The Wraith (1986)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Mike Marvin

Writer:

Mike Marvin (written by)

Release Date:

21 November 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Thriller | Sci-Fi | Romance

Tagline:

He's not from around here.

Plot:

Jake is killed by neighbourhood thugs, and returns as a mystical figure (The Wraith) to gain revenge.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Sheriff | Death | Wraith | Arizona

Cast

Charlie Sheen	...	Jake Kesey / The Wraith
Nick Cassavetes	...	Packard Walsh
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Keri Johnson
Randy Quaid	...	Sheriff Loomis
Matthew Barry	...	Billy Hankins
David Sherrill	...	Skank
Jamie Bozian	...	Gutterboy
Clint Howard	...	Rughead
Griffin O'Neal	...	Oggie
Chris Nash	...	Minty
Vickie Benson	...	Waitress
Peder Melhuse	...	Murphy
Jeffrey Sudzin	...	Redd
Michael Hungerford	...	Stokes
Steven Eckholdt	...	George in Daytona
Elizabeth Cox	...	Girl in Daytona
Richard Alexander	...	Sandeval
Christopher Bradley	...	Jamie Henkins
Joan H. Reynolds	...	Policewoman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Clint Austin	...	Guy at Zoo burger stand (uncredited)
Brooke Burke	...	Waitress on Roller Skates (uncredited)
Derek K. Nielsen	...	Boy at Burger Stand (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Marvin

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mike Marvin		written by

Produced by
Buck Houghton	....	executive producer
John Kemeny	....	producer
Jeffrey Sudzin	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michael Hoenig
J. Peter Robinson

Cinematography by
Reed Smoot		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Scott Conrad
Gary Rocklen

Casting by
Ilene Starger

Art Direction by
Dean Tschetter

Set Decoration by
Michele Starbuck

Makeup Department
Leslie Ann Anderson	....	hair stylist (as Leslie Anne Anderson)
Kathryn Fenton	....	makeup artist (as Kathryn Miles Logan)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Leon Dudevoir	....	first assistant director
Judy 'Lucky' Kemeny	....	second second assistant director (as Judi Kemeny)
Mike Topoozian	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Linda Faye Beall	....	art department coordinator
Gene R. Bolinski Jr.	....	set dresser
Corrine Bonneau	....	assistant props
Star Fields	....	leadman
Roy 'Bucky' Moore	....	property master
Charles Peterson	....	head scenic artist
Marilyn Vance	....	visual consultant
Joel Youngerman	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
John K. Adams	....	sound editor (as John Adams)
Terry Chambers	....	sound editor
Paul B. Clay	....	sound designer (as Paul Clay)
Paul B. Clay	....	sound effects supervisor (as Paul Clay)
Gabriel Cubos	....	boom operator (as Gabe Cubos)
Robert W. Glass Jr.	....	dubbing mixer (as Robert Glass Jr.)
Walt Martin	....	location sound
Bob Minkler	....	dubbing mixer
Tally Paulos	....	adr supervisor
Richard Portman	....	dubbing mixer
Greg Stacy	....	sound editor
James Troutman	....	sound effects supervisor

Special Effects by
Phil Cory	....	special effects designer
Lenny Dalrymple	....	special effects assistant: Tuscon
Hans Metz	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Ken Speed	....	special effects coordinator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
James Belohovek	....	miniature animator: VCE
Beverly Bernacki	....	optical effects: VCE
Steve Burg	....	effects animator: VCE (as Steven Burg)
Jammie Friday	....	effects animator: VCE
Spencer Gill	....	optical effects: VCE
Ed Harker	....	optical effects: VCE
Peter Kuran	....	visual effects producer: VCE
Kevin Kutchaver	....	effects animator: VCE
Jo Martin	....	administration: VCE
Alan Munro	....	visual effects designer
Jacqueline Zietlow	....	administration: VCE

Stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunts
Sandy Berumen	....	stunts
Fred Culbertson	....	stunts
Steve M. Davison	....	stunts (as Steve Davison)
David R. Ellis	....	stunts (as David Ellis)
Freddie Hice	....	stunts (as Fred Hice)
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt coordinator
Norman Howell	....	stunts (as Norm Howell)
Randy Peters	....	stunts
Karen Price	....	stunts (as Karen Elayna Price)
John Sullivan	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Chuck Colwell	....	director of photography: second unit
Ian Dodd	....	assistant camera: second unit
David Dubois	....	electrician
Eric J. Goldstein	....	assistant camera: second unit (as Eric Goldstein)
George Griner	....	assistant camera: second unit
John R. Hernandez	....	grip (as John Hernandez)
George A. Hock	....	electrician (as George Hock)
Jeff 'Moose' Howery	....	dolly grip (as Jeff Howery)
Bruce Ingram	....	camera operator: second unit
Bruce Ingram	....	first assistant camera
Richard Kuhn	....	best boy
Michael E. Little	....	assistant camera: second unit (as Michael Little)
Brent Loefke	....	second assistant camera
Michael Lund	....	assistant camera: second unit
Tim Nash	....	electrician
Tracy Neftzger	....	key grip
Dennis L. Peterson	....	gaffer
Patrick Reddish	....	best boy
Takashi Seida	....	still photographer
Steven Shaw	....	camera operator: second unit (as Steve Shaw)
Don Simandl	....	grip
Christopher Tufty	....	camera operator: second unit (as Chris Tufty)

