Satan's Little Helper (2004)

Director:

Jeff Lieberman

Writer:

Jeff Lieberman (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Your house is next.

Plot:

A naïve young boy uknowingly becomes the pawn of a serial killer.

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Island | Video Game | Packaging Tape | Suv

Cast

Alexander Brickel	...	Douglas "Dougie" Whooly
Katheryn Winnick	...	Jenna Whooly
Stephen Graham	...	Alex Martin
Amanda Plummer	...	Merrill Whooly
Wass Stevens	...	Dean Whooly
Dan Ziskie	...	Vernon Martin
Melisa McGregor	...	Nicole
Joshua Annex	...	Satan Man
Joyce R. Korbin	...	Mrs. Sylvia Tishbaum (as Joyce Korbin)
Anthony Ardolino	...	Hunter
Mary Kay Adams	...	Fran
Christian Robert Varley	...	He Head
JoAnna Beckson	...	She Head (as Joanna Bechsen)
Larry 'Ratso' Sloman	...	Mayor Flarin
Lisa Barnes	...	Mrs. Flarin
Declan Mulvey	...	Packing Boy
Jim Fitzpatrick	...	Pinoccio
Adel L. Morales	...	Valet (as Adel Morales)
Dana Smith Croll	...	Dragon Lady (as Dana Smith-Croll)
Lisa G.	...	News Commentator
John McLoughlin	...	Hunchback (as Johnny McLoughlin)
Steve Friedman	...	Other Kid
Joey Greene	...	Billy Flarin
Marshall Mills	...	Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Talon G. Ackerman	...	Trick-or-Treat Kid (uncredited)
Brian Albanese	...	Party goer (uncredited)
Erika Lieberman	...	Party goer (uncredited)
Allison Wagner	...	Trick-or-Treater - Cheerleader (uncredited)

Directed by
Jeff Lieberman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jeff Lieberman		written by

Produced by
Jeff Lieberman	....	producer
Mickey McDonough	....	producer
Isen Robbins	....	producer
Aimee Schoof	....	producer
Carl Tostevin	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Horowitz

Cinematography by
Dejan Georgevich		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jay Mathews

Casting by
Adrienne Stern

Production Design by
Jack Chandler

Art Direction by
Kristin Costa

Set Decoration by
Cassandra Boyd

Costume Design by
Lynn Falconer

Makeup Department
Angela Gallagher	....	makeup artist (as Angela Galerger)
Persefone Karakosta	....	hair stylist
Persefone Karakosta	....	makeup artist
Anthony Pepe	....	sfx makeup artist

Production Management
Susan T. Parsons	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Neil Daly	....	first assistant director
Hannah Lewis-Rosenblum	....	second second assistant director
Jim McKinney	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Elizabeth Debbout	....	property master
Katya DeBear	....	lead man
Sean Kendall	....	carpenter
Emily Kettler	....	assistant property master
Jonathan Harmon	....	art production assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Timothy Anderson	....	sound editor (as Timothy J. Anderson)
Eric Feldman	....	assistant sound editor
Remigius Houl	....	boom operator
Peter Levin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bryant Musgrove	....	boom operator
Barbara Parks	....	supervising sound editor (as Barbara J. Parks)
Esther Regelson	....	sound editor
Aaron J. Rudelson	....	production sound mixer (as Aaron Rizzuto)
Joe Sears	....	sound recording engineer
Lukasz Janik	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Drew Jiritano	....	pyrotechnician
Neil Ruddy	....	assistant pyrotechnician

Visual Effects by
Chris Hedberg	....	animator: handheld game

Stunts
Tim Gallin	....	stunts
Gene Harrison	....	stunt actor
Don Hewitt	....	stunts
Tina Mckissick	....	stunt double
Kristopher Medina	....	stunt double
Jodi Michelle Pynn	....	stunts (as Jodi Pynn)
Keith Siglinger	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator (as Manny Severio)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Anderson	....	key grip
John Coots	....	best boy electric
Aaron Fink	....	electrician
Quenell Jones	....	best boy grip
Rob Koch	....	first assistant camera
Douglas Pellegrino	....	camera operator
Brendan Perreault	....	grip
Brian Pryzpek	....	gaffer
Eric Ramos	....	grip
Nate Ranger	....	assistant camera
Jonathan Stern	....	electrician
George Su	....	additional grip
David Woolner	....	electrician

