Soultaker (1990)

Director:

Michael Rissi

Writers:

Vivian Schilling (story) and
Eric Parkinson (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 October 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

There is no Stairway to Heaven.

Plot:

Four teenagers are killed in a car accident. Two of the teenagers refuse to go with "The Grim Reaper" and a race between life and death ensues!

Plot Keywords:

Soul | Teen | Death | Angel | Grim Reaper

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Joe Estevez	...	The Man / Soultaker
Vivian Schilling	...	Natalie McMillan
Gregg Thomsen	...	Zach Taylor
Robert Z'Dar	...	Angel of Death
David 'Shark' Fralick	...	Brad Deville (as David Shark)
Jean Reiner	...	Anna McMillan
Chuck Williams	...	Tommy Marcetto
David Fawcett	...	Mayor Grant McMillan
Gary Kohler	...	Sgt. Haggerty
Dave Scott	...	Officer Mel
Peter Dach	...	Store Clerk
Cinda Lou Freeman	...	Candice
Meschelle Manley	...	Karen
Charles Bosworth	...	Mr. Taylor
Jeff Deen	...	Dr. Richard Reiner
John Edd Thompson	...	News Anchor
Eric McLendon	...	On-Air Reporter
Bob Grant	...	Reporter #1
Eric Parkinson	...	News Reporter
Barbara B. Patten	...	Nun
Anna H. Watts	...	Nun
Eugene Walter	...	Nun
Sammy Busby	...	David Smith
Josef Holloway	...	Orderly
Kimberly Keltner	...	Nurse #1
Sally Daniel	...	Nurse #2
Alice B. Blake	...	Dying Lady
George Wadlow	...	Dying Man

Directed by
Michael Rissi

Writing credits
Vivian Schilling		(story) and
Eric Parkinson		(story)
Vivian Schilling		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dennis J. Carlo	....	executive producer
Anthony Dalesandro	....	co-producer
Connie Kingrey	....	producer
Charles Luria	....	executive producer
Eric Parkinson	....	producer
Ivor Royston	....	executive producer
John Scherer	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jon McCallum

Cinematography by
James Rosenthal		(director of photography) (as James A. Rosenthal)

Film Editing by
Jason Coleman
Michael Rissi

Casting by
Mary Gaffney
Daniel Travis

Art Direction by
Thad Carr

Costume Design by
Sylvia Lawrence

Makeup Department
Terry Barker	....	hair stylist
Terry Barker	....	makeup artist
Maurissa Bryant	....	hair stylist
Maurissa Bryant	....	makeup artist
Ron Jacobs	....	hair stylist: second unit
Ron Jacobs	....	makeup artist: second unit
Jeff Kent	....	hair stylist
Jeff Kent	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jason Coleman	....	post-production supervisor
John Scherer	....	unit production manager

Art Department
Blake Savelle	....	property master

Sound Department
Philip G. Allen	....	sound designer (as Phillip Allan)
Kami Asgar	....	post-production sound
Bob Grant	....	sound mixer
Tahamas Ray	....	post-production sound
Charlie Shepard	....	boom operator (as Charlie Sheppard)
Lawrence L. Simeone	....	post-production sound (as Larry Simeone)

Visual Effects by
Jerry Kitz	....	animation effects
Jerry Kitz	....	opticals
John Lambert	....	animation effects
John Lambert	....	opticals

Stunts
Gary Beal	....	stunts (as Gary Beall)
David 'Shark' Fralick	....	stunts (as David Shark)
Bob Ivy	....	stunt coordinator
Bob Ivy	....	stunts
David Sanders	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
David Adams	....	best boy: second unit
Norman Andrews	....	assistant camera: second unit
Glenn Ballard	....	grip: second unit
David Dechant	....	second assistant camera (as David Dechent)
Greg Dudler	....	best boy electric
Tommy Fell	....	grip
Matt Gulbin	....	best boy grip
Michael Gulbin	....	key grip (as Michael Gulfin)
Zoltan Gyulai	....	first assistant camera (as Zoli Gyulay)
Darryl Humber	....	best boy grip
Robert J. LeRoux	....	assistant camera: second unit
Randy Shanofsky	....	first assistant camera
Timothy Sheffer	....	assistant camera (as Tim Sheffer)
Phillip Sheppard	....	grip
David Watson	....	gaffer
Jeff Weaver	....	electrician
Brett Webster	....	camera operator: second unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Heidi Fundinger	....	wardrobe assistant
Kelly Walker	....	wardrobe: second unit

