Crash (1996/I)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

J.G. Ballard (book)
David Cronenberg (written by)

Release Date:

21 March 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The most controversial film you will ever see.

Plot:

After getting into a serious car accident, a TV director discovers an underground sub-culture of scarred, omnisexual car-crash victims who use car accidents and the raw sexual energy they produce to try to rejuvenate his sex life with his wife.

Plot Keywords:

Sick | Leg Spreading | Insanity | Marriage | Unfaithful Husband

Awards:

8 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

James Spader	...	James Ballard
Holly Hunter	...	Helen Remington
Elias Koteas	...	Vaughan
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Catherine Ballard
Rosanna Arquette	...	Gabrielle
Peter MacNeill	...	Colin Seagrave
Yolande Julian	...	Airport Hooker
Cheryl Swarts	...	Vera Seagrave
Judah Katz	...	Salesman
Nicky Guadagni	...	Tattooist
Ronn Sarosiak	...	A.D.
Boyd Banks	...	Grip
Markus Parilo	...	Man in Hanger
Alice Poon	...	Camera Girl
John Stoneham Jr.	...	Trask
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Cronenberg	...	Auto Wreck Salesman (voice) (uncredited)
Jordan-Patrick Marcantonio	...	Man in Tattoo Parlor (uncredited)

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits
J.G. Ballard		(book)
David Cronenberg		(written by)

Produced by
Chris Auty	....	co-executive producer
David Cronenberg	....	producer
Andras Hamori	....	co-executive producer
Robert Lantos	....	executive producer
Stéphane Reichel	....	co-producer (as Stephane Reichel)
Marilyn Stonehouse	....	co-producer
Jeremy Thomas	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Peter Suschitzky		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen

Production Design by
Carol Spier

Art Direction by
Tamara Deverell

Set Decoration by
Elinor Rose Galbraith

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Mary-Lou Green-Benvenuti	....	key hair stylist
Shonagh Jabour	....	key makeup artist
Katherine James	....	makeup artist (as Kathrine James)
Carol Marinoff	....	assistant hair stylist
Frances Mathias	....	hair stylist
Leslie Ann Sebert	....	assistant makeup artist (as Leslie Sebert)

Production Management
Marilyn Stonehouse	....	production manager
Sandra Tucker	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cassandra Cronenberg	....	trainee assistant director
Tom Quinn	....	second assistant director
Michele Rakich	....	third assistant director
David J. Webb	....	first assistant director

Art Department
John Bannister	....	scenic artist (as S. John Bannister)
Gordon Becker	....	carpenter
David Orin Charles	....	set dresser
Joe Curtin	....	construction coordinator
Nick Fischer	....	on-set dresser
Danielle Fleury	....	assistant set decorator
John Flynn	....	stand-by painter
Ian Fraser	....	head carpenter
Christopher Geggie	....	property master
Arvinder Grewal	....	third assistant art director
Jacqui Hemingway	....	assistant head painter
John Keenan	....	carpenter
Sabri Lariani	....	assistant head carpenter
Melissa Morgan	....	head painter
Peter P. Nicolakakos	....	lead set dresser
Sheri O'Rourke	....	assistant props
Denis Perrier	....	assistant head carpenter
Andrew M. Stearn	....	first assistant art director
Robert H. Steiner	....	construction accountant (as Robert Steiner)

Sound Department
Denis Bellingham	....	boom operator
Tom Bjelic	....	sound effects editor
Steph Carrier	....	control room operator
Christian T. Cooke	....	adr recordist
Chris Czopnik	....	assistant sound effects editor
David Evans	....	sound effects supervisor
James A. Gore	....	foley assistant
Wayne Griffin	....	supervising dialogue editor
Bill Hermans	....	second engineer
Bradford L. Hohle	....	consultant: Dolby
Joe Lafontaine	....	assistant dialogue editor
John Laing	....	dialogue editor
David Lee	....	sound mixer
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Dino Pigat	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ian Rankin	....	control room operator
James Robb	....	assistant dialogue editor
David Rose	....	control room operator (as Dave Rose)
Dale Sheldrake	....	dialogue editor
John Douglas Smith	....	sound effects editor
Lou Solakofski	....	sound re-recording mixer
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Clive Turner	....	assistant sound effects editor
Tony Van den Akker	....	foley recordist
Randy Wilson	....	control room operator

