Of Unknown Origin (1983)

Director:

George P. Cosmatos

Writers:

Chauncey G. Parker III (novel)
Brian Taggert (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 November 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

The terrifying last word in home invasion from the director of "Tombstone" and "Cobra."

Plot:

A man who recently completed rebuilding a townhouse becomes obsessed with a rat infestation until it becomes an interspecies duel.

Plot Keywords:

Rat | New York | House | Psychological Drama | Giant Rat

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Peter Weller	...	Bart Hughes
Jennifer Dale	...	Lorrie Wells
Lawrence Dane	...	Eliot Riverton
Kenneth Welsh	...	James Hall
Louis Del Grande	...	Clete
Shannon Tweed	...	Meg Hughes
Keith Knight	...	Hardware salesman
Maury Chaykin	...	Dan Errol
Leif Anderson	...	Peter Hughes
Jimmy Tapp	...	Meg's father
Gayle Garfinkle	...	Janis Wycoff
Earl Pennington	...	Mr. Thompson
Jacklin Webb	...	Newspaper Vendor
Bronwen Mantel	...	Florence Riverton
Monik Nantel	...	Secretary

Runtime:

Sweden:89 min | USA:88 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Quotes:

Bart Hughes: You never said anything about rubber gloves, you boneheaded fart.

Movie Connections:

Features The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

Unusual Thriller with a sharp performance by Weller.

Wall Street Executive Burt Hughes (Peter Weller) recently bought a sleek Mathattan brown house for his family and thinking that he is the king of his household. Suddenly his castle is under siege by a huge female rat. Bart takes a stand against the rat, after Bart accidentally killed the rat's babies.

Directed by George P. Cosmatos (Rambo:First Blood Part 2, Cobra, Tombstone) made a clever, technically well made thriller that has it shares of unintentional humor. The film has become a Cult Classic over the years, it is obviously One of the Best Rats films ever made. Weller is surprisingly convincing as the Wall Street Executive going though a nervous breakdown. The film takes place in New York City but it was actually filmed in Montréal. Actor:Weller and Director:Cosmatos work together again in the underrated but familiar science-fiction/horror/thriller "Leviathan".

DVD has an clean anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and an good-Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono Sound. The DVD does feature an entertaining commentary track by the actor:Weller and Director:Cosmatos. Although you can tell, they were not in the same recording session during the commentary but they put the highlights comments by Weller and Cosmatos. DVD also has the original theatrical trailer. This is Based on a Book by Chauncey G. Parker the Third, the book is titled "The Visitor". Screenplay by Brian Taggert (Poltergiest 3). Executive Produced by Pierre David (The Scanner Series). (****/*****).