IMDb > The Tommyknockers (1993) (TV)
The Tommyknockers
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The Tommyknockers (1993) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

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The Tommyknockers (1993) -- A buried UFO slowly turns local inhabitants into gizmo-building alien mutates.

Overview

User Rating:
5.1/10   3,706 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Lawrence D. Cohen (teleplay)
Stephen King (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Tommyknockers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 May 1993 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
A chilling thriller from the master of horror. more
Plot:
A buried UFO slowly turns local inhabitants into gizmo-building alien mutates. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Primetime Emmy. more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Happy Birthday Traci Lords!
 (From pretty-scary. 7 May 2009, 12:23 PM, PDT)

Stephen King’s ‘It’ Coming To The Big Screen
 (From Screen Rant. 13 March 2009, 12:05 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Initially promising, ultimately very disappointing more (33 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jimmy Smits ... Jim 'Gard' Gardner

Marg Helgenberger ... Roberta 'Bobbi' Anderson

John Ashton ... Trooper Butch Duggan

Allyce Beasley ... Deputy Becka Paulson

Robert Carradine ... Bryant Brown

Joanna Cassidy ... Sheriff Ruth Merrill

Annie Corley ... Marie Brown

Cliff De Young ... Joe Paulson (as Cliff DeYoung)

Traci Lords ... Nancy Voss

E.G. Marshall ... Ev Hillman
Chuck Henry ... Chaz Stewart
Leon Woods ... Hilly Brown
Paul McIver ... Davey Brown
Yvonne Lawley ... Mabel Noyes
Bill Johnson ... Elt Barker
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Stephen King's The Tommyknockers
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Runtime:
181 min | 120 min (cut version) | Japan:120 min (video version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The films Italian title is "Le Creature del buio", meaning "The Creatures of Darkness." more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Gard is on the disk that controls the ship, he has a nose bleed. His face is alternately clean/bloody in subsequent shots. more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Tomi Knockers (1994) (V) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
13 out of 17 people found the following comment useful.
Initially promising, ultimately very disappointing, 21 July 2000
4/10
Author: mikehellens from London

Aside from the odd exception, Stephen King has rarely transfered well to the big or small screen, and along comes this little mini-series which is a by-numbers example of what actually gets lost in translation. Firstly: when these novels are adapted for the screen, fundamental elements of the plot are excised or replaced, and this is true of even the better King-flicks ("The Shining" and "Carrie" are just as guilty as pulp trash like "Needful Things" and "Cujo"). "The Tommyknockers" begins as if it's going to buck the trend, establishing the majority of the usual King misfits early on, and actually adds a little suspense by not showing its hand too early - for example, this adaptation does not make clear what's buried out back in Bobbie's farm straight away. But as the town begins to be affected by said item, it's off into it's own world, and toss the novel out the window. Granted, some of the more imaginative gimmicks the township dreams up cannot be translated to screen with the appropriate panache, especially with the meagre budget allocated to this project - but does everything need to look so cheap? Much of the dialogue at best doesn't ring true, at worse stinks. Witness the actually quite good Marg Helgenberger delivering some awful lines ("Gard, let's experience it together!") but in an offhand way that suggests that she's really aware that she's not in a Mamet play, but, Hell, let's make the best of it anyway. Any good points? Well, Joanna Cassidy is always worth watching, but an actress of her class still can't make a thrown together middle-age romance look realistic. Helgenberger and Allyce Beasley come out of it with the least mud sticking. Worst crimes? Jimmy Smits completely miscast, terrible dialogue, cheap effects, complete massacre of the source material, Traci Lords all at sea outside of a John Waters movie or skinflick ... the list goes on.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Tommyknockers (1993) (TV)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The only part I like freakyteenager666
My thoughts. pic_a_cherry414
Anyone know where I can purchase Stephen Kings 'The Tommy Knockers' Domnio52
I'm glad they cut some stuff from the book...(spoilers) cjstimpy2
This movie blows hard. soggytwinkies
Top 3 Funniest Parts (unintentional) SmokeManmuscle
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