The Arrival (1991)

Director:

David Schmoeller

Writer (WGA):

Kevin Daniel Ljoka (written by)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A man discovers the price of youth...kill or die!

Plot:

An old man, who has been near a fallen meteor, starts to get younger and younger, with a terrible thirst for blood.

Plot Keywords:

Blood | Old Man | Vampire | Stakeout | Library

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Saxon	...	Agent Mills
Joseph Culp	...	Young Max Page
Robin Frates	...	Connie
Robert Sampson	...	Max Page
Geoff Hansen	...	Clark
Danna Garen	...	Susan
Danny Fendley	...	Jeff
Ami Rothschild	...	Sunny
Kim Sill	...	Leslie (as Kim Dawson)
Amy Lemmon	...	Tina
Jason Bach	...	Dr. Johnson
Brad Mills	...	Michael
Stuart Gordon	...	Biker
Dean Minerd	...	Hank
Bill Brochtrup	...	Ace
Mark Kemble	...	Detective Quig
Linda Ljoka	...	Laura
Carolyn Purdy-Gordon	...	Liquor Store Woman
David Schmoeller	...	Dr. Carlyle
Steve Tietsort	...	Cashier
Todd Jeffries	...	Officer Barnes
Tom Crowl	...	Government Official
Zatella Beatty	...	Prostitute
Gregg Ostrin	...	Pimp
Dick Boccelli	...	Blood Doctor
Daniel J. Ljoka	...	Prints Detective
Julie Reed	...	Nurse
Patricia Rive	...	Parking Lot Woman
Peter Manoogian	...	Binocular Agent
Theodora Tolkin	...	Mary
Adam Foster	...	Nicky
Piyo	...	Agent Williams
Flavio 'Paul' Fabrini	...	Dr. Torres (as Flavio Fabrini)
Mark Rakenzes	...	Lance
Rosemary Moritz	...	Mary Ann Reynolds
Richard Pattee	...	Waiter
Ruthann Mason	...	Blood Nurse
Loni White	...	Liz
Jarel McCaul	...	Library Patron
Michelle Castellano	...	Library Patron
Michele Bravo	...	Murder Victim
Belinda Jensen	...	Hooker
Anita Korf	...	Street Walker
Nancy Howard	...	Party Guest
Lauren Martin	...	Young Mrs. Page
Monty Jordan	...	SWAT Team Commander
Bob Petracci	...	FBI Agent
Marty Walsh	...	FBI Agent
Mike Alessi	...	FBI Agent
Dennis Murphy	...	FBI Agent
Zimbo	...	FBI Agent
Dana Bedard	...	FBI Agent
Glenn Karp	...	FBI Agent
Linda O. Cook	...	(voice)
Gracie Moore	...	(voice)
Marabina Jaimes	...	(voice)
Bert Rosario	...	(voice)
David Povall	...	(voice)
Bess	...	The Rottweiller
Michael J. Pollard	...	Lou
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Katherine Armstrong
Gina Marie	...	Maxs' Granddaughter
John Keoni Monte	...	FBI Agent

Directed by
David Schmoeller

Writing credits (WGA)
Kevin Daniel Ljoka		(written by) (as Daniel Ljoka)

Produced by
Kevin Daniel Ljoka	....	producer (as Daniel Ljoka)
Ron Matonak	....	producer
Gary Schmoeller	....	line producer

Original Music by
Richard Band

Cinematography by
Steve Grass

Film Editing by
Randy Bricker

Casting by
Lori Cobe
Lisa London

Production Design by
Mike Scaglione

Art Direction by
Bill Voland

Set Decoration by
Patricia Splescia		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Carrie Carlsten		(as Carrie Carlsteen)

Makeup Department
Robin Kissner	....	makeup artist
Tim Larsen	....	makeup effects painter
Teresa Scott	....	hair stylist
Dan Uebel	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Linda Ljoka	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerry Goldberg	....	second assistant director
Richard Pattee	....	second second assistant director
G.K. Thomson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jeff Barkley	....	layout
Darryl Clark	....	construction
Joe Coyle	....	construction
Clay Ferguson	....	props
Tim Gore	....	art effects
Kirk Kessler	....	swing
Judy Knight	....	props
Dawn Minas	....	set designer
John O'Connell	....	props (as John O'Connel)
Greg Overton	....	swing
Phil Smith	....	construction foreman
Patricia Splescia	....	assistant art director (as Patricia Splecia)

Sound Department
Sarah Brady	....	adr editor
John Brasher	....	re-recording mixer
David R. Brooks	....	boom operator (as David Brooks)
Mark Cookson	....	sound effects editor
Flavio 'Paul' Fabrini	....	sound engineer (as Paul Fabriani)
Gary Forbes	....	dialogue editor
Heather Leavitt	....	dialogue editor
Adriane Marfiak	....	re-recording mixer (as Adrian Marfiak)
Adriane Marfiak	....	sound effects editor
Lars Nelson	....	re-recording mixer
Doug Reed	....	foley artist
Jeffrey L. Sandler	....	sound effects editor
Wilson Snauwert	....	foley editor
Warren Taylor	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Robert Calvert	....	special effects
Ken Tarallo	....	mechanical effects

