Fallen (1998)

Homicide detective John Hobbes witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese. Soon after the execution the killings start again, and they are very similar to Reese's style.

Director:

Gregory Hoblit

Writer:

Nicholas Kazan

Stars:

Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Denzel Washington	...	John Hobbes
John Goodman	...	Jonesy
Donald Sutherland	...	Lt. Stanton
Embeth Davidtz	...	Gretta Milano
James Gandolfini	...	Lou
Elias Koteas	...	Edgar Reese
Gabriel Casseus	...	Art
Michael J. Pagan	...	Sam
Robert Joy	...	Charles
Frank Medrano	...	Charles' Killer
Ronn Munro	...	Mini Golf Owner
Cynthia Hayden	...	Society Woman
Ray Xifo	...	Society Man
Tony Michael Donnelly	...	Toby
Tara Carnes	...	Teenage Girl

Storyline

Det. John Hobbes is convinced that when killer Edgar Reese is executed, all of his troubles are over. But when people he knows and people on the street start to sing the same tune that Reese sang in the gas chamber, and those same people taunt him, he is told that maybe the cursed fallen angel Azazel is behind it all. Azazel is cursed to roam the Earth without a form, and he can switch bodies by any contact, making him hard to track. When Hobbes is forced to kill a man possessed by Azazel, he must clear his name while protecting his family and others from the evil, vengeful Azazel.

---

Plot Keywords:

azazel | serial killer | fallen angel | demon | demonic possession | 

---

Taglines:

Detective John Hobbes is searching for a criminal he's already met... already caught... and already killed.

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Syriac Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

Release Date:

16 January 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le témoin du mal

Filming Locations:

Holmesburg Prison - 8215 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,401,566, 16 January 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,188,006, 22 March 1998

Company Credits

Production Co:

Turner Pictures (I), Atlas Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The precinct house and the squad room used are those in the long-running television series NYPD Blue (1993). Gregory Hoblit also directed NYPD Blue (1993). Aida Turturro plays Tiffany and appears with James Gandolfini - later they would appear together in The Sopranos (1999). Nicholas Turturro appeared in NYPD Blue (1993).

---

Goofs

After shooting a man on the street, Hobbes walks over to the man lying in the street. The dead man is shown with a gun still in his hand, but when Hobbes reaches only the man's feet (nowhere near his hand), Hobbes is seen kicking the gun away.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Azazel: I wanna tell you about the time I almost died...

---

Connections

Referenced in The Jay Leno Show: Episode #1.75 (2010)

---

Soundtracks

Who Is He And What Is He To You
Written by Bill Withers and Stan McKenny
Performed by Meshell Ndegeocello
Courtesy of Maverick Recording Company/Reprise Records
By Arrangement With Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Clever

A chilling psychological thriller, that is cleverly written and superbly portrayed.

This film is not for everyone, you'll need patience and a real thirst for a good thriller. This film will play with your mind, it won't cover the screen with visuals and gore; that's why it works.

Sit back and be absorbed by the story, be amazed by the cast, and be shocked by the climax.

Warning, if you bore easily stay away, if you love a mind bending thriller; you won't find many better.

Fantastic and clever 9/10