The Offspring (1987)

Director:

Jeff Burr

Writers:

C. Courtney Joyner (written by)
Mike Malone (additional story material) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Fear......Times Four

Plot:

In a small Tennessee town, an historian relates four horror stories to a reporter.

Plot Keywords:

Tennessee | Murder | Cult Favorite | Lethal Injection | Neck Breaking

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Julian White
Clu Gulager	...	Stanley Burnside
Terry Kiser	...	Jesse Hardwick
Harry Caesar	...	Felder Evans
Rosalind Cash	...	Snakewoman
Cameron Mitchell	...	Sgt. Gallen
Susan Tyrrell	...	Beth Chandler
Martine Beswick	...	Katherine White
Ron Brooks	...	Steven Arden
Miriam Byrd-Nethery	...	Eileen Burnside
Didi Lanier	...	Amarrillis Caulfield
Thomas Nowell	...	Andrew (as Tommy Nowell)
Ashli Bare	...	Amanda
Terence Knox	...	Burt (as Terry Knox)
Megan McFarland	...	Grace Scott
Angelo Rossitto	...	Tinker
Gordon Paddison	...	Leonard
C. Jay Cox	...	Pike (as C.J. Cox)
Leon Edwards	...	McBride
Lawrence Tierney	...	Warden
Tim Wingard	...	Bullock
Richard W. Cox	...	Doctor (as Rick Cox)
Nicos Argentiogorgis	...	Priest
Bob Hannah	...	Harry Essex
Frank Shaheen	...	Truck Loader
Paul Barberi	...	Truck Loader
Katherine Kaden	...	Mary Hardwick
Gene Witham	...	Jack McCoy
Tommy Burcher	...	Lester McCoy
Whit Davies	...	Physician
Nancy Shaheen	...	Nurse
Barney Burman	...	No Face
Tony Wright	...	Confederate
Mark Hannah	...	Confederate
George Davies	...	Confederate
Sergio Aguirre	...	Ambrose (as Sergio Aguire)
Jahary Bennett	...	Jake (as Jajary Bennett)
David Styncromb	...	Our Gang
Justin Nowell	...	Our Gang
Christopher Cobb	...	Our Gang
David Ford	...	Our Gang
Chastity Waters	...	Our Gang
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
April Caldwell	...	Child under cannon #2 (uncredited)
Tiffani Caldwell	...	Child under cannon (uncredited)
David Del Valle	...	Witness at Execution (uncredited)
Will Huston	...	McBride (uncredited)
Alan White	...	Witness at Execution (uncredited)

Directed by
Jeff Burr

Writing credits
C. Courtney Joyner		written by &
Mike Malone		additional story material and
Darin Scott		written by and
Jeff Burr		written by

Produced by
Ron Arnold	....	associate producer
William Burr	....	producer
Craig Greene	....	associate producer
Mark Hannah	....	associate producer
Mike Malone	....	associate producer
Allen Posten	....	associate producer (as Allan Posten)
Darin Scott	....	producer
David Shaheen	....	executive producer
Bubba Truckadoro	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Jim Manzie

Cinematography by
Craig Greene

Film Editing by
W.O. Garrett

Casting by
David Del Valle		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Cynthia Kay Charette		(as Cynthia K. Charette)
Allen Posten		(as C. Allen Posten)

Costume Design by
Cynthia Kay Charette		(as Cindy Charette)

Makeup Department
Brent Baker	....	makeup effects assistant
R. Christopher Biggs	....	makeup effects assistant (as Chris Biggs)
Barney Burman	....	makeup effects assistant
Rob Burman	....	special makeup effects designer and creator
Patricia Hester	....	assistant makeup
Anthony Showe	....	special effects makeup: Los Angeles
Lisa Taylor	....	makeup artist

Production Management
John Dalve	....	production manager
Gary Louzon	....	production manager: Los Angeles

