Uncle Sam (1996) (V)

Director:

William Lustig

Writer (WGA):

Larry Cohen (written by)

Release Date:

4 July 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Uncle Sam wants you... DEAD!

Plot:

Desert Storm vet who was killed in combat rises from the grave on July Fourth, to kill the unpatriotic citizens of his hometown...

Plot Keywords:

Impalement | Flag Burning | Holiday Horror | Uncle Nephew Relationship | Good Versus Evil

Cast

William Smith	...	Major
David 'Shark' Fralick	...	Sam Harper (as David Shark Fralick)
Christopher Ogden	...	Jody Baker
Leslie Neale	...	Sally Baker
Bo Hopkins	...	Sgt. Twining
Matthew Flint	...	Phil
Anne Tremko	...	Louise Harper
Isaac Hayes	...	Jed Crowley
Timothy Bottoms	...	Mr. Crandall
Tim Grimm	...	Ralph
P.J. Soles	...	Madge Cronin
Tom McFadden	...	Mac Cronin (as Thom McFadden)
Zachary McLemore	...	Barry Cronin
Morgan Paull	...	Mayor
Richard Cummings Jr.	...	Dan
Robert Forster	...	Congressman Cummings
Frank Pesce	...	Barker
Jason Adelman	...	Jesse
Laura Alcalde	...	Park Mother
Raquel Alessi	...	Girl Student (as Raquel Allessi)
Abby Ball	...	Rick
Stanton Barrett	...	Clete
Mark Chadwick	...	Willie on Stilts
Chris Durand	...	Sergeant
Taylor Jones	...	Boy Student
Desirae Klein	...	Barbeque Girl
Jason Lustig	...	Undertaker
Joseph Vitare	...	Kuwaiti Captain
Steve Moramarco	...	Himself - The Abe Lincoln Story - Guitar / Vocals
Jonathon Stearns	...	Himself - The Abe Lincoln Story - Piano
Gary Viggers	...	Himself - The Abe Lincoln Story - Bass
Peter Fullerton	...	Himself - The Abe Lincoln Story - Drums

Directed by
William Lustig

Writing credits (WGA)
Larry Cohen		(written by)

Produced by
George G. Braunstein	....	producer
Don Daniel	....	line producer
Gina Fortunato	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mark Governor

Cinematography by
James A. Lebovitz		(as James Lebovitz)

Film Editing by
Bob Murawski

Casting by
Karen Rea

Production Design by
Charlotte Malmlöf

Art Direction by
Sue Savage

Set Decoration by
Piper Ferguson		(as Piper Renee Ferguson)

Costume Design by
Amy Wetherbee

Makeup Department
Debra-Lee Davidson	....	key makeup artist (as Debi Davidson)
Christine M. Steele	....	hair stylist (as Christine Steele)

Production Management
Don Daniel	....	unit production manager
Gina Fortunato	....	production manager: second unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Laurence Barbera	....	first assistant director
Kelli L. Bright	....	second second assistant director (as Kelli Bright)
Richard A. Cooper	....	second assistant director (as Rick Cooper)
Lisa L. Hyde	....	second second assistant director (as Lisa Hyde)
Rebecca Levinson	....	second assistant director
Bob Murawski	....	third unit director
Spiro Razatos	....	second unit director

Art Department
Angel Acosta	....	property master
Mike Boudreau	....	assistant property master
Aubin Crowel	....	scenic artist (as Aubin Crowell)
Aubin Crowel	....	swing (as Aubin Crowell)
Wayne Feit	....	lead person
Tim Roberts	....	lead person
Beth Schneider	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Jon Ailetcher	....	production sound mixer
Suzanne Angel	....	adr editor
Nancy Lee Bleisch	....	assistant post-production sound coordinator
Gary Boatner	....	boom operator
Sarah Brady	....	adr supervisor
John Brasher	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roy Braverman	....	sound effects editor
Geoff Clark	....	post-production sound coordinator
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Kieron Estrada	....	utility sound
Michael Ferdie	....	dialogue assistant
Eric Hoeschen	....	adr mixer
Eric Hoeschen	....	foley mixer
Marty Hutcherson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carlos Isais	....	sound recordist
Manny Laba	....	boom operator: second unit
Adriane Marfiak	....	sound effects editor
Peggy McAffee	....	sound effects editor
Bruce Murphy	....	dialogue editor
Benjamin Patrick	....	production sound mixer: second unit (as Ben Patrick)
Laurence Puchalsky	....	dialogue assistant (as Laurence Pulchalsky)
Doug Reed	....	foley artist
Linda Wehde	....	adr assistant

