, the bulbs are shining brightly.

---

Quotes

Peter Sandza: I killed her. I knew I would, the first time I said "Hello".

---

Connections

Referenced in Scanners (1981)

User Reviews

One of De Palma's most underrated movies!

'The Fury' is a very interesting mixture of science fiction, horror, action, and espionage thriller. One of Brian De Palma's most underrated movies, it isn't without some flaws, but overall I enjoyed it much more than some of his most recent disappointing efforts like 'Snake Eyes' and 'Mission To Mars'. They might be much better known than 'The Fury' but they are not better movies. The plot is a bit convoluted at times, and maybe a little TOO ambitious, but there are several classic sequences that make this a must see for any De Palma fan. The whole thing comes across like a cross between 'Carrie' (De Palma's previous movie), and Cronenberg's 'Scanners', a movie it predated by three years, interestingly enough. Amy Irving, who also appeared in 'Carrie', is beautiful and believable as Gillian, a troubled teen attempting to understand and control her frightening paranormal powers. Veteran Kirk Douglas ('Spartacus', 'Saturn 3') and cult director/actor John Cassavetes ('Rosemary's Baby', 'The Killers') are both solid as friends-turned-enemies who once worked for the same nameless Government agency. Douglas' psychic son Robin (Andrew Stevens) is kidnapped by Cassavetes and his cronies and experimented on until he reaches the brink of madness. Douglas desperately searches for him by any means necessary, a quest which inevitably means he encounters the traumatized Gillian, who has an increasing psychic link with Robin. Irving and Douglas are both excellent in this movie, Cassavetes plays a fantastic villain, and the supporting cast includes Carrie Snodgress ('Diary Of A Mad Housewife'), Charles Durning ('O Brother, Where Art Thou?'), Fiona Lewis ('Drum'), and cameos from Daryl Hannah ('Bladerunner'), De Palma semi-regular William Finley ('The Phantom Of The Paradise') and a noticeably younger and thinner Dennis Franz (NYPD Blue'). While I couldn't argue that 'The Fury' is De Palma's best work it has aged very well indeed and is recommended viewing. This is one movie that deserves to be re-evaluated!