Screamers (1995)

(SIRIUS 6B, Year 2078) On a distant mining planet ravaged by a decade of war, scientists have created the perfect weapon: a blade-wielding, self-replicating race of killing devices known as... See full summary »

Director:

Christian Duguay

Writers:

Philip K. Dick (short story "Second Variety"), Dan O'Bannon (screenplay),

Stars:

Peter Weller, Roy Dupuis, Jennifer Rubin

3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Weller	...	Joe Hendricksson
Roy Dupuis	...	Becker
Jennifer Rubin	...	Jessica Hanson
Andrew Lauer	...	Ace Jefferson (as Andy Lauer)
Charles Edwin Powell	...	Ross (as Charles Powell)
Ron White	...	Chuck Elbarak
Michael Caloz	...	David
Liliana Komorowska	...	Landowska
Jason Cavalier	...	Leone
Leni Parker	...	Cpl. McDonald
Sylvain Massé	...	N.E.B. Soldier
Bruce Boa	...	Secretary Green
Tom Berry	...	Technician
Henry Ramer	...	Screamers Crawl Narration (voice)

Storyline

(SIRIUS 6B, Year 2078) On a distant mining planet ravaged by a decade of war, scientists have created the perfect weapon: a blade-wielding, self-replicating race of killing devices known as Screamers designed for one purpose only -- to hunt down and destroy all enemy life forms But man's greatest weapon has continued to evolve without any human guidance, and now it has devised a new mission: to obliterate all life. Col. Hendricksson (Peter Weller) is commander of a handful of Alliance soldiers still alive on Sirius 6B. Betrayed by his own political leaders and disgusted by the atrocities of this never-ending war, Hendricksson decides he must negotiate a separate peace with the New Economic Bloc's decimated forces. But to do so, he will have to cross a treacherous wasteland where the deadliest threat comes from the very weapons he helped to create.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | future | cut into pieces | combat | future war | 

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Taglines:

The Last Scream You Hear Will Be Your Own.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sci-fi violence and terror, some language and a brief moment of nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures

Country:

Canada USA Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Claw

Filming Locations:

Joliette, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

JPY 25,895,600 (Japan) (29 November 1996)

Gross:

JPY 48,688,300 (Japan) (13 December 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allegro Films, Fries Film Group, Fuji Eight Company Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS (8 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dan O'Bannon had been working on the screenplay for Screamers as early as 1981. The October 10, 1984 draft credits Michael Campus as co-writer. It is unknown whether Campus also intended to direct.

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Goofs

On the way out of NEB HQ, when Jefferson jokingly repeats the line "Can I come with you?" we see Hendricksson from behind as he points his rifle upward and away from Jefferson. When we cut to a front view, he is still pointing the rifle forward. Then we cut to a rear view again and the rifle is still pointed upward.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Screamers Crawl Narration: [voice over narration] For the last fifty years, the new economic block, the 'N.E.B.' Corporation, has controlled mining operations throughout the known solar systems.

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Connections

Followed by Screamers: The Hunting (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Hard Luck Solution"
Music by Jerry Devilliers
Lyrics by Dwight Druick
Vocals by Loulou Hughes

User Reviews

Worth watching

I saw this late one night on TV, and to my surprise i actually thought it was pretty good. The thing about movies today is that not many have a good solid idea, it's just not original enough. Here though i thought they had at least a decent concept and tried to capitalize on that.

On a distant world a war has raged for many years. One side however have developed a weapon capable of winning the conflict. It's a weapon called Screamers, small machines that hunt down and kill anyone not wearing a special bracelet identifying them as friendlies. The problem is that the weapon has now developed itself further, and is no longer capable of separating friend from foe...

In the half-asleep state of mind that i was when i started watching the movie i thought the idea of these weapons was rather interesting. And even when i had become more or less awake that thought stayed with me. Peter Weller is as usual decent enough in the lead. I can't say he's my favorite actor by far, but he always keeps a certain dignity in his performance. The rest of the actors left rather much to wish for though.

The special effects feel dated when watched today, but they are not too bad. Considering that this is not a high-budget movie they were sufficient. What really carries the movie though is the story and the surprises throughout. A sappy ending lowers the grade a notch, but this is still worth watching in my opinion. I rate it 5/10.