Special Effects by
Joe Castro	....	special makeup effects crew: Sota Effects
Francious Delas	....	special makeup effects crew: Sota Effects
Josh Foster	....	special makeup effects crew: Sota Effects
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects supervisor: Ultimate Effects
Roy Knyrim	....	special makeup effects supervisor: Sota Effects
Albert Lannutti	....	special effects foreman: Ultimate Effects
Jerry Macaluso	....	special makeup effects supervisor: Sota Effects
Steve Newquist	....	special effects assistant: Ultimate Effects
Mark Villalobos	....	special makeup effects crew: Sota Effects (as Mark Villalobo)
Bill Zahn	....	special makeup effects crew: Sota Effects

Visual Effects by
David Fred Masselink	....	optical effects line-up (uncredited)

Stunts
David Barrett	....	stunts
Mark Chadwick	....	stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (as Gil Combs)
Edward Conna	....	stunts (as Eddie Conna)
Phil Culotta	....	stunts
Chris Durand	....	stunts
David M. Graves	....	stunts (as David Graves)
Charles Grisham	....	stunts
Rebecca Levinson	....	stunts
Greg Millea	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts (as Denny Pierce)
Spiro Razatos	....	stunt coordinator
Scott Rogers	....	stunts
Monty L. Simons	....	stunts (as Monty Simons)
Tony Snegoff	....	stunts
Tim Trella	....	stunts
Keith Woulard	....	stunts (as Keith Woolard)

Camera and Electrical Department
William Ambrose	....	best boy grip
Ken Bazal	....	second assistant camera
John Blake	....	additional assistant camera
Joey D. Brown	....	gaffer (as Joey Brown)
Peter Burge	....	electrician (as Pete Burge)
Erin-Bruce Cook	....	first assistant camera (as Erin Cook)
Troy Cook	....	additional camera operator
Sheryll Coulon	....	still photographer
Darrin DeLoach	....	second assistant camera
Dan Fisher	....	electrician
Scott Froschauer	....	dolly grip
Hector Gutierrez	....	best boy grip: second unit
Cheddy D. Hart	....	additional camera operator (as Cheddy Hart)
Jason D. Hodges	....	dolly grip (as Jason Hodges)
Jason D. Hodges	....	key grip (as Jason Hodges)
Dan Hofstad	....	best boy electric (as Dan Hofstadt)
Doug Houston	....	electrician
Renaldo Jackson	....	electrician
Magdalene Kispal	....	still photographer
Marc LaMatina	....	electrician (as Mark LaMattina)
Bruce Land	....	grip
Brian Lucas	....	electrician
Roy Ludt III	....	grip (as Roy Ludt)
Richard A. Ludt	....	key grip (as Richard Ludt)
John Massaro	....	best boy electric (as Johnnie Massaro)
Merlyn Muller	....	camera department intern
Merlyn Muller	....	video assistant
Bill Olofsson	....	camera loader (as William Oloffson)
Anthony Q. Palmer	....	electrician (as Anthony Palmer)
Jerry Patton	....	second assistant camera
Butch Pierson	....	first assistant camera
Rico Priem	....	grip
Steve Redondo	....	grip
Chip Rothenberger	....	rigging grip
Red Sinclair	....	gaffer
Tom Stanger	....	electrician (as Tom Stranger)
Chris Thornton	....	dolly grip (as Chris Thorton)
Robert Christopher Webb	....	electrician (as Rob Webb)
Joe Broderick	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Benjamin Lehmann	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Kevin Nieliwocki	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tom Thacker	....	extras casting
Bianca Cioffi-Zaring	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shea Koslow	....	seamstress
Jennifer Kouba	....	wardrobe supervisor
Nadia Smith	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Paul Hart	....	assistant editor
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Fred Teetzel	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Lisa Anne Miller	....	orchestrator
Jack K. Tillar	....	music editor (as Jack Tillar)

Transportation Department
Daniel Deprest	....	driver
Craig Lietzke	....	transportation captain
Sean Neel	....	driver
Glen R. Polzel	....	driver (as Glen Polzel)
David Shaffer	....	transportation coordinator (as Dave Shafer)

