Raising Cain (1992)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writer (WGA):

Brian De Palma (written by)

Release Date:

7 August 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

De Mented, De Ranged, De Ceptive, De Palma

Plot:

Jenny Nix, wife of eminent child psychologist Carter Nix, becomes increasingly concerned about her husband's...

Plot Keywords:

Psychologist | Blood | Stabbed In The Arm | Wig | Psychopath

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

John Lithgow	...	Carter / Cain / Dr. Nix / Josh / Margo
Lolita Davidovich	...	Jenny
Steven Bauer	...	Jack Dante
Frances Sternhagen	...	Dr. Lynn Waldheim
Gregg Henry	...	Lt. Terri
Tom Bower	...	Sgt. Cully
Mel Harris	...	Sarah
Teri Austin	...	Karen
Gabrielle Carteris	...	Nan
Barton Heyman	...	Mack
Amanda Pombo	...	Amy
Kathleen Callan	...	Emma
Ed Hooks	...	Coroner
Jim Johnson	...	Night clerk
Karen Kahn	...	Saleslady
Noe Montoya	...	Gardener
Riq Boogie Espinoza	...	Gardener
Carolyn Morrell	...	Newscaster
W. Allen Taylor	...	Peters
Scott Townley	...	Josh (little boy)
Mary Uhland	...	Receptionist
Steve Schill	...	Weatherman
James Van Harper	...	Young detective
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Geoff Callan	...	Young lover (uncredited)
John McGowan	...	Sam, Karen's son (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian De Palma

Writing credits (WGA)
Brian De Palma		(written by)

Produced by
Gale Anne Hurd	....	producer
Michael R. Joyce	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Pino Donaggio

Cinematography by
Stephen H. Burum

Film Editing by
Robert Dalva
Paul Hirsch
Bonnie Koehler

Casting by
Pam Dixon

Production Design by
Doug Kraner

Art Direction by
Mark Billerman

Set Decoration by
Barbara Munch

Costume Design by
Bobbie Read

Makeup Department
Thomas Floutz	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
John Engel	....	post-production supervisor (as John S. Engel)
John Engel	....	unit production manager (as John S. Engel)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Dyer	....	first assistant director
Gwyneth Horder-Payton	....	second second assistant director
Annie Spiegelman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Kristin Argue	....	drapery
J. Michael Davis	....	set dresser
J. Michael Davis	....	swing gang
Peter Hoobyar	....	swing gang
Geoffrey Lake	....	greensman
Bill Patchet	....	greensman
Edward C. Penna	....	swing gang
Gary E. Roloff	....	leadman
Kristen Ross	....	art department coordinator
Don W. Wegner	....	set designer
George Zimninsky	....	greensman
Michael Meier	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Morris	....	supervising sound editor
Bob Newlan	....	sound editor
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rodger Pardee	....	sound
Steve Richardson	....	sound editor
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Fred Runner	....	assistant sound mixer
Fred Runner	....	boom operator
Conrad Slater	....	cable person
Conrad Slater	....	second boom operator
Steve F.B. Smith	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Nelson Stoll	....	production sound supervisor
Hugo Weng	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Karin Hanson	....	special effects hair
Robbie Knott	....	special effects coordinator
Tom Knott	....	special effects technician

Stunts
Glory Fioramonti	....	stunts (as Gloria Fioramonti)
Gary Hymes	....	stunt coordinator
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts
Myke Schwartz	....	stunts
Fred M. Waugh	....	stunts (as Fred Waugh)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan S. Blauvelt	....	first assistant camera
Dustin Blauvelt	....	camera operator
Phil Bray	....	still photographer
Howard Campbell	....	grip
Dave Childers	....	dolly grip
Don L. Henderson	....	grip
Rod M. Janusch	....	lamp operator (as Rod Janusch)
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
J. Michael Muro	....	Steadicam operator (as James Muro)
Dan Nelson	....	grip
Medel Ramos	....	lamp operator
John Schoening	....	lamp operator
Mark Stanley	....	key grip
Terry Sullivan	....	lamp operator

Editorial Department
Adam C. Frank	....	assistant editor
Robert Grahamjones	....	assistant editor
Samuel H. Hinckley	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Frank Fitzpatrick	....	music supervisor
Natale Massara	....	conductor

Other crew
Carol DePasquale	....	script supervisor (as Carol De Pasquale)
Bruce Devan	....	location manager
Ernest D. Farino	....	title designer
Debra A. Girard	....	assistant location manager
Kay Kimler	....	fight choreographer
Cynthia LaPointe	....	location manager
Ellen Lent	....	location scout (as Ellen Winchell)
Kris Fullan Martinez	....	production coordinator
Kathryn Mindala	....	assistant accountant
Jennifer Scott	....	assistant production coordinator
Sandra L. Yeary	....	assistant accountant
Claudia Eastman	....	location scout (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Pacific Western

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video
• Fox Network (1995) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)

Special Effects

• 4-Ward Productions (additional optical effects)
• Pacific Title (optical effects)
• Todd Masters Company (animatronic puppets)

Other Companies

• Acme Soundworks Studio  sound editing (as Acme Soundworks)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color
• Forum Studio  music recorded and mixed at
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Pacific Title  end titles
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Segue Music  music editing
• Skywalker Sound  re-recorded at

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language and terror violence.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #31783) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Peru:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Los Altos, California, USA

Company:

Pacific Western

Quotes:

Lt. Terri: We need to find these babies now!

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

Soundtrack:

Morning (from 'Peer Gynt')

"Hickory, dickory, dock, Cain has picked his lock..."

The incredible work by star John Lithgow is the anchor of this psychological thriller from writer / director Brian De Palma.

Lithgow plays multiple roles in this story about brothers who perform nefarious deeds for their demented father, and the wife (Lolita Davidovich), who discovers the plot while simultaneously reigniting a sexual relationship with a former lover (Steven Bauer).

There are enough twists and turns in this elaborate movie that at first may have a viewer wondering just what is going on. De Palma's script is muddled, but writing isn't his greatest strength. (I haven't seen all of his thrillers, but there are holes in the "Dressed to Kill" script that I would like to see addressed someday.) Thankfully, he is still a good enough visual story teller and stylist and thanks to his skills and those of his actors (that's not to mention the typically haunting music score by frequent collaborator Pino Donaggio), he reels me in.

Although De Palma is already well known for referencing The Master (a.k.a. Alfred Hitchcock) in his works, there's actually a shot in here that I recognized from 1981's "Ghost Story" (directed by John Irvin). One De Palma trademark that was, well, interesting, was the use of a "shocking" ending, which helps to end the picture well.

Frequent De Palma actor Gregg Henry plays a detective.

This is a fairly good - definitely not great - movie that would probably be best recommended to those who already are admirers of this particular filmmaker. If there's one thing that helps it to be more than just average, it's Lithgow's work.

6/10