Repo Man (1984)

Director:

Alex Cox

Writer:

Alex Cox (written by)

Release Date:

2 March 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A repo man is always intense... but only a fool gets killed for a car.

Plot:

Young punk Otto becomes a repo man after helping to steal a car, and stumbles into a world of wackiness as a result.

Plot Keywords:

Repossession | Punk | UFO | Punk Rocker | Police

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Harry Dean Stanton	...	Bud
Emilio Estevez	...	Otto
Tracey Walter	...	Miller
Olivia Barash	...	Leila
Sy Richardson	...	Lite
Susan Barnes	...	Agent Rogersz
Fox Harris	...	J. Frank Parnell
Tom Finnegan	...	Oly
Del Zamora	...	Lagarto
Eddie Velez	...	Napo
Zander Schloss	...	Kevin
Jennifer Balgobin	...	Debbi
Dick Rude	...	Duke
Miguel Sandoval	...	Archie (as Michael Sandoval)
Vonetta McGee	...	Marlene
Richard Foronjy	...	Plettschner
Bruce White	...	Reverend Larry
Biff Yeager	...	Agent B
Ed Pansullo	...	Agent E
Steve Mattson	...	Agent S
Thomas R. Boyd	...	Agent T (as Thomas Boyd)
Charles Hopkins	...	Mr. Humphries
Helen Martin	...	Mrs. Parks
Jon St. Elwood	...	Miner
Kelitta Kelly	...	Delilah
Varnum Honey	...	Motorcycle Cop
Sue Kiel	...	Ms. Magruder
David Chung	...	Sheriff
Cynthia Szigeti	...	U.F.O. Lady
Dorothy Bartlett	...	English Dustbin Lady
Jonathon Hugger	...	Otto Dad
Sharon Gregg	...	Otto Mom
Dale Reynolds	...	Peason
Jac McAnelly	...	Pakman (as Jac MacAnelly)
Shep Wickham	...	Additional Blond Agent
Gregg Taylor	...	Additional Blond Agent
Jon Fondy	...	Additional Blond Agent
Keith Miley	...	Additional Blond Agent
Michael Bennett	...	Additional Blond Agent
Brad Jamieson	...	Additional Blond Agent
Jimmy Buffett	...	Additional Blond Agent
Janet Chan	...	Repo Wife #1
Angelique Pettyjohn	...	Repo Wife #2
Logan Carter	...	Repo Wife #3
Laura Sorrenson	...	Repo Wife #4
George Sawaya	...	First Repo Victim
Connie Ponce	...	Repo Victim's Wife
Bob Ellis	...	Soda Jerk (as Bobby Ellis)
Quentin Gutierrez	...	Tow Truck Driver
Richard Surukawa	...	Liquor Store Clerk #1
'Earthquake' Hesson	...	Liquor Store Clerk #2
Keith Morris	...	Nightclub Band Member (as The Circle Jerks)
Greg Hetson	...	Nightclub Band Member (as The Circle Jerks)
Chuck Biscuits	...	Nightclub Band Member (as The Circle Jerks)
Earl Liberty	...	Nightclub Band Member (as The Circle Jerks)
Clyde Grimes	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Chuck Askerneese	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Kevin Long	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Jerry Miller	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Rob Lampron	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Josh Harris	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Herman Askerneese	...	Scooter Guys Member (as The Untouchables)
Kim Williams	...	Laundry Person
Michele Person	...	Laundry Person
Wally Cronin	...	Doctor
Monona Wali	...	Nurse
Delores Delux	...	Nurse (as Delores Deluxe)
Cosmo Mata	...	Bouncer
Rodney Bingenheimer	...	Club Owner (as Rodney Bengenheimer)
Jorge Martínez	...	Tennis Player (as Jorge Martinez)
Melanie Schloss	...	Tennis Player
Nancy Richardson	...	Tennis Player
Con Covert	...	Harry Pace
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luis Contreras	...	Mr. Humphries' Security Guard (uncredited)
Alex Cox	...	Carwash Attendant (uncredited)
Todd Darling	...	(uncredited)
Linda Jensen	...	(uncredited)
Tom Musca	...	(uncredited)
Terry Schwartz	...	(uncredited)
Peter Wacks	...	(uncredited)
Abbe Wool	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Alex Cox

Writing credits
Alex Cox		(written by)

Produced by
Peter McCarthy	....	producer
Michael Nesmith	....	executive producer
Gerald T. Olson	....	associate producer (as Gerald Olson)
Jonathan Wacks	....	producer

Original Music by
Steven Hufsteter
Tito Larriva		(as Humberto Larriva)

Cinematography by
Robby Müller		(director of photography) (as Robby Muller)