Other crew
Robin Bianchi	....	script supervisor
Nancy Lee Bleisch	....	adr loop group
Maria Bloom Luke	....	assistant post-production accountant
Steve Blum	....	adr loop group
Michele Bock	....	key set production assistant (as Michelle Bock)
Charmaine Boos	....	studio teacher
Charmaine Boos	....	welfare worker
Dick Brooks	....	publicist
Mauni P. Caves	....	location manager (as Mauni Caves)
Gregory Cole	....	production assistant
Peter Coleman	....	chef
Ed Cook	....	adr loop group
Linda O. Cook	....	adr loop group
Sherri Cosentino	....	production coordinator (as Sheri Cosentino)
Michael Donner	....	post-production accountant
Tim Dornberg	....	adr loop group
Maureen Duffy	....	completion bond: Film Finance Inc.
Cleber Farano	....	craft service (as Cleber Ferano)
Maria Govan	....	key set production assistant
Paul Hart	....	stock footage researcher
Paul Heath	....	key set production assistant
Alex Klyusner	....	production assistant
Sammy Kriestorac	....	production assistant
Jay Lee	....	location manager: second unit
Guy Mann-Dude	....	projectionist
Oscar Miranda	....	production assistant
Gracie Moore	....	adr loop group
Glenn Nishida	....	engineer
Buckley Norris	....	production insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben
Autumn Rivers	....	assistant production coordinator
Felice Schachter	....	production coordinator
Suzanne St. Pierre	....	craft service
George Sweney	....	production accountant
David Van Dam	....	assistant location manager
Bill Witka	....	security officer
Kurt Woolner	....	completion bond: Film Finance Inc.

Thanks
Jody Fedele	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• A-Pix Entertainment

Distributors

• A-Pix Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Blue Underground (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Elite Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Solomon International Pictures
• Stomp Visual (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Videosonic Arts (1996) (Greece) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Sota Effects (special makeup effects)
• Ultimate Effects

Other Companies

• Rescues Unlimited  medic
• Michelson Food Services  catering
• Hollywood Caterers  2nd unit catering
• Xtraz Casting  extras casting
• Small Talk  looping
• Title House  titles and opticals (as Title House)
• Magic Film and Video Works  video dailies (as Magic Film & Video Works)
• A.R.I.Q. Footage Inc.  stock footage
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  production insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Archive Films  stock footage
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Eastern Costume  special thanks
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Film/Audio Services Inc.  stock footage
• Larco Productions  stock footage
• WPA Film Library  stock footage (as The WPA Film Library)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong horror violence and brief nudity

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:MA | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:18 | South Korea:18 | UK:18 (video premiere) | USA:R (certificate #34575) | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

La Verne, California, USA

Company:

A-Pix Entertainment

Trivia:

Dedicated to "Lucio" (Fulci, the Italian horror director).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Uncle Sam is shot towards the end of the movie, the gun used on him is a six shooter, yet it fires 8 bullets.

Quotes:

Sam:Don't be afraid, it's only friendly fire.

Movie Connections:

References Maniac Cop 2 (1990)

Soundtrack:

Dumped

Surprisingly Good

I rented this in the mood for a really bad movie that I could rip to shreds but to my surprise, and despite what everyone else seems to think of it, it was actually quite good!

Yes, there are all kinds of B movie slip-ups (like school being in session in the middle of summer, the crippled and deformed blind kid who somehow has been equipped with a sixth sense after a fireworks accident the previous July 4th, and the casket being dropped off and kept in the sister's living room as if it were a new TV set or piece of furniture) but I found myself ignoring all the flaws because the actors had so much conviction in their roles, and because Lustig's camerawork was so fluid and put me under its spell. The image of that Uncle Sam on enormous stilts first peeping into some bedroom, then hobbling away from some mysterious pursuer is one of the most effective, haunting visuals I've seen in a long while.

I was aware of his reputation for sleazy shlock but the surprise here is how much restraint and sensitivity Lustig shows in so many of the scenes (though admittedly not all). Working with a typically insightful/erratic/cliched/inspired/absorbing/impossible-to-pigeonhole script by the infamous Larry Cohen, you can tell that they really have something on their mind here other than just another slasher film ripoff. There are wonderful, quiet scenes like the one where Isaac Hayes' one-legged veteran takes the impressionable kid aside and explains that killing machines like his Uncle Sam aren't heroes at all, or the one where Timothy Bottoms' grade school teacher is forced to defend his pacifist stance during the Vietnam War to a class of skeptical students. And there are just clever, little tongue-in-cheek details throughout that clue you in (if you're paying attention) to the fact that the filmmakers put real thought and consideration into the exercise.

Whatever external flaws it may have, beneath its goofy premise there's real merit here. This is a movie that possesses something which many of its big budget counterparts wish they had: a pulse.