Dust Devil (1992)

A woman on the run from her abusive husband encounters a mysterious hitch-hiker.

Director:

Richard Stanley

Writer:

Richard Stanley

Stars:

Robert John Burke, Chelsea Field, Zakes Mokae

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert John Burke	...	Dust Devil (as Robert Burke)
Chelsea Field	...	Wendy Robinson
Zakes Mokae	...	Ben Mukurob
John Matshikiza	...	Joe Niemand
Rufus Swart	...	Mark Robinson
William Hootkins	...	Capt. Beyman
Terry Norton	...	Saarke Haarhoff (as Terri Norton)
Russell Copley	...	Cpl. Dutoit
Andre Odendaal	...	Cpl. Bates
Luke Cornell	...	Soldier 1
Philip Henn	...	Soldier 2
Robert Stevenson	...	Rifle Boy
Peter Hallr	...	Marist Monk
Stephen Earnhart	...	Camper Driver
Marianne Sägebrecht	...	Dr. Leidzinger

Storyline

A shape shifter (Burke) comes from the desert in search of victims, a spirit the locals call "The Dust Devil". He prays on the lonely and the unloved, those that have already lost everything but life itself. Wendy (Field) has broken up with her husband and wanders aimlessly in her car. She picks up a stranger and begins having misgivings about picking him up when strange things begin to occur. Meanwhile a local police officer (Mokae) tracks the killer. Aided by a shaman's admonishments about witchcraft he sets off to try and stop the beast before it can complete its grisly task.

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Plot Keywords:

desert | shape shifter | occult | phantasmagoria | dream sequence | 

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Taglines:

The hitch-hiker from hell!

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and sexuality, and for language

Details

Country:

South Africa UK

Release Date:

16 April 1993 (UK)

Also Known As:

Le souffle du démon

Filming Locations:

Namibia

Box Office

Budget:

£4,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Productions, Channel Four Films, Palace Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 108 min (Final Cut) 115 min (Workprint Version) 103 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Stanley's first cut of the film was 120 minutes long. US distributors Miramax hated it and produced its own 87-minute version without Stanley's permission or cooperation. This cut removed all references to the supernatural and almost completely disposed of the nominal hero's role (played by Zakes Mokae); it was released in the European market, however Stanley has never seen this version. Stanley came to an agreement with the producers over a 95-minute compromise cut. At this point the film's British backers, Palace Pictures, went bust, making it increasingly unlikely that the film would ever see the light of day in a UK cinema. Then after about a year of frantic searching, Stanley discovered that the original negative was being held by PolyGram. He went to the film's original investors, Channel 4 and British Screen Finances, which were naturally keen to see what had happened to their investment. PolyGram was obliged to hand over the negative, which Stanley re-cut to his own specifications, and with his own money.

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Goofs

When Wendy slams on the brakes of her VW Beetle, she doesn't touch the clutch, but the car stops without stalling.

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Quotes

Joe Niemand: The desert knows her name now. He has stolen both her eyes. When she looks into a mirror she will see his spirit, like a shawl, blowing tatters round her shoulders in a haze. And beyond the dim horizon a tapestry unfolding of the avenues of evil. And all of history set ablaze.

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Crazy Credits

The producers would especially like to thank the government and people of Namibia for their help in the making of this film.

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Connections

References The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974)

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Soundtracks

"Rude Boy Soldier"
Written by P. Barrett and A. Sylvester
Performed by Tony Rebel

User Reviews

Cryptic, bloody, fascinating

Very dark, gory, mystical film with strong, haunting atmosphere, much in the spirit of Stanley's work for occultist rock band Fields of the Nephilim. A demonic entity hitchhikes across the desert taking possession of bodies with which to commit ritualistic murders - the crime scenes, their walls minutely detailed with glyphs and sigils painted in the victims' blood, are stunningly effective. Skeptical detective finally enlists the help of an old shaman who knows the creature's vulnerabilities and the killer is stopped - or is it? --Really remarkable; anyone who enjoyed Stanley's earlier "Hardware" should make the effort to find it.