Charades (1998)

Barry is a down-and-out-guy who takes a job at the shipping department of Technoworks, a high-tech Yuppie company. He gets invited to the house of his boss Quinn, for a weekend afternoon ... See full summary »

Director:

Stephen Eckelberry

Writers:

Richmond Riedel (story), Karen Black,

Stars:

Erika Eleniak, James Wilder, Jack Scalia

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Erika Eleniak	...	Monica
James Wilder	...	Quinn
C. Thomas Howell	...	Evan
Kimberley Kates	...	Laura
Jack Scalia	...	Barry
Karen Black	...	Jude
James Russo	...	Max Targenville
Richard Hillman	...	Tow Truck Driver
Robert Fields	...	Paul Curtiss
James Andronica	...	Sgt. Demski
Robert Hoffmo	...	Sgt. Muldoon
Don Moss	...	FBI Chief
Zoe Clarke-Williams	...	Quinn's Secretary
Jann Karam	...	Receptionist
Niklaus Lang	...	FBI 2

Storyline

Barry is a down-and-out-guy who takes a job at the shipping department of Technoworks, a high-tech Yuppie company. He gets invited to the house of his boss Quinn, for a weekend afternoon barbecue with some of his boss's friends. The party gets weird, Barry plays a demented version of charades while standing on the picnic table, and the next door neighbor starts screaming racial slurs over the fence. When Jude, the widow of the ex-owner of Technoworks arrives, the plot thickens. Clues to past crimes are revealed, and the real reason for the party is discovered. But not before Barry beats the hell out of a tow-truck driver, screws the boss's wife and wreaks havok with the neighbor. And as the title suggests, before the day is over, we will discover who is the Felon, or perhaps the people at party are all, one way or another, Felons.

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Plot Keywords:

sergeant | murder | independent film

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Taglines:

One murder can ruin your whole day...

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Genres:

Mystery | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality and violence, and for pervasive language

Details

Official Sites:

Steven Eckelberry / Hillman Williams Productions

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2007 (Spain)

Also Known As:

First Degree

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the scene where Barry has broken into the neighbor's house, Quinn is talking to him over the phone and sitting on the window seat. Behind Quinn we see Jude's arm move the next set of window blinds. However, in the next shot we Jude walk over to the window for the first time and then move the blinds.

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Connections

References E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

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Soundtracks

"Tannhäuser"
(Overture)
Written by Richard Wagner
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
Courtesy of Laserlight Digital
By Arrangement with Source/Q

User Reviews

Weird little film

In this film a bunch of annoying yuppies turn up for a barbeque party, and it becomes clear that something is not right. Jack Scalia is a complete nutcase (think Robert Forster in American Perfeckt), while C. Thomas Howell (always good to see) is in a situation that reminded me of The Hitcher. Also stars the under-used Erika Eleniak and the under-rated James Russo. Well worth a watch for a film that might have been set in real time (the whole thing happens over an afternoon). All in all this is a gem of a weird film, and the actors all seem to be having lots of fun. Also worth seeing is the end title sequence which is made up from deleted scenes and bloopers.