Satan's Little Helper (2004)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

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 | Noose | Blood

Cast

Alexander Brickel	...	Douglas "Dougie" Whooly
Katheryn Winnick	...	Jenna Whooly
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 | Australia:MA | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA

Company:

Satan's Little Company LLC

Goofs:

Continuity: Dougie's mask sometimes alternates positions on his head.

Quotes:

Jenna Whooly: When you were trick-or-treating, did Satan kill Alex's father?
Douglas "Dougie" Whooly: When we were trick-or-treating, he threw a guy out a window.
Jenna Whooly: Was it a big brick house?
[Dougie nods]
Jenna Whooly: That man was Alex's father.
Jenna Whooly: [pauses]
[her jaw drops]
Jenna Whooly: AND JESUS IS SATAN!

Movie Connections:

References Scream (1996/I)

Soundtrack:

Man of Peace

Jeff Lieberman is still THE MAN!

Jeff Lieberman's long-awaited comeback has become a pitch-black and sadistic horror comedy in which chuckles definitely get the upper hand. I've always been a great fan of Lieberman's work and I consider him an essential director for the cult-genre, even though he only made two really notable films ("Squirm", the only creature feature revolving on killer worms and "Blue Sunshine", a splendid psychedelic drug-movie). Hopefully, this "Satan's Little Helper" will become his third cult classic within a few years! This is an outrageous satire, hilarious in case you have a morbid sense of humor but practically unendurable in case you exclusively swear by intelligently plotted films. During his rather long absence (he only made a couple of unnoticed TV-movies during the nineties), Lieberman apparently did a lot of observing, as his new screenplay is a spoof on many modern society issues such as video games, the spoiled youth, religion etc… The story centers on a spoiled little brat who wastes most of his time by playing an immoral and violent video game called Satan's Little Helper. When he encounters a man dressed like Satan on Halloween's day, he thinks it's an act and he nearly begs this guy to assist him on his murder spree. Without realizing the seriousness of his crimes, young Douglas laughs at many violent massacres and he even introduces this personification of evil to his family. The plot sounds like a bunch of absurd nonsense – and actually, it is – but it's FUNNY nonsense! The comical effect is reached by the stupidity of the characters and – especially – by the portrayal of Satan! He doesn't speak but the mask he's wearing is great and his spontaneous reactions are hilarious. The "gags" in this film are pretty unethical (a cat is smashed against a wall, pregnant women & blind men are ran over by carts, intestines are being knotted…) and I'm sure many people won't even grant this film the littlest smile. Too bad for them, because "Satan's Little Helper" is unique in its own peculiar way and certainly worth checking out for people with no morals. There's some nice acting to admire, too! Amanda Plummer (her face alone scares me) is good as the eccentric mother and the gorgeous Katheryn Winnick shines as the sexy sister. I hope to see a lot more work from this young and obviously talented actress! The only disadvantage of this film is that it's slightly too long and the end sequences could easily have been cut from the final product. Nonetheless, a very cool film!