Special Effects by
Warren Appleby	....	special effects assistant
Stephan Dupuis	....	special effects makeup
Michael Kavanagh	....	special effects coordinator
Dennis Pawlik	....	special effects assistant
Dawn Rivard	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Dave McGhie	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Lloyd Adams	....	stunt driver
Marco Bianco	....	stunt driver
Phil Chiu	....	stunt driver
Shelley Cook	....	stunt driver
Tony Cordeiro	....	stunt driver
Peter Ellery	....	stunt driver
Ted Hanlan	....	stunt coordinator
Danny Lima	....	stunts
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt driver
D. McLean	....	stunt driver
Rick Parker	....	stunt driver
Branko Racki	....	stunt driver
Bryan Renfro	....	stunt driver
Paul Rutledge	....	stunt driver
Peter Szkoda	....	stunt driver
Tye Tyukodi	....	stunt driver
Ron Vanhart	....	stunt driver
John Stead	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Scotty Allan	....	gaffer
Michael Anderson	....	electrician
Allan Angus	....	generator operator
Russel Bowie	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Russel Bowie	....	second assistant camera
Sandy Cooper	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Candide Franklyn	....	dolly grip
Michael Gibson	....	still photographer
Neil Gover	....	generator operator
Rich Green	....	camera trainee
Joel Guthro	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Michael Hall	....	first assistant camera
Delroy P. Jarrett	....	electrician
Mike Kirilenko	....	key grip (as Michael Kirilenko)
Steve Klys	....	grip
Jim MacCammon	....	electrician
Steven Morrisson	....	best boy electric
Andrew W. Peart	....	video playback operator
Jacqueline Pelle	....	camera trainee
Peter Suschitzky	....	camera operator
Samuel Turturici	....	grip
Jonathan Wenk	....	still photographer
Ron Yolevsky	....	best boy grip

Casting Department
Donna Dupere	....	extras casting
Aric Dupere	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sylvie Bonniere	....	wardrobe assistant/seamstress
Brenda Gilles	....	costume supervisor
Ann Henshaw	....	costume coordinator
Ann Henshaw	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Kathleen Cummins	....	editing intern
Kevin Downer	....	post-production assistant
Samantha Dubiel	....	post-production coordinator
Ricardo Olivero	....	color timer
Tad Seaborn	....	first assistant editor: avid
Peter Watson	....	first assistant editor: film
Aaron Woodley	....	editing intern
Bill Holley	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Holly Carroll	....	music preparation
Robert Cotnoir	....	music coordinator
Simon Franglen	....	electronic music preparation
Gary Gray	....	music scoring engineer
Tod Holcomb	....	associate music editor
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Peter Schenkman	....	music contractor
Howard Shore	....	conductor
Howard Shore	....	orchestrator
Ben Tucker	....	second assistant music editor

Transportation Department
John Cocks	....	driver
Walter Di Bacco	....	driver
Robert Geeves	....	driver
Jazz Helie	....	transportation coordinator
Tim Hilts	....	driver captain
Bill Leeking	....	picture car captain
Doug Perry	....	driver
Brian M. Travers	....	driver: set dressing department
Grant Volkers	....	driver
Dean Wittaum	....	head driver
Ted Nobles	....	driver: transportation department (uncredited)
Duane Shearer	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Mark Adams	....	stand-in: Mr. Spader
Nicolette Beasley	....	deliveries coordinator
Debra Beers	....	location manager
Shelley A. Boylen	....	pre-production coordinator
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach
Tracey Dodokin	....	assistant: Mr. Reichel
Leslie Druker	....	script supervisor
Stephan Dupuis	....	prosthetics designer
Prudence Emery	....	publicist
Chris Gibson	....	stand-in: Mr. Koteas
Joanne Jackson	....	production accountant
Jamie Jones	....	MotoCam operator
Beverley Kolbe	....	location production assistant
Jeff Krebs	....	technical consultant: avid (as Jeffrey Krebs)
Glace W. Lawrence	....	line producer's intern
Mark Logan	....	assistant location manager
Christine Manning	....	stand-in: Ms. Unger
Ramona Ng	....	assistant: Mr. Reichel
Susan Phillips	....	production coordinator
Matthew Rawley	....	assistant accountant (as Matthew J. Rawley)
Matthew Rawley	....	post-production accountant (as Matthew J. Rawley)
Dawn Rivard	....	shop coordinator
Linda Terrio	....	stand-in: Ms. Hunter
Jeremy Thomas	....	presenter
Phillip L. Tomalin Jr.	....	assistant: Mr. Spader (as Phillip Tomalin)
Abigail Tucker	....	assistant production coordinator
Sandra Tucker	....	assistant: Mr. Cronenberg
Loretta Vanhart	....	assistant accountant
Danny White	....	technician
Andrea Wood	....	business and legal affairs
G. Michael Currie	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Stephan Mallmann	....	business affairs: Recorded Picture Company (uncredited)
David Porter	....	craft service (uncredited)
Judy Sharinger	....	legal delivery supervisor (uncredited)
Ian Thompson	....	production assistant (uncredited) (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Alliance Communications Corporation
• Movie Network, The (TMN)
• Recorded Picture Company (RPC)
• Téléfilm Canada