Editorial Department
Michael Kennen	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Sally Daniel	....	production assistant
Gary Dennis	....	production assistant
Cheryl Greathouse	....	production assistant
Andrea E. Griffin	....	production assistant
Chad Hahn	....	production assistant
Debbie Jackson	....	production coordinator
Kimberly Jacobs	....	production assistant
Kimberly Keltner	....	script supervisor
Angela B. Moody	....	production assistant
Mike Plantholt	....	production assistant
Tyner Reeves	....	production assistant
Sharon Yahnke	....	craft service
Lonnie Ramati	....	production business & legal affairs (uncredited)

Thanks
Morris Asgar	....	special thanks
Mel Cosgrove	....	special thanks
Peter Lossing	....	special thanks
Ray Quinn	....	special thanks
Jim Robilard	....	special thanks
Mark Strickland	....	special thanks
Tony Williams	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Park-Schilling Productions Inc.
• Pacific West Entertainment Group
• Victory Pictures Production

Distributors

• AIP Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Hemdale Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollydan Works (1992) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Nova Home Video (1990) (Canada) (VHS)
• Plaza Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Visions Inc. (animation effects)

Other Companies

• MX/FX  sound transfers
• Cine Video  camera equipment provided by (as Cine-Video)
• Victory Studios  digital stereo mastering
• Victory Studios  sound post-production
• Visions Inc.  opticals
• The City of Mobile, Alabama  special thanks
• The Alabama Film Commission  special thanks
• Danka Business Machines  special thanks
• Party City Rentals  special thanks
• Fiddler Hi-Fi  special thanks
• Richard's Garage  special thanks
• Security Equipment Inc.  special thanks
• Pet Haven  special thanks
• Food World  special thanks
• Mobile Infirmary  special thanks
• Graphic Spiritwear  special thanks
• The Tapia Family  special thanks
• Balloons Are Everywhere  special thanks
• All Star Video  special thanks
• Malaga Inn  special thanks

Also Known As:

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | UK:15 | USA:R | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Mobile, Alabama, USA

Company:

Park-Schilling Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Vivian Schilling who appears as Natalie in the film, wrote some of the story.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Natalie, Zach, and Tommy are at the gas station, a collection jar with a sign that says "Please Help Find Stewart Fund" is attached to the pillar holding up the cigarette rack. When they leave, the jar and sign are attached to the cash register on the opposite side of the counter.

Quotes:

The Man:You can't kill a man who's already dead.

Movie Connections:

References Carnival of Souls (1962)

Soundtrack:

Lonely in Love

I was one of the distributors of Soultaker

I have read quite a few comments about "Soultaker" and how bad the movie is or isn't. As a filmmaker myself I can tell you that given the same set of parameters most of the heavy critics on here would have a completely different opinion of Soultaker or most movies done on a low budget if they worked in the business. I had the honor of distributing this film for A.I.P. Studios when it came out. It will go down as one of the most successful selling movies I carried during my time as a distributor. The video stores ate it up, and it rented very well. There was an entire industry devoted to making low budget or "B" movies especially back then. A.I.P. Studios, PM Entertainment, Raedon Home Video, these companies put out product every month that was well received by video stores, the makers of these films had to be clever in giving the audience production value and compared to today were high definition CGI is the norm, that was simply not the case back then and to make a comparison is ridiculous. Can you imagine what these talented filmmakers could do with a big studio budget. I can tell you making low budget movies can be challenging and I believe that is why a lot of us do it, to see how good we could do with such limitations. There are plenty of films that really don't deliver what you think they should with an all star cast and a $50 million dollar budget. The playing field is different and that's part of the magic. I directed a picture called "Meltdown" with Joe Estevez and Robert Zdar in it strangely enough and I can tell you that both of them are not only great people to work with but are excellent actors to boot. That is how "B" movies are done, they have either an actor like Joe who comes from a famous acting family or they are older "A" actors that are no longer at the top of the heap, for example: Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, David Carridine(RIP), Tony Curtis and list goes on. All of these people are fantastic actors and well recognized by the public and a great value to a low budget film. I am glad to see after all this time Soultaker is now a cult classic and has it's place in movie history a time that I wish would come back. Business was incredible back then and Soultaker certainly delivered, so Vivian if you read this my hat is off to you for your efforts and I wish you the best. I know you write books now but it would be great if you would do more movies the business could use your talent.