Twice Dead (1988)

Director:

Bert L. Dragin

Writers:

Bert L. Dragin (screenplay) &
Robert McDonnell (screenplay)

Release Date:

October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

Beyond The Living ... Beyond The Dead!

Plot:

The Cates family is thrilled to learn they have inherited the old mansion of the deranged, stage actor...

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Street Gang | Apparition In Mirror | Dead Woman On Bed | Flashlight

Cast

Tom Bresnahan	...	Scott Cates
Jill Whitlow	...	Robin Cates / Myrna
Jonathan Chapin	...	Crip / Tyler Walker
Christopher Burgard	...	Silk
Sam Melville	...	Harry Cates
Brooke Bundy	...	Sylvia Cates
Todd Bridges	...	Petie
Shawn Player	...	Stony
Joleen Lutz	...	Candy
Raymond Garcia	...	Cheeta
Travis McKenna	...	Melvin
Charlie Spradling	...	Tina
Lance Wilson-White	...	Pizza Boy
Janice Ehrlich	...	Policewoman
Bob McLean	...	Harry Cates, Sr.
Richard Meadows	...	Potter
Lance Gordon	...	Calvin
Bud Anthony	...	Policeman #1
Eric Fleeks	...	Policeman #2
Steven A. Finly	...	Policeman #3 (as Steve Finley)
James Devon	...	Policeman #4 (as Brett Garrison)
Dean Alexander	...	Garbage Driver
Susie McDonnell	...	Campus Girl
Barry Diamond	...	Truck Driver's Voices (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Raymond Cruz	...	Gang Member
Joel Ross	...	Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Bert L. Dragin

Writing credits
Bert L. Dragin		(screenplay) &
Robert McDonnell		(screenplay)

Produced by
Guy J. Louthan	....	producer
Robert McDonnell	....	producer

Original Music by
David Bergeaud

Cinematography by
Zoran Hochstätter

Film Editing by
Patrick Rand

Casting by
Kevin Alber

Production Design by
Steven James Rice

Costume Design by
Claire Joseph

Makeup Department
Michael Burnett	....	special makeup effects artist
Vance Hartwell	....	special makeup effects artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Yeaman	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Joel Ross	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer

Stunts
John Branagan	....	stunt coordinator
John Branagan	....	stunts
Gregg Smrz	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Bahara	....	first assistant camera

Editorial Department
Domonic Muir	....	assistant editor

Production Companies

• TD Productions

Distributors

• Concorde Pictures
• Nelson Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Nelson Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Videosonic Arts (1990) (Greece) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R | Germany:BPjM Restricted | UK:18

Filming Locations:

2218 S Harvard Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Company:

TD Productions

Trivia:

This film was shot in six weeks.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the first scene, set around 1930, the table is set with Roger's Flair pattern of silverware, which however wasn't made until the 1950s.

Movie Connections:

References First Blood (1982)

Soundtrack:

Santa Ana Winds

Last curtain call.

The Cates family inherited an old mansion in Beverly Hills from their late uncle Tyler Walker, who was a well-known stage actor. When they get there, they find the rundown place to be overrun by some street punks who want nothing but trouble. After the Cates' teenagers make fools of those punks, they want to make their lives living hell. But also their uncle Tyler's spirit still hangs around the house, and doesn't seems to like the street punks' intrusion.

Roger Corman's Concorde churns out an uneven, but well intended low-rent b-horror film that stage an entertainingly weird mixture, where it has the story criss-crossing into campy fields of supernatural and revenge, and then finally combining the two. Everything about it is stereotypical with the usual shenanigans, but director Bert Dragin does a well enough job with his pacing and makes the twisty style unpredictable and always engaging. Limitations don't hold it back, as the competent make-up and special f/x generates some creative and effective moments. It slowly builds itself up, for a crackerjack closing half. Some demented scenes towards the end, are well worth the attention. Sure the technical side of the production might not be perfect (with the boom mike constantly becoming visible), but it was surefooted. Zoran Hochstatter's murky camera-work sometimes had a neat frenetic touch and dreary colour use, and David Bergeaud's simmering music score stewed up some spooky cues to add to the atmospheric urban setting of the grand looking mansion. The gimmicky screenplay by Bert Dragin and Robert McDonnell seems to work, but if you don't take it for what it is. The ludicrous, and somewhat illogical and loose nature might be hard to shake. Also its change in moods, from being broodingly dark to suddenly comically light might be an inconsistent turn off. The script feels one-note for most part, but weaves in some amusing flourishes of dark humour; jaw-dropping dialogues and an oddly unforeseeable twist here and there. The performances are well suited and come across fair. Tom Bresnahan and Jill Whitlow are likable as the siblings. Christopher Burgard chews it up as smarmy gang leader and Todd Bridges shows up in a little part.

Junky entertainment, but I wasn't expecting the modest quality that it dished up. Fans of low-budget horror should give it a try.