Stunts
Monty Jordan	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Todd Appleman	....	gaffer
David R. Brooks	....	grip (as David Brooks)
Robin Copeland	....	second assistant camera
Joe Coyle	....	grip
Darin Haggard	....	assistant electrician
Laura Hallenbrook	....	camera assistant
Michael Lambert	....	crane operator
Marc Marino	....	electrician (as Mark Marino)
Rob Morrow	....	grip
C. Roy Nigra	....	key grip
Alan Parr	....	best boy grip
George Posedal	....	first assistant camera (as George Posedel)
Mark Rakenzes	....	still photographer
John Reisman	....	second camera
John Reisman	....	video assistant
Tom Rinella	....	grip
Vern Salzbrunn	....	still photographer
James M. Teiper	....	grip
Tony Tietz	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Barbara Shannon	....	casting: children

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rae Mitten	....	costumer
Janice Takade	....	assistant wardrobe

Editorial Department
Debra Gonsalves	....	assistant editor
Michelle Hart	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Nick Vidar	....	music engineer
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer

Transportation Department
Kevin Hudis	....	transportation captain (as Kevin Hudes)
Kevin Muzerall	....	driver
Alice Roach	....	driver
Brian Warfield	....	driver

Other crew
Judith Belanger	....	assistant to director
Laurie Bolton	....	assistant to producer
Dee Dee Boulton	....	production assistant
Willard Chapotan	....	location supervisor
Robert Dale	....	legal advisor
Edward Di Lorenzo	....	script consultant
Debbie Elster	....	first aid
Michael Hoffman	....	caterer
Calvin Johnson	....	medical consultant
Michele Mangan	....	production coordinator
Rita Manley	....	assistant production coordinator
Michael Marcopolis	....	medical consultant
Ra'up McGee	....	production assistant
Jan McWilliams	....	script supervisor
Nancy Lattier Nash	....	publicist
Nelly Ryan	....	assistant to producer
Mike Schrum	....	security
Darlene Seale	....	production controller
Steve Testa	....	crane assistant
James Topel	....	production assistant
Robert Walencewicz	....	crane assistant
Karen Weggenman	....	secretary
Loni White	....	location manager (as Lon White)
Christeen Woodbury	....	craft service
Jeff Woodbury	....	security

Production Companies

• Del Mar Entertainment
• Filmtrust
• Rapid Film Group

Distributors

• Cineplex-Odeon Films (1991) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Artiflix (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Artist View Entertainment (2001) (worldwide) (all media)
• Blue Ridge Entertainment (1992) (worldwide) (all media)
• Braveworld (1991) (UK) (VHS)
• Excalibur Benelux (1992) (Belgium) (VHS)
• Excalibur Benelux (1992) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1992) (France) (VHS)
• Global Multimedia Corporation (2001) (USA) (DVD) (as "The Unwelcomed")
• Image Entertainment (199?) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Factory (1991) (Japan) (VHS)
• Prism Entertainment Corporation (199?) (USA) (video)
• Splendid Film (1991) (Germany) (VHS)
• Turner Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Westlake Entertainment Group (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Westlake Entertainment Group (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Full Moon Entertainment  courtesy of ("Puppet Master" sound clip)
• Pepsi-Cola Company  special thanks

Also Known As:

"The Unwelcomed" - USA (video title)

Runtime:

Canada:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Del Mar Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dollman vs. Demonic Toys (1993) (V)

Soundtrack:

Danger Man

All in good time.

David Schmoeller's 'The Arrival' is a film that could have delivered more than it went out to achieve, but I guess the low-budget restricted Schmoeller's final vision. The main problem came from how mechanical and blotchy (mainly the chase angle with the romance sub-plot) it felt. Some unhinged images and moody atmospherics are competently staged, however how weird these visuals were or the story was in the end it wasn't weird enough. It's plain handling throughout, and it was probably a little too subtle for its own good. The material would have made for an interesting 60 minute episode, because what was stretched out didn't have enough to entirely hold it together. There's nothing particularly confusing about the jumbled story, but there are many questions left untouched and certain illogical developments which actually can frustrate. Mainly focusing on the alien's origins and intentions. What it seems like is an alien parasite that takes up residence in an elderly man Max, after hitching a ride with a meteor. Max dies due to the encounter, but is suddenly revived on the autopsy table. The alien form (which we never see) begins to change Max's health and appearance. His health is exceptional, but also looks younger, but his having hallucinating nightmares and a quench for blood. Soon his on the road to San Diego to find Connie, who he struck a friendship with when he was in hospital. But along the way he murders women for the oestrogen in their blood to help rejuvenate his body and FBI agent John Mills is on his trail.

While cast is hearty, the performances feel phoned in. It's the minor support bits by the likes of Michael J Pollard, Stuart Gordon and Carolyn Purdy-Gordon's slightly amuse. Playing the elderly Max is an heart-warming Robert Sampson and the younger part went to a cold, blank face Joseph Culp. John Saxon makes light-weight of his role and a wholesomely fixating Robin Frates is good in her part Connie.

Schmoeller's low-scale touch and abilities is soundly displayed, but in the end lacks excitement with some of the action occurring off-screen and the effects are quite tone down to some light shows. The pacing is sluggish, but it finishes with an intense closing quarter and the score is quite soft, but remains pulsating.