Animation Department
Shawn G. McGoldrick	....	animator: PC game

Casting Department
Katy Goodman	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nina Schelich	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Gary Scarpulla	....	colorist

Music Department
Erika Lieberman	....	composer: additional music

Other crew
Mirashyam Blakeslee	....	assistant production coordinator
Jeff Ellerbe	....	production assistant
Scott Ferlisi	....	location scout
Nadja Hicks	....	product placement coordinator
Diane Hounsell	....	script supervisor
Angela Jensen	....	production assistant
Jim Lovaglio	....	key accountant
Soren Miltich	....	production assistant
Maire Ni Rochain	....	additional production coordinator
Che Roacher	....	production assistant
Troy Smith	....	production assistant
Armen Stevens	....	production assistant
Clarke Williams	....	production assistant
Hughroy Williams	....	location manager
Lang Yee	....	production accountant
Lang Yee	....	production coordinator

Thanks
Howard S. Berger	....	special thanks
Ernest Pintoff	....	in memory of

Production Companies

• Satan's Little Company LLC
• Intrinsic Value Films

Distributors

• American World Pictures (AWP) (2004) (worldwide) (all media)
• Screen Media Films (2004) (North America) (all media)
• Screen Media Films (2005) (worldwide) (video)
• Boulevard Entertainment (2007) (UK) (DVD)
• Free Dolphin Entertainment (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Millennium Storm (2005) (Italy) (video)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2005) (USA) (video)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Spain) (DVD)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence/gore, some sexual content and language.

Runtime:

USA:96 min | 100 min (Tribeca Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 | Finland:K-15 | Spain:18 | Italy:VM14 | Germany:16 | Australia:MA | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA

Company:

Satan's Little Company LLC

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of Alex's head changes after Satan puts him on the couch.

Quotes:

Merrill Whooly: [on cell-phone handset] That's why I was calling you: I *do* have a costume! I'm putting together this Carmen-Miranda-and-Chiquita-Banana-type thing. It came to me in a dream. Actually, I *was* stoned.
[covers her mouth after realizing that her young son is in the car with her]

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Death Race 2000 (1975)

Soundtrack:

Up Dance/Let the Bass Kick

Stellar premise, uneven results...

Jeff Lieberman is a legend. His films SQUIRM, BLUE SUNSHINE, JUST BEFORE DAWN, and REMOTE CONTROL are undeniable cult classics. (REMOTE CONTROL, in particular, is a wonderful oddity, and a kind of sci-fi/camp reaction to the video boom of the 1980s; for VHS lovers such as myself, REMOTE CONTROL is now like a nostalgic dirge for all of those fantastic local video-stores that transmogrified or became extinct after DVDs usurped the role of VHS.) Lieberman's SATAN'S LITTLE HELPER, a return to directing from Lieberman after a 20-some-year hiatus, while not of the caliber of his earlier work, is a sardonic little horror piece that plays much, much better if you listen to the director's commentary before viewing the actual movie. More thought went into SATAN'S LITTLE HELPER than you may think. But Lieberman has always been a director with brilliant premises. SATAN'S LITTLE HELPER is perhaps his very best premise. And personally, I loved the gaudy, bright, ghoulish Halloween imagery - the dollar-store-take on Halloween. (Satan's mask is iconic, I daresay.) I, for one, am glad that Lieberman made another movie, and hope he makes several more. He is one of America's most interesting directors. My only problem with SATAN'S LITTLE HELPER is I don't feel it went far enough. The premise is sick and disturbing; it could've been some sort of morbid masterpiece. As is, it's worth a rental, and I'm just happy Lieberman's still doing something different.