The Hand (1981)

Jon Lansdale is a comic book artist who loses his right hand in a car accident. The hand was not found at the scene of the accident, but it soon returns by itself to follow Jon around, and ... See full summary »

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers:

Marc Brandell (novel), Oliver Stone (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Caine, Andrea Marcovicci, Annie McEnroe

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Caine	...	Jonathan Lansdale
Andrea Marcovicci	...	Anne Lansdale
Annie McEnroe	...	Stella Roche
Bruce McGill	...	Brian Ferguson
Viveca Lindfors	...	Doctress
Rosemary Murphy	...	Karen Wagner
Mara Hobel	...	Lizzie Lansdale
Pat Corley	...	Sheriff
Nicholas Hormann	...	Bill Richamn
Ed Marshall	...	Doctor
Charles Fleischer	...	David Maddow
John Stinson	...	Therapist
Richard Altman	...	Hammond
Sparky Watt	...	Sergeant
Tracey Walter	...	Cop

Storyline

Jon Lansdale is a comic book artist who loses his right hand in a car accident. The hand was not found at the scene of the accident, but it soon returns by itself to follow Jon around, and murder those who anger him.

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Plot Keywords:

hand | accident | comics | comic book artist | murder | 

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Taglines:

It lives. It crawls. And suddenly, it kills.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

La mano

Filming Locations:

Hidden Valley, Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 6,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures Corporation, Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Oliver Stone initially wanted Jon Voight to play the lead role, but was turned down by him. Christopher Walken and Dustin Hoffman also declined the role.

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Goofs

The Christmas carol "Deck The Halls" is heard on the soundtrack but the skipping record shown on the turntable is 'Fight Dirty' by the British pop band Charlie.

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Quotes

Stella: I'm kind of old-fashioned. I like to make it in bed, okay?

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Connections

Edited into Cent une tueries de zombies (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Union City Blue"
Performed by Blondie

User Reviews

Stone tries his 'hand' at horror

An early Oliver Stone directed film. The Hand does well with atmospheric settings, an essential part of any horror story. There's the beautiful country lakeside home, a New York loft and a rain drenched Northern California town.

The horror level won't blow you out of the room however. It's more of a story of dark, suspicious moods and egos presented with intelligent scripted dialogue by a first rate cast. Mara Hobel, playing the young daughter, even does well with little furtive glances, dead pan stares and pert smiles.

A master touch is the final scene between a thoroughly exhausted and shattered Caine and the Viveca Lindfors 'there are no such things as ghosts' psychiatrist. The final freeze frame of Caine rising up with a look of gloating madness is brilliant.