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
W.O. Garrett	....	second unit director: Los Angeles
Mark Hannah	....	first assistant director
Mark Hannah	....	second unit director
Judy Wilson	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Gail Arp	....	scenic artist
David B. Clark	....	art: Los Angeles (as David Clark)
George Davies	....	scenic artist
Whit Davies	....	set dresser
Russell Dirks	....	scenic artist
Jesse Ditman	....	carpenter: Los Angeles
Carol Eaton	....	props: Los Angeles
Susan Hennon	....	scenic artist
Andy Herbert	....	carpenter: Los Angeles
George Matthews	....	scenic artist
Terese Mitchell	....	set dresser
Gary Randall	....	art: Los Angeles
Mike Scheitler	....	assistant props
Merril Thompson	....	scenic artist
Teddy Whittenbarger	....	scenic artist
Tony Wright	....	prop master
Alan White	....	advertising designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Neil Brody	....	sound re-recording mixer
Duncan Burns	....	sound effects editor
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael P. Cook	....	studio sound recordist (as Mike Cook)
Jason Copeland	....	studio sound recordist
T.W. Davis	....	sound editor
Craig A. Dellinger	....	assistant sound editor (as Craig Dillinger)
Mark Dennis	....	sound effects editor
Allessandro DiPinto	....	assistant sound editor
Robert Fitzgerald	....	sound effects editor
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lisa Goldstein	....	studio sound recordist
Susan Holzborn	....	studio sound recordist
Chris Jargo	....	adr editor
Nils C. Jensen	....	sound effects editor (as Nils Jensen)
Chris Ksanznak	....	assistant sound editor (as Chris Ksanzak)
Ingeborg Larson	....	sound editor
Debra O'Connor	....	foley artist (as Debra O'Conner)
Sam Perry	....	boom: Los Angeles
Yuri Raicin	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
Kevin Rockey	....	foley artist
Hari Ryatt	....	supervising sound editor
Bruce Stubblefield	....	sound effects editor
Casey Troutman	....	foley artist
Clancy T. Troutman	....	studio sound recordist (as Clancey Troutman)
Gerald B. Wolfe	....	sound mixer (as Jerry Wolfe)
John Woodin	....	boom

Special Effects by
Kelly Ott	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Kelly Ott	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Casey	....	grip: Los Angeles (as Mike Cassey)
Keith Crofford	....	best boy
John Drackett	....	grip (as John Dracket)
Bill Edwards	....	still photographer
Charles Embrey	....	grip: Los Angeles (as Chuck Embry)
Charlie Franklin	....	key grip
Peter Gleason	....	first assistant camera
Dan Golden	....	still photographer
Gary Griner	....	grip
Bob Harkins	....	key grip: Los Angeles
Scott Kaye	....	gaffer
Jerod Lazan	....	second assistant camera: Los Angeles
Stan Lazan	....	director of photography: second unit, Los Angeles
Ian Lynch	....	second assistant camera
Mike Muhler	....	electrician
Chris Napolitano	....	electrician: Los Angeles
Joe Potts	....	loader
Clinton Regnerus	....	best boy: Los Angeles
Philip D. Schwartz	....	camera operator: Los Angeles (as Phillip Schwartz)

Casting Department
Pat Daniel	....	casting assistant
Bill Edwards	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Baker	....	costume crew
Kelly Davis	....	assistant costume designer
Betty Hardin	....	costume crew
Wanda Manus	....	costume crew
Andrea May	....	costume crew
Cathy Sims	....	wardrobe supervisor
Minny Vera	....	costume crew

Editorial Department
Fred Teetzel	....	negative cutter
Pamela Winn-Barnett	....	assistant editor (as Pamela Winn)

Music Department
Brad Bailey	....	composer: additional music
David DeVore	....	music mixer
Jim Manzie	....	music mixer
Pat Regan	....	composer: additional music

Transportation Department
Mike Malone	....	transportation captain (as Mike 'Trambo' Malone)

