"Masters of Horror" Pro-Life (2006)

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

Mick Garris (creator)
Drew McWeeny (written by) ...
(more)

TV Series:

"Masters of Horror" (2005)

Original Air Date:

27 October 2006 (Season 2, Episode 5)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Determined to "rescue" his pregnant daughter from an abortion clinic, a religious fanatic and his sons plan a violent firearm assault just as the doctors suspect her pregnancy might not be of this world.

Plot Keywords:

Pregnancy | Doctor | Abortion Clinic | Abortion | Pregnant Teen

Cast

Caitlin Wachs	...	Angelique Burcell
Emmanuelle Vaugier	...	Kim
Mark Feuerstein	...	Alex O'Shea
Biski Gugushe	...	Kiernan
Jeremy Jones	...	Doug
Lisa Bunting	...	Joan
Stephen Dimopoulos	...	Sam
Ashley Whillans	...	Isobel
Grace Bauer	...	Marie
Bill Dow	...	Dr. Kiefer
Ron Perlman	...	Dwayne Burcell
Arabella Bushnell	...	Grace
Graeme McComb	...	Caleb Burcell
Benjamin Rogers	...	Cole Burcell
Chad Krowchuk	...	Darry Burcell
Derek Mears	...	The Father

Directed by
John Carpenter

Writing credits
Mick Garris		(creator)
Drew McWeeny		(written by) &
Scott Swan		(written by)

Produced by
Keith Addis	....	executive producer
Morris Berger	....	executive producer
Steve Best	....	associate producer
Stephen R. Brown	....	executive producer (as Steve Brown)
Ben Browning	....	co-producer
Andrew Deane	....	executive producer
Mick Garris	....	executive producer
Adam Goldworm	....	co-producer
John W. Hyde	....	executive producer
Lisa Richardson	....	producer
Tom Rowe	....	producer
Pascal Verschooris	....	line producer

Original Music by
Cody Carpenter

Cinematography by
Attila Szalay		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Patrick McMahon

Casting by
Stuart Aikins
Sean Cossey
Lindsey Hayes Kroeger
David Rapaport		(as David H. Rapaport)

Production Design by
David Fischer

Art Direction by
Teresa Weston

Set Decoration by
Ide Foyle

Costume Design by
Lyn Kelly

Makeup Department
Howard Berger	....	special effects makeup
Mike Fields	....	on-set key makeup artist (as Michael Fields)
Sarah Graham	....	on-set key makeup artist
Terry Hanson	....	first assistant hair stylist
Tanya Hudson	....	first assistant makeup
Gregory Nicotero	....	special effects makeup
Adina Shore	....	key hair stylist
Margaret Solomon	....	key makeup

Production Management
Margo Coughlin Zimmerman	....	production manager: IDT Entertainment (as Margo Zimmerman)
Sally Dixon	....	post-production supervisor
Sheri Mayervich	....	unit production manager
Stacey Jade Smart	....	executive in charge of production: IDT Entertainment

