Rampage (1987)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

William Friedkin

Writers:

William Friedkin (writer)
William P. Wood (novel)

Release Date:

30 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

This is the face of Charles Reece, a mass murderer. He doesn't think he's done anything wrong. The real crime is that the jury may agree.

Plot:

Liberal district attorney decides to seek the death penalty for a man who slaughtered a family at Christmastime...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Independent Film | Based On Play

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Michael Biehn	...	Anthony Fraser
Alex McArthur	...	Charlie Reece
Nicholas Campbell	...	Albert Morse
Deborah Van Valkenburgh	...	Kate Fraser
John Harkins	...	Dr. Keddie
Art LaFleur	...	Mel Sanderson
Billy Green Bush	...	Judge McKinsey (as Billy Greenbush)
Royce D. Applegate	...	Gene Tippetts
Grace Zabriskie	...	Naomi Reece
Carlos Palomino	...	Nestode
Roy London	...	Dr. Paul Rudin
Donald Hotton	...	Dr. Leon Gables
Andy Romano	...	Spencer Whalen
Patrick Cronin	...	Harry Bellenger
Roger Nolan	...	Dr. Roy Blair

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (cut) (1990) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1989) | Australia:R | France:-12 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

El Dorado Street, Stockton, California, USA

Company:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Trivia:

Due to legal complications, this film wasn't shown theatrically in America until several years after its European debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the doctor turns off the oxygen machine, he closes the girl's eyes. But, her eyes were already closed when they said she was brain dead.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Directors: The Films of William Friedkin (#2.13)" (????)

A disturbing yet restrained movie. Underrated

RAMPAGE is one of the rare films were we are not shown EVERYTHING a serial killer does but are given a look inside his head, and it is disturbing. ALEX MACARTHUR plays a killer who scares the crap out of the viewing audience on acting prowese alone. The film, was sort of controversial when released, yet poses a question in it's end. The strength of RAMPAGE is when does a man like TED BUNDY or the character in this film stop being a human being and start becoming a wild dog driven only by his lusts and violence. Most experts would agree there is no dividing line..or is there? The BIBLE gives an explanation of a reprobate mind, people like FREUD blame parental upbringing etc. This movie paints a disturbing portrait of a character clearly a human being but clearly mad. The sad thing is with shows on the discovery channel etc. we see characters IN REAL LIFE like this everyday. The troubling thing is this films plausible nature, and an ability in it to suspend the disbelief in plot, story, and characters and the nature of the villain himself. (or to doctors is he a villain or a carnivore of emotion and hate?) Michael Biehn gives one of the better performances of his career as an attorney who works the case. Biehn is usually typecast yet, he plays the character with great ease in what was a difficult contrast between him and the criminal...or was it great ease? I recommend this film because it shows the other side of crime, the victim. Very few movies show after crime scenes of fathers and sons trying to cope. I also recommend this film because of the thought provoking nature and disturbing end..the end's question is an answer you must decide on your own. Enjoy.