The Night Flier (1997)

Director:

Mark Pavia

Writers (WGA):

Stephen King (story)
Mark Pavia (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 February 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Never believe what you publish...Never publish what you believe.

Plot:

A reporter is on the trial of a vampiric murderer who travels by plane.

Plot Keywords:

Head Ripped Off | Bitten In The Throat | Ripped Neck | Severed Arm | Face Ripping

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Miguel Ferrer	...	Richard Dees
Julie Entwisle	...	Katherine 'Jimmy' Blair
Dan Monahan	...	Merton Morrison
Michael H. Moss	...	Dwight Renfield
John Bennes	...	Ezra Hannon
Beverly Skinner	...	Selida McCamon
Rob Wilds	...	Buck Kendall
Richard K. Olsen	...	Claire Bowie
Elizabeth McCormick	...	Ellen Sarch
J.R. Rodriguez	...	Terminal Cop #1
Robert Casey	...	Terminal Cop #2 (as Bob Casey)
Ashton Stewart	...	Nate Wilson
William Neely	...	Ray Sarch
Windy Wenderlich	...	Henry Gates
General Fermon Judd Jr.	...	Policeman
Deann Korbutt	...	Linda Ross
Rachel Lewis	...	Libby Grant
Kristan Leigh	...	Dottie Walsh
Simon Elsworth	...	Duffery Bartender
Jim Grimshaw	...	Gas Station Attendant
Matthew Johnson	...	Caretaker
Terry Neil Edlefsen	...	Drunk
Joy Knox	...	Dream Vampire #1
Randal Brown	...	Dream Vampire #2
Laurie Wolf	...	Dream Vampire #3
Keith Shepard	...	Dream Vampire #4
Ruth Reid	...	Dream Vampire #5
Matt Webb	...	Reporter #1
David Zum Brunnen	...	Reporter #2
April Turner	...	Reporter #3
Manya K. Rubinstein	...	Reporter #4
Kelley Sims	...	Intern
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeff Johnston	...	Reporter (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark Pavia

Writing credits (WGA)
Stephen King		(story)
Mark Pavia		(screenplay) &
Jack O'Donnell		(screenplay)

Produced by
Benjamin Carr	....	associate producer (as Neal Stevens)
Alfredo Cuomo	....	co-producer
Mitchell Galin	....	producer
David R. Kappes	....	executive producer
Jack O'Donnell	....	co-producer
Richard P. Rubinstein	....	producer

Original Music by
Brian Keane

Cinematography by
David Connell

Film Editing by
Elizabeth Schwartz

Casting by
Leonard Finger
Lyn Richmond

Production Design by
Burton Rencher

Set Decoration by
Timothy Stepeck		(as Timothy Smithwick Stepeck)

Costume Design by
Pauline White

Makeup Department
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Jeff Goodwin	....	key makeup artist
David Halsey	....	key hair stylist
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Rick Pour	....	assistant makeup artist
Rick Pour	....	assistant makeup effects

Production Management
Michael Gornick	....	post-production supervisor
Shannon Rippy	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Craig Edwards	....	second second assistant director
Stephanie Fisher	....	second assistant director
Michael G. Jefferson	....	first assistant director
David R. Kappes	....	second unit director