Film Editing by
Dennis Dolan

Casting by
Victoria Thomas

Art Direction by
Lynda Burbank
J. Rae Fox

Set Decoration by
Cheryl Cutler

Costume Design by
Theda DeRamus		(as Theda Deramus)

Makeup Department
Sharon Francis	....	hair stylist (as Sharon Frances)
Sharon Francis	....	makeup artist (as Sharon Frances)
Lisa Schulze	....	hair stylist: additional photography
Lisa Schulze	....	makeup artist: additional photography
Sheri Short	....	assistant hair stylist
Sheri Short	....	assistant makeup artist
Kyle Sweet	....	assistant hair stylist (as Kyle Tucy)
Kyle Sweet	....	assistant makeup artist (as Kyle Tucy)

Production Management
Allen Alsobrook	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Rip Murray	....	second assistant director (as William 'Rip' Murray)

Art Department
Douglas Dick	....	construction coordinator (as Doug Dick)
Douglas Fox	....	property master (as Doug Fox)
John Lafia	....	leadman
Ron Seigel	....	property master: additional photography (as Ron Seigal)

Sound Department
Richard Beggs	....	sound re-recording mixer
Christopher Flick	....	assistant sound editor
Donald Flick	....	sound editor
Kim Fowler	....	foley artist
Warren Hamilton Jr.	....	supervising sound editor
Larry Hoki	....	production sound mixer: additional photography
Bonnie Koehler	....	adr editor
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Nelson	....	production sound mixer
John Post	....	foley artist
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist
David E. Stone	....	sound editor (as David Stone)
Ian Valentine	....	boom operator
Richard L. Anderson	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roger George	....	special effects
Robbie Knott	....	special effects (as Robby Knott)

Visual Effects by
William Cruse	....	visual effects
Magdalena Rangel	....	computer graphics (as Magda Rangel)
Steven Michael Sarno	....	computer graphics
George Seminara	....	computer graphics (as George Seminarh)

Stunts
Rick Barker	....	stunts
Brad Bovee	....	stunt coordinator: additional photography
Thomas R. Boyd	....	stunt double (as Thomas Boyd)
Danny Costa	....	stunts (as Danny Kosta)
Will Dawson	....	stunts
Bob Ellis	....	stunt double (as Bobby Ellis)
Eddie Hice	....	stunt coordinator
Eddie Hice	....	stunts
Loren Janes	....	stunt safety
Fred Scheiwiller	....	stunts
Rick Seaman	....	stunts
Michael S. Walter	....	stunts (as Michael Walters)
Harry Wowchuk	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Orlando Bagwell	....	grip
Chris Centrella	....	gaffer: additional photography
Chris Centrella	....	grip: additional photography
Robert K. Feldmann	....	key grip (as Robert Feldman)
Kevin Galbraith	....	electrician
Greg Gardiner	....	gaffer
Jim Grce	....	electrician
Scott Guthrie	....	best boy electric
Daniel Hainey	....	second camera operator
Rowdy Herrington	....	grip
Kenneth J. Jones	....	best boy grip (as Kenneth Jones)
Martin J. Layton	....	first assistant camera (as Marty Layton)
Michael E. Little	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (as Michael Little)
Chris Lombardi	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Dennis J. Lootens	....	grip (as Dennis Lootens)
Patrick Melly	....	electrician: additional photography
Ramon Menendez	....	electrician: additional photography
Tom Musca	....	video camera
Les Percy	....	grip (as Leslie Percy)
Stephen L. Posey	....	camera operator: second unit (as Stephen Posey)
John Reeder	....	video engineer
Robert Richardson	....	camera operator: additional photography
Tom Richmond	....	second camera: additional photography
Christopher Tufty	....	camera assistant: second unit (as Chris Tufty)
Martin Turner	....	still photographer
Thomas Vanghele	....	second assistant camera
Larry Markart	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tim Healey	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Dennis Brookins	....	negative cutter
Dennis Brown	....	apprentice editor
Barbara Caporale	....	apprentice editor
Joan E. Chapman	....	assistant editor (as Joan Chapman)
Janiss Garza	....	supervising assistant editor
Thure Gustafson	....	assistant editor
Stephen R. Myers	....	assistant editor (as Steven Myers)

Music Department
Clem Burke	....	musician: drums
Chuck Ferry	....	assistant music engineer
Steven Hufsteter	....	score performer (as Steven Hufsteter - The Plugz)
Tito Larriva	....	score performer (as Tito Larriva - The Plugz)
Daniel Levitin	....	musician (as Dr. Daniel Levitin)
Tony Marsico	....	score performer (as Tony Marsico - The Plugz)
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor
Iggy Pop	....	composer: theme
Charlie Quintana	....	score performer (as Charlie Quintana - The Plugz)
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dan Boyd	....	driver
Thomas R. Boyd	....	driver (as Tom Boyd)
Jackie Diskin	....	driver
Bob Ellis	....	driver (as Bobby Ellis)
Thomas S. Lynch	....	driver (as Tom Lynch)
John Morello	....	driver
Scott Padgent	....	driver
David Shaffer	....	transportation captain (as David Shafer)
Hal Voelkel	....	driver

