Special Effects (1984)

Director:

Larry Cohen

Writer:

Larry Cohen (writer)

Release Date:

16 November 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Mary Jean is just dying to get into the movies... She's about to get her wish.

Plot:

A director makes a movie based on a murder he committed.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Director | Actress | Snuff Film | Detective

Cast

Zoë Lund	...	Andrea Wilcox / Elaine (as Zoe Tamerlis)
Eric Bogosian	...	Christopher 'Chris' Neville
Brad Rijn	...	Keefe Waterman
Kevin O'Connor	...	Det. Lt. Phillip Delroy (N.Y.P.D.)
Bill Oland	...	Det. Vickers
Richard Greene	...	Leon Grushkin
Steven Pudenz	...	Thomas Wiesenthal
Heidi Bassett	...	Neville's Asst. Director
John Woehrle	...	Studio Executive
Kitty Summerall	...	Andrea's Roommate
Kris Evans	...	Cosmetician
Mike Alpert	...	Taxi Driver

Also Known As:

Cutting Room (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:93 min | West Germany:101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:18 (cut) | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Hemdale Film

Quotes:

Reporter: What is your greatest influence?
Neville: Abraham Zapruder.
Reporter: Who?
Neville: Honest Abe never lies.
Reporter: How do you spell that?
Neville: J-F-K.

Movie Connections:

References Tootsie (1982)

Bogosian rules.

After making a disastrous, special-effects laden film, a movie director decides to make a low budget biography of a murdered actress. To make her murder look as real as possible the director murders the actress himself. Could have been a very good film about snuff films, but the film's direction is a letdown. Zoe (Ms. 45) Lund (in a dual role) and particularly Eric Bogosian are very good in their respective roles of the murdered actress and the actress playing her, and the Cecil B. Demented director. Brian DePalma would have had a field day with this film.