Art Department
Peter Battistelli	....	construction coordinator
Michael Bohlen	....	carpenter
Barbara Branch	....	art department buyer
Keith Darwin	....	painter
Peter Durand	....	painter
Alex Ferguson	....	set dresser
Adam H. Hellan	....	art department production assistant
David Heslin	....	carpenter
Brian A. Hill	....	carpenter
David H. Jackson	....	carpenter
Matt Kaempfer	....	set dresser intern
Doug Kelehan	....	set dresser
Kim Kirk	....	on-set dresser
Carl A. Kojis	....	lead man
John C. Mack	....	lead man
Andrew Menzies	....	set designer
Debra Mills	....	assistant painter
Walt Muhammad	....	assistant painter
Melissa Porter	....	painter
Ken Roberts	....	storyboard artist
John Sanders	....	property master
Lawrence Ross Shepard	....	scenic foreman (as Larry Shephard)
Franklin H. Spears	....	carpenter
A.E. Stapleton	....	shop foreman
Fletcher Stevens	....	art department production assistant
Robert Testerman	....	charge scenic artist
Ernie Watson	....	carpenter
Stacy Weddington	....	property buyer
Duane Williamson	....	assistant property master
Ralph Woollaston	....	construction foreman
Trevor Woollaston	....	carpenter
Bobbie Young	....	carpenter
Brian Kontz	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Acord	....	utility sound
Tim J. Carroll	....	stereo sound consultant
Neil Cedar	....	adr recordist
Neil Cedar	....	foley recordist
Des Desloovere	....	sound effects assistant editor
Ken Hahn	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jay Meagher	....	sound mixer
Ray Palagy	....	sound effects editor
Randy Smith	....	boom operator
Rick Wessler	....	foley artist
John Bowen	....	additional sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael Schorr	....	mechanical effects coordinator
Bob Smith	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Julie Goldberg	....	visual effects producer
André Mazzone	....	computer graphics artist: Image Design, NYC
Oliver Rockwell	....	visual effects supervisor
David B. Schwartz	....	optical consultant

Stunts
John Almeida	....	stunts
Terri Brock	....	stunts
John Copeman	....	stunt coordinator
David Forrester	....	stunts
Scott Hinson	....	stunts
Dean Mumford	....	stunts
Keith Siglinger	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Aldridge	....	first assistant camera
Neil Beard	....	electrician
Michael Bonsignore	....	dolly grip
Kevin Davis	....	grip
Scott R. Davis	....	best boy grip
Michael Dhonau	....	grip
John Ferguson	....	gaffer
Peter Girolami	....	electrician
Laurel Hughes	....	camera loader
Eric Jennings	....	electrician
David R. Kappes	....	camera operator: second unit
J.B. Long	....	generator operator
Carson E. Mayne	....	electrician
Thomas C. Nisbet	....	best boy electric
Fred Norris	....	still photographer
Mike Repeta	....	second assistant camera
Dick VanNewkirk	....	grip
Dennis Zoppe	....	key grip
Tom Dean	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dan Dickey	....	electrician (uncredited)
John R. Sutton	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nicole Hennessey	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Missy Anderson	....	wardrobe assistant
Irene Hanson	....	tailor
Vanessa Jenik	....	costumer
Amy Lilley	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Sheri Bylander	....	assistant film editor
Laura Congleton	....	assistant editor
Mark Ginsberg	....	color timer
Craig Marsden	....	assistant film editor
Patricia Sztaba	....	negative cutter
Stan Sztaba	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Ron Bach	....	music designer
Keith Brown	....	composer: song "Sign Of The Cross"
Kerry Brown	....	composer: song "Sign Of The Cross"
Chainsuck	....	musician: "Til My Head Explodes"
Keith Chirgwin	....	music designer
Jeff Frez-Albrecht	....	music designer
Brian Keane	....	music designer
Jason Miles	....	music designer
Chris Randall	....	composer: songs "Red" and "Disease"
Mark Rew	....	composer: song "Sign Of The Cross"
Marydee Reynolds	....	composer: song "Til My Head Explodes"
Steve Roach	....	music designer
Sister Machine Gun	....	music performers: "Red" and "Disease"
Don Wallace	....	music copyist

Transportation Department
W.L. Barnhill	....	driver
Karen Brigman	....	driver
Donell Crumpler Jr.	....	driver
Clint Davis	....	driver
Coel Lee Hansley	....	driver
Kim Hardwick	....	driver
J.B. Long	....	driver
Jeff Long	....	transportation captain
Patti Cohen Long	....	driver
Roy Rogers	....	driver: honeywagon
Lee Siler	....	transportation coordinator
Jesse Smith	....	driver

