The Fury (1978)

A former CIA agent uses the talents of a young psychic to help retrieve his telekinetic son from terrorists, who want to use his mental powers for evil.

Director:

Brian De Palma (as Brian DePalma)

Writers:

John Farris (screenplay), John Farris (novel)

Stars:

Kirk Douglas, John Cassavetes, Carrie Snodgress

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kirk Douglas	...	Peter
John Cassavetes	...	Childress
Carrie Snodgress	...	Hester
Charles Durning	...	Dr. Jim McKeever
Amy Irving	...	Gillian
Fiona Lewis	...	Susan Charles
Andrew Stevens	...	Robin
Carol Eve Rossen	...	Dr. Ellen Lindstrom (as Carol Rossen)
Rutanya Alda	...	Kristen
Joyce Easton	...	Mrs. Bellaver
William Finley	...	Raymond
Jane Lambert	...	Vivian Nuckells
Sam Laws	...	Blackfish
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Robertson
Alice Nunn	...	Mrs. Callahan

Storyline

A secret US agency behind the unscrupulous Childress gathers children with parapsychologic abilities and trains them to become killers in war situations. To rescue his son, who was officially declared dead after an arranged accident, the ex-CIA agent Peter investigates against Childress.

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Plot Keywords:

psychic | insanity | father searches for missing son | telepathy | government agency | 

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Taglines:

An experience in terror and suspense.

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Fury

Filming Locations:

Water Tower Place Shopping Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$24,000,000, 31 December 1978

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox,Frank Yablans Presentations

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film for Daryl Hannah, Laura Innes and Jim Belushi (uncredited).

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Goofs

Andrew Stevens is using his "powers" on a Tilt-O-Whirl ride. In a close up view, of the top of the ride, all of the neon bulbs burst. When they show a full view of the ride, the bulbs are shining brightly.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Robin Sandza: [laughing]
Peter Sandza: I won.
Robin Sandza: What do you mean, you won? You did not!

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Connections

Featured in Top 10 Movie Moments That Have Nothing to Do with the Scene from Frankenstein Where the Monster Throws the Girl into the Pond (2010)

User Reviews

Violent , exciting and bloody film , including sensationalistic scenes , but pretty well directed by Brian De Palma

Suspense, thrills and grisly killings by imitative director Brian De Palma . This scary triller is plenty of mystery , intrigue , suspenseful and creepy scenes . It is a potentially brilliant and ingenious chiller that concerns about a government agent , Peter Sandza , (Kirk Douglas , he was aged around sixty-one years of age , Kirk was cast as the lead because director had felt that his previous picture had suffered at the box-office without a name draw-card) determined to come to his son's (first major cinema movie role of actor Andrew Stevens) rescue , when a sinister official (John Cassavetes) kidnaps him to harbor his extremely powerful psychic abilities . As he is forced to take on a super-powerful government agency called MORG (it stands for the Multiphasic Operations Research Group) which has kidnapped his son with psychokinetic skills . The intrepid father is helped by a good friend called Hester (Carrie Snodgress) . And then things really get worse . Meanwhile , a young girl (Amy Irving who married Spielberg , she attended a biofeedback clinic to learn about different levels of consciousness, as she had a better sense to play) who personally experiencing psychic changes is taken in a strange Institute of supernatural forces . Peter uses desperate attempts to save hid gifted son from being used or destryed . At the end takes place the ultimate revenge story .

This stylish chiller contains long-drawn-out tension , flash violent scenes and shock effects with the accent on gas-provoking , but on most occasion without finesse . Adding special characteristics techniques as ominous camera movements and wide screen . This flick was made and released about two years after its source novel of the same name by John Farris was first published in 1976 ; Farris also wrote the screenplay for the film . It is is a contemporary thrilling tale that utilizes the average man against the unknown approach that made Hitchcock 's suspense films so effective . All this said , the mechanics of suspense are worked quite well and may frighten the easily scared quite badly , but De Palma has made a habit of dwelling on their more sordid shoots . Director 'Brian de Palma''s second movie featuring Telekinesis, his first had been Carrie (1976) , as actress Amy Irving appears in both films . In fact , this picture has often been described as a cross between The Omen (1976) and a peculiar follow-up to Carrie (1976) . Very good cast plenty of familiar faces such as John Cassavetes , Charles Durning , Rutanya Alda , Fiona Lewis , Carrie Snodgres and William Finley who played for De Palma , Phantom of paradise . Being the first film for both Daryl Hannah, Laura Innes and look fast James Belushi as an extra , as you can see him in a pair of dark trunks a few steps behind Irving . The film displays a great and haunting musical score by John Williams , previous his fruitful collaboration to Steven Spielberg ; he composed in the style of a Bernard Herrmann score from an Alfred Hitchcock movie . Furthermore , appropriate and colorful cinematography by excellent cameraman Richard H Kline .

The picture was brilliantly directed by Brian De Palma , adding special characteristics techniques and special camera movements . The movie was realized during his period when Brian made outwardly odes to Hitchcock , such as ¨Obsession¨ , ¨Sisters¨, ¨Dresssed to Kill¨ and ¨Blow out¨ . Rating : Above average , as it gets some riveting basic ideas and fascinating images. Essential and indispensable watching for Brian De Palma buffs and Kirk Douglas fans .