Other crew
Marshall Avett	....	production assistant
Stacy Cooper	....	production assistant
Bill Cummings	....	script: Los Angeles
Greg Defore	....	production assistant
David Del Valle	....	unit publicist: Los Angeles (as David DelValle)
Russell Dirks	....	production assistant
Ronald Greene	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Wright Humble	....	production assistant
Mike Jennings	....	production assistant
Tommy Kaye	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Donnie Lee	....	production assistant
Louann Lightfoot	....	script (as Louanne Lightfoot)
Vincent Lim	....	production secretary
Jeff MacNeese	....	production assistant
Manuatta Martin	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Diane Popelka McNamara	....	pre-production assistant (as Dianne Popelka)
Brian Smith	....	production assistant
Kenny Waters	....	production assistant
Todd West	....	production assistant
Teddy Whittenbarger	....	production assistant
Bob Winnaker	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
John Wright	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Conquest Productions
• Manson International
• Whisper Scream Limited Partnership

Distributors

• Moviestore Entertainment (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1988) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1988) (Canada) (VHS)
• Vestron Video International (1988) (Belgium) (VHS)
• MCA (1988) (Canada) (VHS)
• Argovídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Avid Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• International Video Entertainment (IVE) (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• King Video (1988) (Japan) (VHS)
• Latin Video (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Penguin Editorial  sound effects
• International Recording  re-recording studio
• Howard Anderson Company, The  opticals and titles (as Howard A. Anderson Co.)

Also Known As:

"From a Whisper to a Scream" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

99 min | 92 min (video)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

West Germany:18 (video) | Italy:VM14 (VHS rating) | Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Dalton, Georgia, USA

Company:

Conquest Productions

Trivia:

The film was written and shot under the title 'From a Whisper to a Scream', but it was changed to 'The Offspring' for the American release. However, when it was released on DVD it was released under its original title.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Carnies in 1933 are playing poker and betting with coins that include a Jefferson nickel, first minted in 1938, and a Lincoln cent with the Lincoln Memorial reverse, first minted in 1959.

Quotes:

Julian White:One thing I've learned, my dear, is that one is never too old for nightmares.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Saw Is Family: Making 'Leatherface' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Get Mad, Get Down

Very cool.

No, this has absolutely nothing to do with the band, even though they share the same name and even the same exact logo. I found this to be something special. Even though I had never heard of it and I just saw it at the video store and saw that Terry Kiser was in it.

What we get here is little anthology of nasty tales told from a librarian, about the sinister history of a small Tennessee town. Now, I found the first story (with Clu Galagher) to be just a bit too sick, it's still pretty entertaining and his character plays a loser to such perfection that it's actually funny to watch him. I won't say much in the way of that one, but I will say that involves incest, necrophilia, and some really awful singing of some even worse lyrics.

The second one, I believe was my favorite. Terry Kiser plays a white trash moron by the name of Jesse Hardwicke who is on the run from some nasty creditors. When he is shot by one of the previously mentioned creditors, he manages to crawl his way to a boat where he passes out and drifts through the swamps. He's discovered by a hermit-type who brings him back to health and also gives him the gift of eternal life. Jesse, being an ungrateful IDIOT, has ideas to take the old man's voodoo skills and use it as a way to cash in. When the old man refuses to give in, he tries to kill the old man. Big mistake. That's all I'm going to say about that one. But let me say this, this little tale has the most shocking, disturbing, and disgusting ending of any of the rest. In fact, it tops more endings than any other horror flick I can think of for that matter, on that level. Just see it.

The third story, I really wasn't too crazy about. It has to do with a circus guy who eats glass. It didn't do much for me.

The last in the act is pretty chilling. Set back in the civil war, a few yankees stumble upon a house inhabited by young children whose parents were all killed during the war. What happens here is pretty sick and so shocking that I won't say what happens.

As far as anthologies go, this is one of the best I've seen. It edges out "Creepshow", "Creepshow 2", "Cat's Eye", and "Deadtime Stories". I'm really hoping that it gets a dvd release.