Black Rainbow (1989)

Martha Travis is a medium who makes contact with spirits "on the other side" and connects them with their loved ones still alive, in public performances. Trouble begins when she gives a ... See full summary »

Director:

Mike Hodges

Writer:

Mike Hodges

Stars:

Rosanna Arquette, Jason Robards, Tom Hulce

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rosanna Arquette	...	Martha Travis
Jason Robards	...	Walter Travis
Tom Hulce	...	Gary Wallace
Mark Joy	...	Lloyd Harley
Ron Rosenthal	...	Lieutenant Irving Weinberg
John Bennes	...	Ted Silas
Linda Pierce	...	Mary Kuron
Olek Krupa	...	Tom Kuron
Marty Terry	...	Mrs. Adams
Ed Grady	...	Editor, Geoff McBain (as Ed L. Grady)
Jon Thompson	...	Jack Callow
Helen Baldwin	...	Eva Callow
Darla N. Warner	...	Shirley Harley
Christopher L. Gray	...	Choirmaster
Lucy Williams	...	Choirlady

Storyline

Martha Travis is a medium who makes contact with spirits "on the other side" and connects them with their loved ones still alive, in public performances. Trouble begins when she gives a message to Mary Kuron from her husband, Tom. But Tom isn't dead... yet. And Martha not only knows he will die, she also knows who killed him. And the murderer knows she knows...

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | alcoholic | female protagonist | mayor | reporter | 

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Taglines:

Between the known and the unknown is a spectrum of terror that only she can see.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 December 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arco Iris Negro

Filming Locations:

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goldcrest Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Martha Travis: Men lie with me, not to me!

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Connections

Features White Heat (1949)

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Soundtracks

"HE'S SO WONDERFUL"
Lyrics by Barry Mason
Composed by Christopher L. Gray
Performed by Lucy Williams

User Reviews

Worthwhile Viewing!

This is not a film everyone would enjoy. It takes a poke at an old and established con game -- for want of a more precise term, fake mediumship -- and then stands it on its head.

Spoilers follow.

Before an audience in a mining town, Arquette's character tells various audience members of their losses, while the victims are still alive! She's proved to be wrong, and then, later, the persons die in the manner she describes. This happens more than once. Had she been a local lady, she might have been a murder suspect, or possibly hanged as a witch.

The story builds slowly, and each incident just throws another log on the fire, making the atmosphere murkier and more mysterious. The film opens ambiguously and ends the same way.

As noted before, not for every taste. But for those with the appropriate taste buds, the taste of this is rich and flavorful.