Casting Department
Marla Tate	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elinor Bardach	....	costumer
Jim Beinke	....	costume builder: Wraith (as James B. Beinke)
Andrew Kenworthy	....	costume builder: Wraith (as Andrew W. Kenworthy)
Glenn Ralston	....	costumer

Editorial Department
John A. Amicarella	....	assistant editor (as John Alan Amicarella)
Curtis Edge	....	apprentice editor
Christian Wagner	....	assistant editor (as Christian Adam Wagner)

Music Department
Jolene Cherry	....	music supervisor
Rick Hart	....	score recordist
Jim Weidman	....	music editor
Pat Woods	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Gary Hellerstein	....	transportation coordinator
Lee Nashold	....	driver: insert car
Randy Peters	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Harriotte H. Aaron	....	script supervisor
Victoria Ahrens	....	assistant: Mr. Kemeny
Emily Blanton	....	extras coordinator
Lisa C. Cook	....	production coordinator
Dan Dewey	....	assistant location manager
Cherie Franklin	....	dialogue coach
Gina Genova	....	production secretary (as Gina L. Genova)
John Grace	....	production assistant
Gordon K. Kee	....	production accountant (as Gordon Kee)
Jerrie Ken	....	production assistant
Leslie Meigs	....	production assistant
Morrie Nierenberg	....	assistant accountant
Warren Oliver	....	craft service (as Warren S. Oliver)
John Sullivan	....	mechanic
Laura Watt	....	nurse
Joe Woolridge	....	head of security (as Sgt. Joe Woolridge)
Jack N. Young	....	location manager (as Jack Young)
Rob Harris	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Thanks
Bruce Ingram	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Alliance Communications Corporation
• Turbo

Distributors

• New Century Vista Film Company (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Succéfilm AB (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• VCL Communications (Germany) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | USA:PG-13 (re-rating) | USA:R (original rating) | Australia:M | UK:15 (2008 TV Rating) | Canada:14A | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

4th Avenue & 7th Street, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company:

Alliance Communications Corporation

Trivia:

Packard Walsh drove a late-1970s Chevrolet Corvette with a custom paint job and nose clip; Oggie drove a 1986 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z; Minty drove a 1977 Pontiac Firebird with a highly-visible (but apparently non-functional) supercharger; Skank and Gutterboy drove a beat-up 1966 Plymouth Barracuda; Rughead was driving a late-70's Chevrolet pickup. The couple who are cheated out of their car in the first race were driving a 1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z (distinguished by its' pop-up headlights, unlike the exposed headlights of Oggie's 1986 model). The police drove a variety of mid-1980's Plymouth Caravelles and Gran Furys, as well as early-1980's Chevrolet Malibus; Sheriff Loomis drove a "civilian" Plymouth Caravelle.

Goofs:

Continuity: The police cars change regularly between Plymouth Caravelles, Chevrolet Malibus, and Plymouth Gran Furys.

Quotes:

George in Daytona: Why'd you stop me? What do you want?
Packard Walsh: Well, let's just say it's pink.
Girl in Daytona: Oh, god!
George in Daytona: Forget it pal, no way!
Packard Walsh: I might forget it. I'm a nice guy.
Packard Walsh: [nods to his gang members] But them? They think the title to your car might be worth something.

Movie Connections:

References The Thing (1982)

Soundtrack:

NEVER SURRENDER

Great action, good characterisation, superb soundtrack

One of my all-time favourites. A nice idea in the spirit of "The Car" or "Christine" with great action (mostly of well-show car chases in Tucson, Arizona). The characters were well constructed and (on the whole) well implemented by the actors, with Nick Cassavetes stealing the show as nutter, Packard Walsh.

It also launched the careers of Charlie Sheen and Sherilyn Fenn (Fenn's fans will be happy to see "more" of her in this one).

The rock soundtrack is superb and a real collectors' item nowadays.

The original video cover was nice in that it was a holographic cover. Subsequent sell-thrus resorted to a standard litho-printed cover.

For a night in with a pizza and a few mates round, this is a great film.