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ania Musiatowicz	....	third assistant director
Darren Robson	....	second assistant director
Ian Samoil	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Andrei Andrianko	....	assistant art director
Nick Dibley	....	property master (as Nicholas Dibley)
Dylan Dowd	....	lead greens person
Jim Geddes	....	construction coordinator
John McIntosh	....	greens
Jake Miller	....	assistant property master
Nathalie Morin	....	assistant set decorator (as Natalie Morin)
Zbibgniew Scheller	....	construction foreman (as Zbish Scheller)
John Wilcox	....	paint coordinator
Jean Brophey	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
Izabela Domachowski	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Les Ford	....	computer graphics designer (uncredited)
Scott Riddell	....	second assistant props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Anke Bakker	....	sound supervisor
Brian Campbell	....	dialogue editor
Jay Cheetham	....	background sound editor
Jacqueline Cristianini	....	adr supervisor
Jacqueline Cristianini	....	dialogue supervisor
Kris Fenske	....	sound designer
Devan Kraushar	....	sound effects editor
Jason Mauza	....	foley editor
Laurie Melhus	....	audio post-production coordinator
Glen Noseworthy	....	adr mixer
Iain Pattison	....	re-recording mixer
Sebastian Salm	....	sound mixer
Adam Sharpe	....	re-recording mixer
Paul A. Sharpe	....	re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe)
Shane Shemko	....	foley artist
Colin Smith	....	boom operator
Cam Wagner	....	foley artist
Matthew Wilson	....	sound effects editor
James Fonnyadt	....	sound designer: driving missions (uncredited)
Todd R. Mason	....	sound effects recordist (uncredited)
Will Volkmann	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jaremy Aiello	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Rob Derry	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Alex Diaz	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Eric Fiedler	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Robert Freitas	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group (as Rob Freitas)
Beth Hathaway	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Derek Heselton	....	best boy special effects
Grady Holder	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Akihito Ikeda	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Derek Krout	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group (as Derek Krouse)
Jim Leonard	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Clare Mulroy	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group (as Claire Mulroy)
Ben Rittenhouse	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Shannon Shea	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Wayne Szybunka	....	special effects coordinator
A.J. Venuto	....	effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group
Mike Hyrman	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Chris Sturges	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Attila Vaski	....	lead/fab/asst (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Steve Au	....	cg artist
Matt Belbin	....	digital effects editor (as Matthew Belbin)
Sébastien Bergeron	....	digital effects supervisor
Michael Goddard	....	cg artist (as Mike Goddard)
Annabelle Kent	....	digital compositor
Muzaffer Korkut	....	cg artist (as Muzzaffer Korkut)
Todd Liddiard	....	digital compositor
Lionel Lim	....	digital compositor
Stephen Paschke	....	cg artist
Bryce Rieger	....	digital compositor
Lisa K. Sepp	....	visual effects producer (as Lisa Sepp-Wilson)
Michael Suhr	....	cg artist
Jonah West	....	digital compositor
Lee Wilson	....	visual effects supervisor
Jayson Castro	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Jim Dunn	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Sandy Cooper	....	first assistant camera
Lane Koch	....	first assistant camera
Mike Kolafa	....	gaffer (as Michael Kolafa)
Steve Sherlock	....	key grip
Jared Smith	....	best boy lighting
Shai Vera	....	best boy grip (as Shae Vera)
Peter Wilke	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Michael Wrinch	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Mike Wrinch)
Aaron Haesler	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Jeremy Spofford	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sandra-Ken Freeman	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Glenna Owen	....	assistant costume designer
Tyler Tone	....	set costume supervisor
Debra Torpe	....	costume truck supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Richard Cordes	....	color timer
Andrea Dixon	....	color timer
Asim Matin	....	assistant editor
Matt Venables	....	post-production coordinator
Mike Williamson	....	editorial coordinator

Music Department
Mike Beckett	....	music editor
Jennifer Ross	....	music supervisor
Ed Shearmur	....	composer: main title (as Edward Shearmur)
Joseph Bishara	....	score mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Louie Hausner	....	transportation captain
John Swetlikoe	....	transportation coordinator
Duane Shearer	....	office driver (uncredited)
Jovan Vujatovic	....	picture car coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Christine Barrie	....	stand-in
Michael Bishop	....	key production assistant
Laura Collini	....	script supervisor (as Laura June Colini)
Genessa Davis	....	assistant production coordinator
Jim Desroches	....	production coordinator (as James Desroches)
Annie Doyon	....	assistant accountant
Scott 'Big Dog' Franklin	....	assistant location manager (as Scott Franklin)
Cameron Grierson	....	assistant to producer
Cameron Grierson	....	script coordinator
Richter Hartig	....	production auditor: IDT Entertainment (as Richter Q. Hartig)
Dave Harvey	....	assistant accountant
Elissa Howarth	....	production administration manager: IDT Entertainment
Andrea Kaufman	....	production coordinator: IDT Entertainment (as Andrea M. Kaufman)
Katy Lew	....	executive administrator
Susan Nestibo	....	location manager
Ross Redhead	....	assistant to producers
Adrian Salpeter	....	assistant to producers
Stephen Tibbetts	....	stand-in (as Stephen Tibbets)
Bill Vigars	....	unit publicist
Steven Vlasak	....	operations manager
Beverly Wiens	....	production accountant
Anthony Bortolussi	....	on-set key production assistant (uncredited)
Stephanie Brown	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Nancy Heller	....	office manager: Anthem Visual Effects (uncredited)
Krista Johnston	....	clearance (uncredited)
Simona Pandele	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Anna Wong	....	fitness trainer: Emmanuelle Vaugier (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Starz Productions
• Nice Guy Productions
• Industry Entertainment
• IDT Entertainment

Distributors

• Cinemax (2008) (Hungary) (TV)
• Kadokawa Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Premiere (2009) (Germany) (TV)
• Showtime Networks (2007) (USA) (TV)
• Splendid Film (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Starz Home Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Vertice Cine (2008) (Spain) (DVD)
• WoWow (2007) (Japan) (TV)

Special Effects

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

Other Companies

• Thomas Cobb Design  main title design (as The Thomas Cobb Group)
• Sharpe Sound Studios  sound post-production
• Background, The  walla artists
• Rainmaker  film lab services
• Rainmaker  post-production services
• Reunion Pictures  production services

Runtime:

57 min | Germany:54 min (cut)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

USA:TV-MA | Australia:R (2007) | Germany:18 (DVD rating) | Germany:18 (TV rating) | Spain:18

Company:

Starz Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When the demon breaks through the door, he breaks most of it away and starts to walk through. In the next shot, he breaks it again, identically to the first time, and then just stands there.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Final Delivery: The Making of 'Pro Life' (2007) (V)

Ah, "LIFE" - It's "THE THING" We Need...

