Silver Bullet (1985)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Daniel Attias

Writers:

Stephen King (novel)
Stephen King (writer)

Release Date:

11 October 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

It started in May in a small town and every month after that whenever the moon is full... It came back.

Plot:

Werewolf terrorizes small city where lives Marty Coslaw, - a paralytic boy - his uncle and his sister - the narrator of the story.

Plot Keywords:

Werewolf | Amazing Grace Hymn | Stephen King | Shot In The Eye | Child Uses Gun

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Gary Busey	...	Uncle Red
Everett McGill	...	Reverend Lowe
Corey Haim	...	Marty Coslaw
Megan Follows	...	Jane Coslaw
Robin Groves	...	Nan Coslaw
Leon Russom	...	Bob Coslaw
Terry O'Quinn	...	Sheriff Joe Haller
Bill Smitrovich	...	Andy Fairton
Joe Wright	...	Brady Kincaid
Kent Broadhurst	...	Herb Kincaid
Heather Simmons	...	Tammy Sturmfuller
James A. Baffico	...	Milt Sturmfuller
Rebecca Fleming	...	Mrs. Sturmfuller
Lawrence Tierney	...	Owen Knopfler
William Newman	...	Virgil Cuts

Also Known As:

Cycle of the Werewolf (USA) (working title)
Stephen King's Silver Bullet (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | UK:15 (DVD rating) (2008) | Australia:R | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Norway:18 (video premiere) (1987) | Norway:(Banned) (1987-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Burgaw, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Dino De Laurentiis Company

Trivia:

According director Daniel Attias, Gary Busey ad libbed a great deal, for instance when Uncle Red is in the gun shop. Attias checked it with Stephen King, who said OK for it to be included.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: After Marty returns from shooting the werewolf in the eye, as he huddles against his wall you can partially see a Reggie Jackson California Angels poster next to him. The film takes place in 1976, yet Jackson didn't join the Angels until 1982.

Quotes:

Marty Coslaw: You know who used to have a baseball bat like that? Mr. Knopfler.
Uncle Red: So?
Jane Coslaw: It looked like Bigfoot had used it for a toothpick!

Movie Connections:

References Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

Soundtrack:

All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go

Very Underrated

Silver Bullet (1985)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

I know An American Werewolf in London and The Howling usually get all the praise but for my money this is the best werewolf film of the 1980s. I thought everyone loved this film until getting the internet and reading how many people actually didn't enjoy it but I still love it. I think the film works well as a coming of age story with all the horror elements thrown in for good measure. Kinda like a horror version of The Goonies with Corey Haim and Gary Busey doing great work together. The supporting cast of actors also serve well in the story. The scene in the fog and the ending are full of wonderful tension as well.