Distributors

• Bac Films (1996) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (UK)
• Concorde Film (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (1997) (USA) (laserdisc)
• DNC Home Entertainment (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• Fine Line Features (1997) (USA)
• Finnkino (1996) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• José Frade Producciones Cinematográficas S.A.
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (2003) (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• New Line Cinema (video)
• Nordisk Film Home Entertainment (1997) (Finland) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Avid Film Composer  edited on
• Casablanca Sound Services  adr recorded at
• Casablanca Sound Services  re-recording facilities
• Casablanca Sound Services  sound editing
• Casablanca Sound Services  sound transfers
• DeLuxe Toronto  foley recorded at
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Donna Dupere Casting  extras casting
• Film Effects  end title design
• Film Effects  opening title sequence
• Film Finances Canada (1984) Inc.  completion guaranty provided by
• Francont Film  negative cutting
• Magnetic North, The  video transfer
• Manta Eastern Sound Ltd.  music recording
• Meespierson Royalty Management and Collection, B.V.  world revenues collected and distributed by
• Numbers  edge coding
• Panavision Canada  grip and lighting equipment provided by
• Payments Plus  payroll services
• Royal Bank of Canada  production financing provided by
• Starcraft Services  craft service
• Studio Film Catering  catering

MPAA:

Rated NC-17 for numerous explicit sex scenes.

Runtime:

100 min | 90 min (R-rated version)

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English | Swedish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (TV rating) | USA:NC-17 (certificate #34312) | Hungary:18 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:VM18 | Japan:R-18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | South Korea:18 (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (video rating) (cut)

Filming Locations:

North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Alliance Communications Corporation

Trivia:

Was voted the #1 movie of 1996 by "Les Cahiers du Cinéma".

Goofs:

Continuity: After Vaughan repeatedly crashes the left front bumper of his Lincoln into a junker James Ballard is sitting in, causing major damage to the bumper and the lights, Vaughan is soon shown driving on the highway with no damage to the bumper and both left lights operational.

Quotes:

James Ballard: You had sex with all those men in cars? Only in cars?
Helen Remington: Yes. I didn't plan it that way.
James Ballard: Did you fantasize that Vaughan was photographing all these sex acts as though they were traffic accidents?
Helen Remington: Yes. They felt like traffic accidents.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Indie Sex: Taboos (2001) (TV)

dangerously erotic work that changes years after seeing it

David Cronenberg's Crash was one of those "dirty" movies I more than likely wasn't supposed to rent let alone watch when the NC-17 cut first came into existence on video (and, if anything, the film was more than an eye-opener in my young teen state, going even further than I had seen at the time with Boogie Nights or Kids). But I didn't pay quite as much attention to the story as I should've, aside from the James Dean subplot (as I remembered it anyway, with Elias Koteas's character), and from the very dark atmosphere. It was almost TOO dark at the time, and I stayed away until recently when it was shown on TV late one night. Seeing it now I'm much more absorbed into the wretchedly but totally, sensually charged work by the actors and the crew, and Cronenberg's utmost trust and professionalism with both. It certainly has that effect on a first viewing of veering way too close into the soft-core boundaries, and even seems like the kind of thing that I used to see in that 'scandalous' section of mainstream adult films as a kid like Last Tango in Paris. But the psychology behind the characters ends up being more striking than anything, and like many of Cronenberg's films, the duality of man (and woman, apparently) comes strongly into play, and the merging of the two as usually becomes the case.

James Spader is in one of his very best performances- albeit only somewhat removed from the sexual deviants of Sex Lies & Videotape and Secretary (maybe closer to the latter, however without any of that film's outright satire)- as Ballard, also the author this film is based upon. He gets in a car accident, a horrible one, that kills a doctor and leaves his wife (Holly Hunter) injured both physically and psychologically. But Ballard and his wife (Deborah Kara Unger, very good as well) get brought into this strange world that's been built around Vaughn (Koteas, perhaps in one of his top 3 best pieces of work, very creepy but somehow convincing early on, at least to his new arrivals). He is a man who is completely enveloped into his psyche of car-crash sex, and how history ends up adding a mystique to it all (hence the James Dean references, which are very amusingly pathological). But this all becomes very dangerous, if only on some subversive level, when Ballard, his wife, and Hunter's Helen Remington get involved in this underground cult.

Seeing the film again, I'm a lot more struck this time after seeing other Cronenberg work how the style slips so amazingly into the content of the picture. The first time around, the style almost seemed to be just another side to the content, that it was obvious to have such a wild yet controlled technique, particularly for the sex &/or car crash scenes. This is as much a credit to Cronenberg's poetic touches to the material as it is to DP Peter Suschitzky and Howard Shore's music, which somehow rises above being too pornographic to being really touching. In fact, after seeing it again very late at night and not remembering the entire film, I may even need to see it again to let it all sink in. But really this won't be the case for all- the NC-17 rating isn't too unwarranted in this case, even if it's more a rating for the nature of the sexual contact and aggressiveness of the fetishism as opposed to something like the Dreamers where there was blatant nudity a lot of the time. I wouldn't dare recommend the R-rated version, however, as the whole point is to see it all in its un-tarnished view. It's a harsh vision painted here of people reaching out for some kind of connection through the most destructive way imaginable. One thing's for certain, once you've seen it there's no mistaking this from Paul Haggis's Crash (and, for me, this beats out Haggis's contrived good-intention machine any day).