Other crew
Louis F. DiFelice	....	location manager
Kelley Finn	....	assistant location manager
Traci Ford	....	assistant: Mr. Rubinstein
Jeff Johnson	....	location assistant
P.D. Levy	....	associate Location manager
Bobby Marino	....	advisor: Technicolor
Jennifer Miller	....	stand-in
Christine Moore	....	script supervisor
Tara Nowick	....	set production assistant
Charlie Ponti	....	advisor: Technicolor
Noni Rock	....	production associate
Kathleen K. Roeder	....	assistant: Mr. Galin
Alicia Rudd	....	animal wrangler
Lisa G. Shillingburg	....	first assistant accountant
Jasper Soffer	....	location assistant
Pax Spruance	....	medic
Van Starling	....	production assistant
Patricia Story	....	unit publicist
Kelly R. Tenney	....	production office coordinator
Brian W. Thomas	....	payroll
Tony Trimarco	....	post-production accountant
Eric Vannewkirk	....	production assistant
Joe Violante	....	advisor: Technicolor
David Waters	....	production assistant
David A. Webb	....	stand-in
Anne Wilson	....	production accountant (as Anne Moosman)

Production Companies

• Medusa Produzione
• New Amsterdam Entertainment
• Stardust International

Distributors

• United Paramount Network (UPN) (2000) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• New Line Cinema (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Night Flier Productions Inc.
• Video Film Express (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• K.N.B. Effects Group (special make-up effects)

Other Companies

• Sync Sound  Sound Editorial and Mixing Facilites

Also Known As:

Stephen King's The Night Flier

MPAA:

Rated R for horror violence, gore and strong language.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:18 | Germany:18 | Australia:MA | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Medusa Produzione

Trivia:

In the scene where Katherine is looking at all of Richard's bylines, the framed copies of "Inside View" contain many references to other stories by 'King, Stephen' : "Springhill Jack Strikes Again!" - Strawberry Spring. "Headless Lamaze Leads To Successful Birth!" - The Breathing Method. "Kiddie Cultists in Kansas Worship Creepy Voodoo God!" - Children of the Corn "Satanic Shopkeeper Sells Gory Goodies!" - Needful Things. "Naked Demons Levelled My Lawn!" - The Lawnmower Man "The Ultimate Killer Diet! Gypsy Curse Flays Fat Lawyer's Flesh" - Thinner.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: During Richard's first altercation with Morrison, the boom mic is clearly visible for a short while above the latter's head.

Quotes:

Richard Dees: Never believe what you publish, and never publish what you believe

Movie Connections:

References Dracula (1931)

Soundtrack:

Sign Og The Cross

An interesting, though slightly flawed take on King

I'm not going to say that this is a great movie, or even a great horror movie. A more appropriate way of saying it might be that it's an interesting movie. Those poor filmmakers, they're starting to run out of Stephen King novels to make into movies, so they have to turn to his short stories. Usually this means what should have been a 30 minute movie is drawn out into an hour and a half or longer. But in the case of Mark Pavia's "The Night Flier", story works because Pavia is able to expand on King's original story, and he also seems to have a bit of talent as a director.

Most people complain that Miguel Ferrer's character, Richard Dees, is too mean, or something like that. QUIT COMPLAINING PEOPLE! He's suppose to be an utterly heartless, sleazy, sorry excuse of a person. You're not suppose to feel sorry for him at all as he descends to insanity. Instead having such a terrible lead character is suppose to pose the question whose the real monster? Or, actually I think it'd be more accurate to say, whose the real hero? Is there a hero? Ferrer pulls off the performance perfectly, making a character that could make James Woods or Clint Eastwood whimper in fear. Unfortunately the rest of the cast doesn't do so well, and this pulls in the movie down a little way.

Anyway, Pavia himself has a talent for gloomy atmosphere, with his overcast, gray skies and quiet music and always just slightly-off-angle photography. He expertly subdues the beginning 2/3s of the movie and then throws a bloodbath at us. It's a very well planned and a shocking move on his part.

"The Night Flier" kicks into major gear towards the end. The final, final conclusion is a little weak, but it really couldn't have ended any other way.

Overall, the couple flaws drag "The Night Flier" down to a good but not great movie, but the really cool climax and other elements make up for it, and make it a good time. Be warned, it won't leave you feeling happy or good.