Other crew
Mark Anderson	....	location scout
Cameron Bishop	....	craft service
Misty Carey	....	production assistant (as Misty Sue Carey)
Misty Carey	....	production assistant
Tim Clouse	....	security officer
Chuck Collett	....	technical consultant
Robert Dawson	....	title designer: main titles
Al Delapp	....	police
Bill Demyen	....	police
Debbie Diaz	....	executive: Edge City
Harry Hauss	....	helicopter pilot
Marsha Koff	....	production controller
Iya Labunka	....	production coordinator
Mark Lewis	....	technical advisor
Steve McAfee	....	production assistant
Bruce McKrimmon	....	video technical director
Michael Nesmith	....	presenter
Amy Ness	....	production executive
Brant Reiter	....	creative consultant
Sharron Reynolds	....	script supervisor
Dick Rude	....	creative consultant
Pat Stransky	....	security officer
Anne Van Der Vort	....	production assistant
Brenda Weisman	....	script supervisor (as Brenda Weiman)
Abbe Wool	....	video coordinator

Thanks
Michael Chinich	....	thanks
Harry Gittes	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Edge City

Distributors

• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1984) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Artificial Eye (UK)
• CIC Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Eureka Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Limited Edition)
• Focus Features (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Collector's Edition)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Car-Freshener  special thanks (as Car-Freshener Corporation)
• Electric Melody Studios  electronic sound effects
• Filmtrucks  locations
• Helfick Enterprises  special thanks
• Lion's Gate Sound  recording facilities
• MCA Records  soundtrack distributed by
• Movie Magic  opticals
• NW Ayer  special thanks
• Ralph's Markets  special thanks (as Ralph's Supermarkets)
• San Andreas Records and Tapes  soundtrack album available on
• System One  production/payroll
• Technicolor  prints by (as Technicolor®)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:R | USA:R (Approved No. 27271) | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Australia:R (video rating) | Finland:K-15 (re-rating) (2003) | Finland:K-18 (original rating) | UK:18 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Edge City

Trivia:

All cars (plus the police motorcycle) have pine tree air fresheners.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene where Bud and Otto are racing down the side of the canal with the Rodrigues brothers, Lagarto suddenly disappears from the passenger seat.

Quotes:

Bud:Don't care how long it takes, dildos! Repo Man's got all night, every night.

Movie Connections:

References "Dallas" (1978)

Soundtrack:

Institutionalized

One for the first of the crapped-on generations...

Those who were unlucky enough to reach adulthood during the 1980s or 1990s will relate most to this film. Like all the best films, it sets no specific genre for itself, instead preferring to tell a story and leaving the audience to respond in its own way. Many don't get this film as a result, and a lot of the sight gags require an understanding of 1980s commercialism. The reward for getting it, on the other hand, is one of the trippiest films ever committed to celluloid.

Director Alex Cox uses his connections to, or perhaps that should be knowledge of, the American punk scene to full effect here. The soundtrack is unlike anything heard in films of the same period, with numerous standout tunes that demand just as much attention as the on screen action. With lyrical snatches like "let's all leech off the state, gee, money's really great!", every moment in the film, musical or otherwise, is a commentary on the plight of Otto's generation, and generations since.

Aside from the cameos from numerous musicians that you can connect to more famous figures in a Kevin Bacon sort of manner (Chuck Biscuits would later drum for Danzig), the film is very well-known for containing some figures who were either famous at the time, or would become famous in subsequent years. The obvious example is Emilio Estevez, but cast members like Harry Dean Stanton or Sy Richardson will also give off a spark of recognition. A lot of the film becomes a game of "where have I seen that guy before?". Not only that, but at least half of the lines are inherently quotable.

If there is one flaw in the film, I can't think of it. The rain of ice cubes is a bit poorly realised, but that just adds to the film's effect. One notable writer has been quoted as saying "learn to see the worst films, sometimes they are sublime". Repo Man is sublime, but is also one of the best, for a number of reasons. Instead of using the money hose to wash away its creative problems, it revels in its inherent stupidity or weirdness. Where else can you see a woman with a robotic hand made out of tinfoil, and actors working so well around it?

In all, I gave Repo Man a 10 out of 10. If you're into weirdness, this is the Holy Grail. Those who enjoyed films like This Is Spinal Tap or Rebel High, ponder no further - get this film on DVD-Video *now*.