So...are all pro-choice advocates just bloodthirsty liberal baby-killers, who just can't wait to pull apart live fetuses in their spare time? And are all anti-abortionists just unmedicated wack jobs who hear "God's" voice and believe in doing 'His' will, even if saving the life of an unborn child means sacrificing anyone, including the child's mother?

Don't ask John Carpenter. You're not going to find a whole lot of concrete answers here, but with a script by CIGARETTE BURNS' authors Drew McWeeny and Scott Swan, Mr. C. certainly explores at least some of the aspects of the argument at their most absurdly extreme in his second outing for MOH, PRO-LIFE.

The story kicks off as two doctors who work at a local women's health clinic (Mark Feuerstein and Emmanuelle Vaugier) nearly run over a frightened young girl (Caitlin Wachs). They take her to the clinic to check her out, not realizing that she is actually Angelique Burcell, the daughter of a violently militant pro-lifer, Dwayne Burcell (the always excellent Ron Perlman from HELLBOY and other genre favorites.) It's already bad enough that the clinic has been fortified for protection from some of the less-than-peaceful overtures from Burcell and his 'associates.' But it's even worse that now he wants his little girl back, and that Angelique is pregnant and wants to have an abortion.

What finally ensues is a cross between ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 and THEY LIVE, as Burcell and the clinic's head doctor, Dr. Kiefer (Bill Dow) have a .45 caliber debate about pro-choice vs. pro-life, with some innocent bystanders paying the price even though they're not taking a stand on either side.

Then, because this IS MOH, after all, Carpenter revisits PRINCE OF DARKNESS/THE THING territory, when it becomes pretty clear to the audience why Angelique really does need to have this abortion, and her father's zealous efforts to stop her are even less well- intentioned or accurate than he realizes.

First, the cons, and there are a lot of them. The gore effects are pretty decent when they show up, but the "big reveal" of the father of Angelique's baby - not to mention the 'infant' itself - are about as downright cheesy as anything you can dredge up from the grade-C flicks that Roger Corman used to produce for his New Horizons/Concorde Pictures outfits back in the '80's.

Except for Perlman and Wachs (whose Angelique doesn't look a day over twenty-five when she's supposed to be fifteen), the acting on display here is pretty much non-descript. Everyone's a stock character cliché, and Perlman barely saves his Dwayne Burcell from becoming a caricature of malevolent insanity, especially in one particularly gruesome scene in which he and his son allegedly give Dr. Kiefer his 'just desserts.' (Thankfully, most of that scene is left to the imagination).

McWeeny and Swan's script doesn't attempt to take sides, or to evenly balance the views either way, although I can cautiously guess that director Carpenter does not share the political view expressed in this episode's title. The ambiguity doesn't help the story much, where at least in a previous episode like the controversial HOMECOMING, you knew where both the writer and the director were coming from.

Cody Carpenter's scoring work here won't be to everyone's liking, though I thought it was very reminiscent of his dad's musical stylings from back-in-the-day, and much more complementary than it was in CIGARETTE BURNS.

Biggest pet peeve: Dwayne and two of his sons, after doing some pretty heinous things, just disappear from the movie entirely. There's absolutely no payoff when it would have been really satisfying, so that aspect takes a lot of the starch out of the story (and especially the ending.)

Now for the pluses: Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger's FX work really rocks, though I would've like to have seen more practical stuff. (The CG shots look really fake - and you'll see what I mean). Also love the quick homage to Rob Bottin's groundbreaking work on Carpenter's THE THING (you sharp-eyed fans out there will know it when you see it.)

Caitlin Wachs brings in a decent performance as Angelique, although it's more than a little tough to suspend your disbelief when you realize what age she's supposed to be playing.

And say what you will about Perlman's Burcell, but he is a man of unshakable faith, no matter how insane his deeds are. So it's doubly devastating for him in the end when he learns how badly he's been 'punk'd' (and by who).

Bottom line: PRO-LIFE is a return to the more "classic" Carpenter form. A little bigger budget and a lot more fine tuning on the script could've made this a MOH episode that I would highly recommend. As is, though, I would steer only die-hard Carpenter fans into PRO- LIFE'S direction. And the acting scores here are mostly for Perlman's performance.